In order to reduce air pollution and reduce the amount of traffic on highways in the western United States, certain states have set up worksite trip reduction programs. Employers in these states must comply with worksite trip reduction laws and submit trip reduction plans to their respective regulatory agency each year. These plans are currently evaluated manually, and are either rejected or accepted by the agency. There are two major flaws in this system; the first is the amount of time required by the agency to review a plan could be a matter of months, and the second is that human reviewers have subjective opinions regarding the effectiveness of plans. The purpose of this thesis is to develop computer models using Radial Basis Function neural networks, with centers built using the k-means clustering algorithm. These networks will be compared against the performance of a commercial neural network-modeling program known as Predict, as well as the traditional method of selecting RBF neurons from the training set.

Rational magnetic flux surfaces in fusion (toroidal plasma confinement) devices can break the magnetic field lines and reconnect them in the form of magnetic islands. Formation of these magnetic islands can have a serious impact on the plasma confinement properties of the device. Islands can in general degrade the confinement by mixing up different regions of the plasma. However there has been experimental evidence of confinement improvement by island induced transport barriers, under certain conditions. Even though there are a large number of theoretical and experimental works on magnetic islands to date, there is clearly a paucity of convincing experimental understanding on the nature of behaviour of islands in plasma. This thesis reports detailed experimental studies conducted on the H-1NF heliac stellarator, to gain an in-depth understanding of magnetic islands and their influence in plasma confinement.¶ Work reported in this thesis can be mainly divided into three parts: (a) high resolution imaging of vacuum magnetic islands and flux surfaces of H-1NF, (b) accurate computer modeling of H-1NF magnetic geometry and (c) detailed experiments on magnetic islands in plasma configurations.¶ Electron-beam wire-tomography in the H-1NF has been used for the high resolution mapping of vacuum magnetic flux surfaces and islands. Point-to-point comparison of the mapping results with computer tracing, in conjunction with an image warping technique, has enabled systematic exploration of magnetic islands and surfaces of interest. A fast mapping technique has been developed, which significantly reduced the mapping time and made this technique suitable for mapping at higher magnetic fields.¶ Flux surface mapping has been carried out at various magnetic configurations and field strengths. The extreme accuracy of this technique has been exploited to understand the nature of error fields, by point-by-point matching with computer tracing results. This has helped in developing a best-fit computer model for H-1NF magnetic configurations, which can predict rotational transform correct to three decimal places. Results from plasma experiments on magnetic configuration studies are best explained by the new model.¶ Experiments with low order magnetic islands in plasma configurations yielded some new results. It has been observed that the low order magnetic islands (m = 2) near the core of the plasma serve as pockets of improved confinement region under favourable conditions. This results in significant profile modifications including enhancement of the radial electric field near the core to a large positive value. The characteristics of islands are found to be dependent on the plasma collisionality and the island width.¶ Experiments with a magnetic configuration which exhibits no vacuum islands, but the core rotational transform very close to low order rational value, show a spontaneous transition of the radial electric field near the core to a large positive value (nearly 5 kV/m), with a strong electric field shear (nearly 700 kV/m2) and localised improvement in confinement, during the discharge. Evidence indicates that the transition is driven by the excitation of low order magnetic islands near the axis during the plasma discharge, due to the modification of rotational transform profile by toroidal plasma currents. The situation is similar to the Core Electron-Root Confinement (CERC) observed during high temperature ECH plasma discharges on other helical devices. This result provides an experimental evidence for the hypothesis that the threshold conditions for observing CERC can be reduced by exciting magnetic islands near the core of the plasma.

We had previously shown that regularization principles lead to approximation schemes, as Radial Basis Functions, which are equivalent to networks with one layer of hidden units, called Regularization Networks. In this paper we show that regularization networks encompass a much broader range of approximation schemes, including many of the popular general additive models, Breiman's hinge functions and some forms of Projection Pursuit Regression. In the probabilistic interpretation of regularization, the different classes of basis functions correspond to different classes of prior probabilities on the approximating function spaces, and therefore to different types of smoothness assumptions. In the final part of the paper, we also show a relation between activation functions of the Gaussian and sigmoidal type.

In this master thesis methods for increasing temporal resolution when reconstructing radially sampled MRI data have been developed and evaluated. This has been done in two steps; first the order in which data is sampled in k-space has been optimized, and second; temporal filters have been developed in order to utilize the high sampling density in central regions of k-space as a result of the polar sampling geometry to increase temporal resolution while maintaining image quality.By properly designing the temporal filters the temporal resolution is increased by a factor 3–20 depending on other variables such as imageresolution and the size of the time varying areas in the image. The results are obtained from simulated raw data and subsequent reconstruction. The next step should be to acquire and reconstruct raw data to confirm the results. / This Master thesis work was performed at Dept. Radiation Physis, Linköping University, but examined at Dept. Radiation Physics, Umeå University

In this study, we employ molecular statics to construct the structure of amorphous zinc oxide. First, we find out the first number of higher energy structures in all local stable structures by Basin-Hopping algorithm, which are separated into different ratio of crystalline/amorphous zinc oxide structures, and then we judge the type of zinc oxide structure by radial distribution function. In addition, we use coordination number to analyse the interatomic bond length and bond angle in the structures. Furthermore, we employ molecular dynamics to increase the temperature of amorphous zinc oxide structures, and then use the distribution of coordination number, bond length and bond angle between zinc and oxygen atom to analyse the change of the local structure of amorphous zinc oxide during the heating process.

Optimization methods have been developed and refined throughout many scientific fields of study. This work utilizes one such developed technique of optimization called simulated annealing to produce optimal operation parameters for a 15x15 fuel assembly to be used in an operating nuclear power reactor. The two main cases of optimization are: one that finds the optimal 235U enrichment layout of the fuel pins in the assembly and another that finds both the optimal 235U enrichments where gadolinium burnable absorber pins are also inserted. Both of these optimizations can be performed by coupling Adaptive Simulated Annealing to TransLAT which successfully searches the optimization space for a fuel assembly layout that produces the minimized pin power peaking factor. Within given time constraints this package produces optimal layouts within a given set of assumptions and constraints. Each layout is forced to maintain the fuel assembly average 235U enrichment as a constraint. Reductions in peaking factors that are produced through this method are on the order of 2% to 3% when compared to the baseline results. As with any simulated annealing approach, families of optimal layouts are produced that can be used at the engineer’s discretion.

A fundamental kinetic model based upon the Hougen-Watson formalism was derived as a basis not only for a better understanding of the reaction behavior but also for the design and simulation of industrial reactors. Kinetic experiments were carried out using a commercial potassium-promoted iron catalyst in a tubular reactor under atmospheric pressure. Typical reaction conditions were temperature = 620oC, steam to ethylbenzene mole ratio = 11, and partial pressure of N2 diluent = 0.432 bar. Experimental data were obtained for different operating conditions, i.e., temperature, feed molar ratio of steam to ethylbenzene, styrene to ethylbenzene, and hydrogen to ethylbenzene and space time. The effluent of the reactor was analyzed on-line using two GCs. Kinetic experiments for the formation of minor by-products, i.e. phenylacetylene, α-methylstyrene, β-methylstyrene, etc, were conducted as well. The reaction conditions were: temperature = 600oC ~ 640oC, a molar ratio of steam to ethylbenzene = 6.5, and partial pressure of N2 diluent = 0.43 bar and 0.64 bar. The products were analyzed by off-line GC. The mathematical model developed for the ethylbenzene dehydrogenation consists of nonlinear simultaneous differential equations in multiple dependent variables. The parameters were estimated from the minimization of the multiresponse objective function which was performed by means of the Marquardt algorithm. All the estimated parameters satisfied the statistical tests and physicochemical criteria. The kinetic model yielded an excellent fit of the experimental data. The intrinsic kinetic parameters were used with the heterogeneous fixed bed reactor model which is explicitly accounting for the diffusional limitations inside the porous catalyst. Multi-bed industrial adiabatic reactors with axial flow and radial flow were simulated and the effect of the operating conditions on the reactor performance was investigated. The dynamic equilibrium coke content was calculated using detailed kinetic model for coke formation and gasification, which was coupled to the kinetic model for the main reactions. The calculation of the dynamic equilibrium coke content provided a crucial guideline for the selection of the steam to ethylbenzene ratio leading to optimum operating conditions.

Thesis (M.S.)--University of Hawaii at Manoa, 2005. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 63-67). Also available via World Wide Web.

Drilling is a standard process for producing holes in metal materials. With an increased hole depth the demands increase on both machine and tool. Deep hole drilling is a complex process which ischaracterized by a high metal removal rate and hole accuracy. A hole deeper than ten times the diameter can be considered a deep hole which requires a specialized drilling technique. During adeep hole drilling process, the forces generated on the deep hole drill give a rise to a resultant radial force. The resultant radial force pushes the drill in a radial direction during a drilling operation. The radial force direction is of crucial importance in regard of tool guidance, stability and hole size accuracy. This force affects tool performance, reduces tool life and has an impact on the bore surface. Due to the complex nature of deep hole drilling, Sandvik Coromant wishes to get a better understanding of how their current deep hole drilling tools are balanced. The purpose of this study is to conduct a survey of a number of drills of Sandvik Coromant deep hole drill assortment. The main aim of this study is to calculate and measure the resultant radial force generated during a deep hole drilling operation. The forces are calculated with the aid of a calculation program and test-runs on a number of drills. This report presents the calculated magnitude and direction of the resultant radial force duringentrance, full intersection and at the exit of the workpiece. In addition to the measured values of theresultant radial force during entry and full intersection. Four different drill geometries are evaluated which of two are competitor drills. A deep hole drill geometry is re-modified in aspect to drill stability based on the outcome of the measured and calculated results. The results acquired from the performed calculation and measurements of the resultant showed that the resultant radial force acts in an angular direction that was outside the range between the support pads. This true for three of the four evaluated drill geometries. There were minor differences between the measured and calculated forces which enforce the reliability of the used calculation program. The modified drill geometry of a deep hole drill gave an indication of which geometry variables have impact on the resultant radial force magnitude and angular direction. The data presented in this report can be a base for future development of a deep hole drill toolgeometry in regard to the resultant radial force. Variables affecting the calculated results and theresultant radial force are presented and discussed. The study is concluded with suggestions of futurework based on the acquired data.

As part of the McDonald Observatory M dwarf planet search program, we present the results and detection limits for our high-precision radial velocity survey of 99 M dwarf stars. We also detail our efforts to improve the precision of our RV measurements as well as our frequency analysis methods. For any RV program, it is essential to obtain as high a precision as possible; increasing sensitivity can realistically reveal terrestrial-mass planets with our data. M dwarfs provide a unique opportunity to study these lower-mass planets (the so-called "super-Earths") from ground-based facilities; such planets are mostly undetectable around FGK stars, whose larger masses result in much smaller RV amplitudes. However, the low intrinsic luminosities of the M spectral type make it difficult to obtain high S/N measurements for a statistically significant sample, making our analysis improvements especially critical. Finally, we conduct a statistical analysis of the 21 known M dwarf planets. In particular, we use the photometric metallicity calibration for M dwarfs described in Johnson and Apps (2009) to further explore the frequency of planetary systems as a function of stellar metallicity. Our analysis confirms the correlation between stellar mass and the presence of giant planets, but also reveals a significant metallicity dependence on the presence of high-mass planets for M dwarfs. We show that the metallicities of our target sample are evenly distributed around solar [M/H], eliminating the possibility that the results of our survey will be biased due to metallicity effects. The frequency and characteristics of planets around M stars provides important insight into planet formation theories, especially for giant planets, which appear to form less easily around low-mass primaries. While previous results suggesting a dearth of short-period Jovian planets around M stars still holds, there is now a long enough observational time baseline to begin to characterize the frequency of planets with lower masses and larger orbital separations around these stars as opposed to other main sequence stars. / text