Luminosity functions of globular clusters in five nearby spiral galaxies using HST/ACS images

We here present the luminosity function (LF) of globular clusters (GCs) in five nearby spiral galaxies using the samples of GC candidates selected in Hubble Space Telescope mosaic images in F435W, F555W and F814W filters. Our search, which surpasses the fractional area covered by all previous searches in these galaxies, has resulted in the detection of 158 GC candidates in M81, 1123 in M101, 226 in NGC 4258, 293 in M51 and 173 in NGC 628. The LFs constructed from this dataset, after correcting for relatively small contamination from reddened young clusters, are lognormal in nature, which was hitherto established only for the Milky Way (MW) and Andromeda among spiral galaxies. The magnitude at the turn-over (TO) corresponds to MV0(TO)=-7.41±0.14 in four of the galaxies with Hubble types Sc or earlier, in excellent agreement with MV(TO) = −7.40 ± 0.10 for the MW. The TO magnitude is equivalent to a mass of ∼3 × 105 M⊙ for an old, metal-poor population. MV0(TO) is fainter by ∼1.16 magnitude for the fifth galaxy, M 101, which is of Hubble type Scd. The TO dependence on Hubble type implies that the GCs in early-type spirals are classical GCs, which have a universal TO, whereas the GC population in late-type galaxies is dominated by old disk clusters, which are in general less massive. The radial density distribution of GCs in our sample galaxies follows the Sérsic function with exponential power-law indices, and effective radii of 4.0–9.5 kpc. GCs in the sample galaxies have a mean specific frequency of 1.10 ± 0.24, after correcting for magnitude and radial incompleteness factors

Numerical simulation of the electroosmotic flow of the Carreau-Yasuda model in the rectangular microchannel

Purpose In this paper aims to investigate the numerical simulation of the electroosmotic flow of the Carreau-Yasuda model in the rectangular microchannel. Electromagnetic current is generated by applying an effective electric field in the direction of the current. Design/methodology/approach The non-Newtonian model used is the five-constant Carreau-Yasuda model which the non-Newtonian properties of the fluid can be well modeled. Using the finite difference method, the potential values at all points in the domain are obtained. Then, the governing equations (momentum conservation) and the energy equation are segregated and solved using a finite difference method. Findings In this paper, the effect of various parameters such as Weisenberg number, electrokinetic diameter, exponential power number on the velocity field and Brinkman and Pecklet dimensionless numbers on temperature distribution are investigated. The results show that increasing the Weissenberg dimensionless number and exponential power and diameter parameters reduces the maximum velocity field in the microchannel. Originality/value To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this study is reported for the first time.

NEO: NEuro-Inspired Optimization—A Fractional Time Series Approach

Solving optimization problems is a recurrent theme across different fields, including large-scale machine learning systems and deep learning. Often in practical applications, we encounter objective functions where the Hessian is ill-conditioned, which precludes us from using optimization algorithms utilizing second-order information. In this paper, we propose to use fractional time series analysis methods that have successfully been used to model neurophysiological processes in order to circumvent this issue. In particular, the long memory property of fractional time series exhibiting non-exponential power-law decay of trajectories seems to model behavior associated with the local curvature of the objective function at a given point. Specifically, we propose a NEuro-inspired Optimization (NEO) method that leverages this behavior, which contrasts with the short memory characteristics of currently used methods (e.g., gradient descent and heavy-ball). We provide evidence of the efficacy of the proposed method on a wide variety of settings implicitly found in practice.

Surface Resistivity of Silicone Rubber Formulations Tested in Room Ambient Conditions: The Case of Silicone Rubber Formulations With and Without Filler Materials

Silicone rubber formulations in the form of thin discs have been studied under room ambient conditions for their surface characteristics. The samples were silicone rubber manufactured in laboratory and those industrially manufactured. The measurements were done using an electrometer high resistance meter, applying dc voltage under normal room ambient conditions. The results show that the silicone rubber samples show higher values of surface resistivity when the dc voltage was applied. Silicone rubber samples manufactured in laboratory seem to exhibit erratic behaviour unlike their corresponding silicone rubbers manufactured in industry; this could be due to manufacturing shortcomings in laboratory and the irregularities in the way the silicone rubber adhered to the concentric ring electrodes. The empirical current traversing the surface of the silicone rubbers does not decay exponentially but rather it decays as an exponential power of the energization time.

Research on adaptive non-singular fast terminal sliding mode control based on variable exponential power reaching law in manipulators

Aiming at the manipulator control system is susceptible to model parameter uncertainty and external disturbance. In this article, an adaptive non-singular fast terminal sliding mode control based on variable exponential power reaching law is proposed. First, due to the slow convergence speed and large chattering of the traditional reaching law, the variable exponential power reaching law is designed in this article. It can adaptively change the reached speed according to the system state, improve the accuracy of the control system and reduce chattering. Second, compared to the slow convergence speed of traditional sliding mode surfaces, this article uses non-singular fast terminal sliding mode surfaces to speed up the system error convergence speed. At the same time, in view of the problem that the disturbance has an uncertain upper bound in the actual problem, the adaptive law is used to estimate the uncertain upper bound of the system disturbance. And by introducing a time-varying boundary layer to improve the symbolic function in the control law. Finally, the Lyapunov function is used to prove the stability of the control system. The simulation results show that the controller designed in this article has good position tracking performance and strong anti-disturbance ability.

Fatigue Performance of Metal–Composite Friction Spot Joints

Friction spot joining is an alternative technique for joining metals with polymers and composites. This study investigated the fatigue performance of aluminum alloy 2024/carbon-fiber-reinforced poly(phenylene sulfide) joints that were produced with friction spot joining. The surface of the aluminum was pre-treated using various surface treatment methods. The joined specimens were tested under dynamic loading using a load ratio of R = 0.1 and a frequency of 5 Hz. The tests were performed at different percentages of the lap shear strength of the joint. Three models—exponential, power law, and wear-out—were used to statistically analyze the fatigue life of the joints and to draw the stress–life (S–N) curves. The joints showed an infinite life of 25–35% of their quasi-static strength at 106 cycles. The joints surpassing 106 cycles were subsequently tested under quasi-static loading, showing no considerable reduction compared to their initial lap shear strength.

Exponentiation conversion circuit capable of changing the power exponent to any value

We proposed an exponentiation conversion circuit which can change its power exponent to any value to compensate the nonlinearity of electronic devices. The proposed circuit is a small scale circuit utilizing the exponential characteristic in the subthreshold operation of MOSFET. In the proposed circuit, the new exponential conversion circuit converts signal multiplied logarithmically transformed input signal by the power exponent value, thereby obtaining the exponential power raised power function characteristic. The proposed circuit is suitable to integrate on a microcomputer chip used for IoT. The performance of the circuit was evaluated by a prototype IC made by 0.6 μm CMOS process. In measured results, the exponential conversion characteristics as set were obtained, the exponent value was set to 0.50, 1.00 and 2.00. By using the cascode exponential conversion circuit, the signal dynamic range was expanded by 5.2 dB when the exponent value was set to 2.00.