Enhancement of speed and efficiency of an Internet based gear design optimisation

An internet-based gear design optimisation program has been developed for geographically dispersed teams to collaborate over the internet. The optimisation program implements genetic algorithm. A novel methodology is presented that improves the speed of execution of the optimisation program by integrating artificial neural networks into the system. The paper also proposes a method that allows an improvement to the performance of the back propagation-learning algorithm. This is done by rescaling the output data patterns to lie slightly below and above the two extreme values of the full range neural activation function. Experimental tests show the reduction of execution time by approximately 50%, as well as an improvement in the training and generalisation errors and the rate of learning of the network

Multi-user Internet environment for gear design optimization

A Web based multi-user system has been developed to remotely execute a large size software package via the Internet. The software implements genetic algorithm to optimize the design of spur and helical gears. To accomplish this, a combination of HTML, JavaServlets, JavaApplets, JavaScript and HTTP protocol has been employed

Nonlocal mixing of supercurrents in Josephson ballistic point contact

We study coherent current states in the mesoscopic superconducting weak link simultaneously subjected to the order parameter phase difference on the contact and to the tangential to the junction interface superfluid velocity in the banks. The Josephson current-phase relation controlled by the external transport current is obtained. At phase difference close to pi the nonlocal nature of the Josephson phase-dependent current results in the appearance of two vortexlike states in the vicinity of the contact.Comment: 4 pages, 6 figures; to be published in Phys. Rev. B; e-mail: [email protected]

Prevalence of exclusive breastfeeding and its determinants in first 6 months of life: A prospective study

Background: Exclusive breastfeeding for first 6 months of life is recommended under Infant and Young Child Feeding practices in India. The objective of present study was to estimate the prevalence of exclusive breastfeeding during first 6 months of life of babies and to identify factors that interfere with the practice in the study area. Methods: A prospective cohort of 462 women who delivered at maternity unit of Government Medical College & Hospital, Rajkot, which is a tertiary care centre for the district, was studied. Data collection was done at hospital as well as during home visits of babies at 1, 3 and 6 months. Factors related to cessation of breastfeeding were analyzed using univariate, bivariate and multivariate analysis. Results: All 462 mothers reported breastfeeding their newborns. Prevalence of exclusive breastfeeding reported at 3 months was 97% which declined to 62% by 6 months of age of infants. Bivariate analysis revealed no significant association between interruption of exclusive breastfeeding before 6 months of age and various demographic, socioeconomic, maternal and infant characteristics. Multivariate analysis by logistic regression demonstrated no association between discontinuation of exclusive breastfeeding and socioeconomic status, maternal education and maternal age, number of antenatal visits, maternal employment and initiation of breastfeeding after delivery. Conclusion: Exclusive breastfeeding prevalence rate found higher than at national level indicating better feeding practices in these part of India. Also, factors classically considered as supportive for breastfeeding had shown no association with breastfeeding pattern in present study

Mesoscopic multiterminal Josephson structures: I. Effects of nonlocal weak coupling

We investigate nonlocal coherent transport in ballistic four-terminal Josephson structures (where bulk superconductors (terminals) are connected through a clean normal layer, e.g., a two-dimensional electron gas). Coherent anisotropic superposition of macroscopic wave functions of the superconductors in the normal region produces phase slip lines (2D analogs to phase slip centres) and time-reversal symmetry breaking 2D vortex states in it, as well as such effects as phase dragging and magnetic flux transfer. The tunneling density of local Andreev states in the normal layer was shown to contain peaks at the positions controlled by the phase differences between the terminals. We have obtained general dependence of these effects on the controlling supercurrent/phase differences between the terminals of the ballistic mesoscopic four-terminal SQUID.Comment: 18 pages, 11 figure

Quasiclassical calculation of spontaneous current in restricted geometries

Calculation of current and order parameter distribution in inhomogeneous superconductors is often based on a self-consistent solution of Eilenberger equations for quasiclassical Green's functions. Compared to the original Gorkov equations, the problem is much simplified due to the fact that the values of Green's functions at a given point are connected to the bulk ones at infinity (boundary values) by ``dragging'' along the classical trajectories of quasiparticles. In finite size systems, where classical trajectories undergo multiple reflections from surfaces and interfaces, the usefulness of the approach is no longer obvious, since there is no simple criterion to determine what boundary value a trajectory corresponds to, and whether it reaches infinity at all. Here, we demonstrate the modification of the approach based on the Schophol-Maki transformation, which provides the basis for stable numerical calculations in 2D. We apply it to two examples: generation of spontaneous currents and magnetic moments in isolated islands of d-wave superconductor with subdominant order-parameters s and d_{xy}, and in a grain boundary junction between two arbitrarily oriented d-wave superconductors. Both examples are relevant to the discussion of time-reversal symmetry breaking in unconventional superconductors, as well as for application in quantum computing.Comment: 6 pages, Submitted for publication in the proceedings of MS+S2002 conference, Japa

Peningkatan Keterampilan Berpikir Kritis Mahasiswa pada Mata Kuliah Filsafat Pendidikan melalui Model Pembelajaran Problem Based Instruction (Pbi)

Tujuan penelitian ini adalah meningkatkan keterampilan berpikir kritis mahasiswa dalam mata kuliah Filsafat Pendidikan dengan menggunakan model pembelajaran problem based instruction (PBI). Penelitian ini merupakan penelitian tindakan kelas yang dilaksanakan dalam dua siklus. Subjek penelitian ini adalah mahasiswa Prodi Pendidikan Biologi FMIPA Unsulbar semester tiga. Data kuantitatif dikumpulkan dengan teknik tes (pemahaman dan keterampilan berpikir kritis) dan data kualitatif dengan teknik non-tes. Data dianalisis dengan teknik deskriptif kuantitatif dan kualitatif. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan bahwa model pembelajaran problem based instruction (PBI) meningkatkan pemahaman dan keterampilan berpikir kritis dalam mata kuliah filsafat pendidikan

A Genetic Epidemiological Study of Behavioral Traits

Human behavioural genetics aims to unravel the genetic and environmental contributions to variations in human behaviour. Behaviour is a complex trait, involving multiple genes that are affected by a variety of other factors. Genetic epidemiological research of behaviour goes back to Sir Francis Galton (1822-1911), who systematically studied heredity of human behaviour and mind, introducing major statistical concepts such as correlation and regression towards the mean. After a brief period in which genetic research of behaviour fell into dismay as a result of its association to eugenics and the Nazi regime, there is at present growing scientific interest in genes and behaviour. Without a doubt, behaviour in humans and animals is for a large part genetically determined1. In this thesis, I have limited myself to a number of diseases and traits