Spatial Breakdown Point of Variogram Estimators

In the context of robust statistics, the breakdown point of an estimator is an important feature of reliability. It measures the highest fraction of contamination in the data that an estimator can support before being destroyed. In geostatistics, variogram estimators are based on measurements taken at various spatial locations. The classical notion of breakdown point needs to be extended to a spatial one, depending on the construction of most unfavorable configurations of perturbation. Explicit upper and lower bounds are available for the spatial breakdown point in the regular unidimensional case. The difficulties arising in the multidimensional case are presented on an easy example in IR² , as well as some simulations on irregular grids. In order to study the global effects of perturbations on variogram estimators, further simulations are carried out on data located on a regular or irregular bidimensional grid. Results show that if variogram estimation is performed with a 50% classical breakdown point scale estimator, the number of initial data likely to be contaminated before destruction of the estimator is roughly 30% on average. Theoretical results confirm the previous statement on data in IR^d , d 1.     

Time-dependent convection at high latitudes

A fully time-dependent ionospheric convection model, in which electric potentials are derived by an analytic solution of Laplaces equation, is described. This model has been developed to replace the empirically derived average convection patterns currently used routinely in the Sheffield/SEL/UCL coupled thermosphere/ionosphere/plasmasphere model (CTIP) for modelling disturbed periods. Illustrative studies of such periods indicate that, for the electric field pulsation periods imposed, long-term averages of parameters such as Joule heating and plasma density have significantly different values in a time-dependent model compared to those derived under the same mean conditions in a steady-state model. These differences are indicative of the highly non-linear nature of the processes involved.     

Spatial rainfall estimation by linear and non-linear co-kriging of radar-rainfall and raingage data

The feasibility of linear and nonlinear geostatistical estimation techniques for optimal merging of rainfall data from raingage and radar observations is investigated in this study by use of controlled numerical experiments. Synthetic radar and raingage data are generated with their hypothetical error structures that explicitly account for sampling characteristics of the two sensors. Numerically simulated rainfall fields considered to be ground-truth fields on 4×4 km grids are used in the generation of radar and raingage observations. Ground-truth rainfall fields consist of generated rainfall fields with various climatic characteristics that preserve the space-time covariance function of rainfall events in extratropical cyclonic storms. Optimal mean areal precipitation estimates are obtained based on the minimum variance, unbiased property of kriging techniques under the second order homogeneity assumption of rainfall fields. The evaluation of estimated rainfall fields is done based on the refinement of spatial predictability over what would be provided from each sensor individually. Attention is mainly given to removal of measurement error and bias that are synthetically introduced to radar measurements. The influence of raingage network density on estimated rainfall fields is also examined.     

Optimal design and performance evaluation of systems with Tuned Mass Damper Inerter (TMDI)

The paper concerns the optimal design and performance evaluation of a Tuned Mass Damper Inerter (TMDI) to reduce dynamic vibrations. The system exploits properties of the inerter, a two‐terminal mechanical device able to produce a force proportional to the relative acceleration between terminals, with the ability of generating an apparent mass even two orders of magnitude greater than its own physical mass. A primary single‐degree‐of‐freedom structure is equipped with a classical linear Tuned Mass Damper (TMD), the secondary structure, whose mass is connected to the ground via an inerter. The optimal design of the TMDI is conducted by assuming a white noise process as base input and utilizing three different design methodologies: displacement minimization, acceleration minimization and maximization of the ratio between the energy dissipated in the secondary system and the total input energy. Optimal results obtained with the different methodologies are carried out and compared. Two limit cases are also considered when the inerter is not contemplated: conventional and non‐conventional TMDs, characterized by a low and a large mass ratio, respectively. The TMDI performance is evaluated and compared with conventional and non‐conventional TMDs; moreover, its robustness is assessed with a sensitivity analysis varying the design parameters. Attention is focused not exclusively on the primary structure response but also on the secondary one. Finally, the effectiveness of the optimally designed TMDI is evaluated having considered earthquake base excitation. Results demonstrate the effectiveness of TMDI systems for dynamic response reduction with superior performances and robustness than classical TMDs. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Observable consequences of kinetic and thermal AGN feedback in elliptical galaxies and galaxy clusters

We have constructed an analytical model of active galactic nuclei (AGN) feedback and studied its implications for elliptical galaxies and galaxy clusters. The results show that momentum injection above a critical value will eject material from low-mass elliptical galaxies, and leads to an X-ray luminosity, L _X, that is  ∝σ⁸⁻¹⁰  , depending on the AGN fuelling mechanism, where σ is the velocity dispersion of the hot gas. This result agrees well with both observations and semi-analytic models. In more massive ellipticals and clusters, AGN outflows quickly become buoyancy dominated. This necessarily means that heating by a central cluster AGN redistributes the intracluster medium (ICM) such that the mass of hot gas, within the cooling radius, should be  ∝ L _X(< r _cool)/[ g ( r _cool)σ]  , where   g ( r _cool)  is the gravitational acceleration at the cooling radius. This prediction is confirmed using observations of seven clusters. The same mechanism also defines a critical ICM cooling time of  ∼0.5 Gyr  , which is in reasonable agreement with recent observations showing that star formation and AGN activity are triggered below a universal cooling time threshold.     

Modeling rhamnolipids production by Pseudomonas aeruginosa from immiscible carbon source in a batch system

A mathematical model to predict the rhamnolipids production by Pseudomonas aeruginosa from oleic acid in a two phase liquid-liquid batch reaction system, was developed in this study. The model was based on two theoretical assumptions: 1) the convective oleic acid mass transfer is coupled to a bioreaction in the aqueous liquid bulk, and 2) the volume of the immiscible oleic acid drops and the saturation concentration at the interface are a function of rhamnolipids production. The model was able to accurately predict the experimental growth of the Pseudomonas aeruginosa strain, and the rhamnolipids production data with oleic acid as carbon source. This mathematical approach indicated a high correspondence between the saturation dimensionless profiles of oleic acid at the interface and the experimental profiles of surface tension difference. This modeling approach may constitute a useful tool in the design and scaling-up of bioreactors applied to the production of biosurfactants with immiscible carbon sources.     

REE constraints on fractionation processes of massive-type anorthosites on the Lofoten Islands, Norway

Summary Rare Earth Element (REE) data of 34 samples of magmatic rocks from the Lofoten Islands in Norway lend support to the derivation of anorthosites, ferrodiorites and jotunites by fractionation and cumulus processes from typical basaltic magma. Both REE concentration and Eu anomalies (expressed as Eu/Eu^*) form continuous linear trends from anorthosite towards gabbro, ferrodiorite and jotunite in discrimination diagrams against molar CaO/Al₂O₃ ratios indicating the predominant accumulation of plagioclase. Eu/Eu^* decreases from about 4 in the cumulates (anorthosites) to around 1 in the fine-grained gabbroic dikes and to below 1 in some ferrodiorites and the jotunite. The various types of ferrodiorites and the jotunite are regarded as residual liquids, in some cases with variable amounts of cumulus plagioclase. The whole fractionation series from gabbro towards anorthosites and ferrodiorites can be observed in a single intrusion. With increasing fractionation, the REE patterns generally change from flat, slightly LREE-enriched or LREE-depleted to steep and strongly LREE-enriched. These changes and the REE abundances are mainly controlled by the abundance of apatite. Temporally and spatially related mangerites and charnockites form a trend from low-SiO₂ mangerites with Eu/Eu^* > 1 to intermediate-SiO₂ acidic mangerites with Eu/Eu^* ≈ 1 and charnockites with Eu/Eu^* < 1. Accordingly, the low-SiO₂ mangerites are interpreted as alkali feldspar-rich cumulates and the charnockites as residual liquids derived from the acidic mangerites. The mangerites with Eu/Eu^* around 1 have patterns similar to those of some highly evolved ferrodiorites possibly indicating a genetic link. Received December 12, 1999; revised version accepted November 15, 2000     

Energetic electron signatures of Saturn's smaller moons: Evidence of an arc of material at Methone

We present several energetic charged particle microsignatures of two Lagrange moons, Telesto and Helene, measured by the MIMI/LEMMS instrument. These small moons absorb charged particles but their effects are usually obscured by Tethys and Dione, the two larger saturnian satellites that occupy the same orbits. The scales and structures of these microsignatures are consistent with standard models for electron absorption from asteroid-sized moons in Saturn's radiation belts. In the context of these observations, we also examine the possibility that the 3 km Satellite Methone is responsible for two electron microsignatures detected by Cassini close to this moon's orbit. We infer that a previously undetected arc of material exists at Methone's orbit (R/2006 S5), we speculate how such a structure could form and what its physical characteristics and location could be. The origin of this arc could be linked to a possible presence of a faint ring produced by micrometeoroid impacts on Methone's surface, to E-ring dust clump formation at that distance or to temporary dust clouds produced by enceladian activity that spiral inwards under the effect of non-gravitational forces.     

Seismic fragility methodology for highway bridges using a component level approach

Bridge fragility curves, which express the probability of a bridge reaching a certain damage state for a given ground motion parameter, play an important role in the overall seismic risk assessment of a transportation network. Current analytical methodologies for generating bridge fragility curves do not adequately account for all major contributing bridge components. Studies have shown that for some bridge types, neglecting to account for all of these components can lead to a misrepresentation of the bridges' overall fragilities. In this study, an expanded methodology for the generation of analytical fragility curves for highway bridges is presented. This methodology considers the contribution of the major components of the bridge, such as the columns, bearings and abutments, to its overall bridge system fragility. In particular, this methodology utilizes probability tools to directly estimate the bridge system fragility from the individual component fragilities. This is illustrated using a bridge whose construction and configuration are typical to the Central and Southeastern United States and the results are presented and discussed herein. This study shows that the bridge as a system is more fragile than any one of the individual components. Assuming that the columns represent the entire bridge system can result in errors as large as 50% at higher damage states. This provides support to the assertion that multiple bridge components should be considered in the development of bridge fragility curves. The findings also show that estimation of the bridge fragilities by their first‐order bounds could result in errors of up to 40%. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.