Effects of Interference and Oxidation on the UV/Visible Rejection Properties of Filters for Soft X-ray Detectors

We report on UV/Visible transmission measurements of aluminum coated Lexan filters designed as UV blocking filters for soft x-ray detectors. Transmission of the filters in the 2300-8000 Å wavelength range is significantly higher than expected. It cannot be accounted for applying a simple slab model of the transmission and adopting material properties reported in the literature. We show that this is due to interference effects which are strongly dependent on the filter geometry, and to oxidation of exposed aluminum surfaces and/or chemical interaction with the plastic support. The results of this work have led to the redesign of the Advanced X-ray Astrophysics Facility High Resolution Camera UV blocking filters.     

Turbulent structure in uniform inclined open channel flow over different rough porous beds

In this study the effects of the different rough porous beds in an open inclined channel are studied experimentally for impermeable and permeable porous bed.For the simulation of porous bed two different types of permeable bed with the same thickness(s' = 3 cm) and the same porosity ε=0.70 are used:(a) porous filters and(b) gravel bed.Laboratory experiments were used for the calculation of turbulent velocity profiles.Measurements of velocity were taken for inclined channel for three different slopes(S=-0.002,S=-0.004 and S=-0.006) and for five different flow depths(h=5 cm,7 cm,9 cm,11 cm and 13 cm).The total discharge Q varies from 0.78 to 1.31 1/s.The measurements were obtained using a two-dimensional(2D) Particle Image Velocimetry(PIV).The total discharge was estimated using a calibrated venture apparatus.Results showed that the presence of rough porous bed in inclined open channels influence significantly the turbulent characteristics of the flow in comparison with impermeable open channels with the same slopes.     

Generalised formulation of composite filters and their application to earthquake engineering test systems

This paper addresses the problem of generating unmeasured kinetic data—and/or providing improvements in existing data—for the enhancement of performance characteristics of earthquake engineering test systems, such as shaking tables, reaction walls and other custom‐made test rigs. The approach relies upon the use of composite filters (CF), a method of data fusion that was originally conceived via transfer function formulation. The current work generalises the CF concept and extends its formulation into the state‐space domain, thereby providing a wider basis for application to test systems and their controllers, including those of a multivariable (coupled, multi‐axis) nature. Comparative simulation studies of shaking table control are presented that demonstrate the design techniques for state‐space CF and also their effectiveness for signal synthesis, noise suppression and performance improvement. Specific examples include the use of CF for displacement demand signal generation, velocity feedback generation and acceleration control. In each case, the essential principles behind CF—output signals with zero bias and zero drift—are consistently upheld. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

A Hierarchy of Spatial Marginality Through Spatial Filtering

Abstract

Taking a clue from classic time-series decomposition, this article demonstrates a spatial filtering and search technique that permits the partitioning of a measure of marginality, here measured as the percent of the population living at less than 50 percent of the poverty level, into macro, meso, and micro components. This approach supports theory that has argued for scale-specific explanations of spatial marginality. The technique also offers promise for many other types of investigations such as disease incidence, microclimate dynamics, and consumer preferences.     

The high‐frequency limit of usable response spectral ordinates from filtered analogue and digital strong‐motion accelerograms

The range of response frequencies for which spectral ordinates obtained from accelerograms may be considered reliable is limited by several factors, primary among them being the effects of filters that are routinely applied to remove noise from the records. Considerable attention has been focused on the low‐frequency limit of the usable spectral ordinates because of various engineering applications requiring long‐period spectral accelerations or displacements but only recently have rational approaches to selecting the high‐frequency limit been proposed. Since there are applications for which the high‐frequency spectral ordinates are important, the approaches to this issue presented in the recent studies are reviewed and their application to the ground‐motion database from Europe and the Middle East is explored. On the basis of the results of these analyses, it is concluded that a large proportion of this dataset can be used to provide reliable estimates of response spectral ordinates at much shorter periods than may have previously been considered feasible. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Removal of Elongated Particle Aggregates on Fibrous Filters

Elongated aerosol particle removal on fibrous filters has been investigated. It was shown that particle agglomerates are removed much more efficiently compared to the regularly shaped single particles with identical electrical mobility diameter at two filtration velocities tested. The experimental results were compared with the classical filtration theory and it was shown that the theoretical predictions, which are based on the assumption that the particles are spherical, are significantly different compared to an agglomerate filtration efficiency value. In order to account for a particle shape non-regularity, dominating nanoparticle removal mechanisms were firstly evaluated for a regular particle of certain size and then adjusted by fitting coefficients k₁ (for diffusion component) and k₂ (for interception). These coefficients were determined by fitting the theoretical values that gives the best coincidence with the measured data points. As was further demonstrated theoretically, the coefficient k₁ is identical to the ratio of the actual particle surface area to the surface area of the spherical particle of the equivalent diameter. On the other hand, the coefficient k₂ was found to be equal to the ratio of the projection of a given particle on a plane perpendicular to a streamline, to that of the spherical particle of the equivalent diameter. The reported findings would allow undertaking more accurate evaluation of the removal efficiency of non-regular aerosol particle, which is especially important for industrial applications where non-regular aerosols are frequently met.     

基于多尺度混合滤波的GRAPES_3Dvar及其在实际暴雨预报中的应用分析

为提高暴雨的数值模拟和预报效果,在生成初值的同化分析中保证中小尺度信息的引入十分重要。为改善GRAPES(Global/Regional Assimilation and Prediction System)区域三维变分同化系统对中小尺度信息的引入,本文利用气候态背景误差样本估计变量误差的水平协相关尺度,进而利用三个不同水平特征尺度的递归滤波器对统计结果予以拟合,以替代原有单一尺度的递归滤波方案。利用新方案对2015年6月1—2日江汉平原的暴雨过程进行同化和预报,研究结果表明:新方案的功率谱衰减较慢,通过单点试验和分析场分析发现,新同化方案引入了更多的α中尺度信息;在暴雨个例的预报中发现,利用新同化方案后湿度场、散度场和涡度场在分析场和预报场中更加接近实际情况,降水预报技巧明显提高。通过能量谱分析发现,新方案与原方案相比反映出更多的α中尺度信息;新方案对江汉平原地区暴雨预报具有正效果,在α中尺度内出现了低层辐合、高层辐散及湿度增加等有利于降水的要素。在暴雨个例的基础上,本文进行16d的批量试验,结果显示新方案对降水的预报技巧明显提高,与个例结果一致。     

Evaluation of tectonic structure of İskenderun Basin (Turkey) using steerable filters

In this paper, we demonstrate the effectiveness of steerable filters as a method of delineating the boundaries of subsurface geological structures. Steerable filters, generally used for edge detection on 2-D images, have the properties of band pass filters with certain directions and are applied to many image processing problems. We first tested the method on synthetic data and then applied it to the aeromagnetic data of İskenderun Basin and adjacent areas.İskenderun Basin is located in the Northeastern Mediterranean where African–Arabian and Anatolian plates are actively interacting. The basin fill records a complex tectonic evolution since the Early Miocene, involving ophiolite emplacement, diachronous collision of Eurasian and Arabian plates and subsequent tectonic escape related structures and associated basin formation. Geophysical investigations of the tectonic framework of İskenderun Basin of Turkey provide important insights on the regional tectonics of the Eastern Mediterranean and Middle East. In this study we show geological structures, which are responsible for the magnetic anomalies in İskenderun Basin and enlighten the structural setting of the Northeastern Mediterranean triple junction using steerable filters. We obtained a magnetic anomaly map of the region from the General Directorate of Mineral Research and Exploration as raw data and then evaluated this by steerable filters. We determined the magnetic anomaly boundaries for İskenderun Basin by using various types of steerable filters and correlated these to drilling data and seismic profiles from the Turkish Petroleum Corporation. The result of the steerable filter analysis was a clarified aeromagnetic anomaly map of İskenderun Basin. The tectonic structure of İskenderun Basin is divided into regions by an N–S trending oblique-slip fault defined by the steerable filter outputs. We propose a new tectonic structure model of İskenderun Basin and modify the direction of the East Anatolian Fault Zone. In our model, East Anatolian Fault Zone cross-cuts the basin as a narrow fault zone and continues towards the Cyprus arc.     

Limiting similarity, niche filtering and functional diversity in coastal lagoon fish communities

The fundamental idea behind the study of biodiversity patterns is the presumed connection between the shape of species assemblages and the functional ways in which they are organized, this functional organization referring to how species are related to one another, as competitors or members of a web of interactions and to how species are facing similar environmental constraints. Amongst the different facets of biodiversity, functional diversity is certainly a key for ecosystem processes in coastal areas. However, surprisingly, patterns of functional diversity have received little attention until now. After presenting a common framework linking functional diversity patterns to species coexistence theories, the aim of our study was twofold: (1) to seek assembly rules in brackish lagoon fish communities drove by functional traits. To this aim we used null models to examine the influence of two opposing forces acting on community structure: interspecific competition that might prevent the coexistence of the most similar species, and environmental filters that might result in the most similar species to coexist. (2) To seek relationships between fish functional diversity and environmental gradients, if any. Fish sampling was carried out in two coastal lagoons where stations differ considerably in terms of physicochemical parameters. Using morphological functional traits, functional diversity of fish communities was estimated using two recently published indices as well as a new proposed index. Firstly our study was not able to demonstrate a limitation of similarity in coexisting lagoon fishes due to interspecific competition. Conversely our results support the niche filtering hypothesis preventing species too dissimilar from one another to co-occur at the same station. Secondly, salinity was positively related to the functional diversity of fishes in both lagoons suggesting that within species assemblages near the channel species are less redundant than at stations far from the channel where species tend to be functionally similar (benthic and eating zooplankton).     

Fault scarp identification in side-scan sonar and bathymetry images from the Mid-Atlantic Ridge using wavelet-based digital filters

Digital filters designed using wavelet theory are applied to high resolution deep-towed side-scan sonar data from the median valley walls, crestal mountains, and flanks of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge at 29°10 N. With proper tuning, the digital filters are able to identify the location, orientation, length, and width of highly reflective linear features in sonar images. These features are presumed to represent the acoustic backscatter from axis-facing normal faults. The fault locations obtained from the digital filters are well correlated with visual geologic interpretation of the images. The side-scan sonar images are also compared with swath bathymetry from the same area. The digitally filtered bathymetry images contain nine of the eleven faults identified by eye in the detailed geologic interpretation of the side-scan data. Faults with widths (measured perpendicular to their strike) of less than about 150 m are missed in the bathymetry analysis due to the coarser resolution of these data. This digital image processing technique demonstrates the potential of wavelet-based analysis to reduce subjectivity and labor involved in mapping and analyzing topographic features in side-scan sonar and bathymetric image data.