Memorial University of Newfoundland

About: Memorial University of Newfoundland is a education organization based out in St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Population & Context (language use). The organization has 13818 authors who have published 27785 publications receiving 743594 citations. The organization is also known as: Memorial University & Memorial University of Newfoundland and Labrador.

An asymmetric affine Pólya–Szegö principle

Abstract: An affine rearrangement inequality is established which strengthens and implies the recently obtained affine Polya–Szego symmetrization principle for functions on \({\mathbb R^n}\) . Several applications of this new inequality are derived. In particular, a sharp affine logarithmic Sobolev inequality is established which is stronger than its classical Euclidean counterpart.

Discrete approximation and supervisory control of continuous systems

Abstract: Addresses the following hybrid control problem: a continuous plant (its state evolving in Euclidean space) is to be controlled via symbolic output feedback-both measurement and control signal "live" on finite sets of symbols. We adopt the following approach: the hybrid problem is first translated into a purely discrete problem by approximating the continuous plant model by a (nondeterministic) finite-state machine. By taking into account past measurement and control symbols, approximation accuracy can be improved and adjusted to the specification requirements. Supervisory control theory for discrete-event systems (DES) is then applied to find the optimal controller which enforces the specifications. As the behavior of the approximating automaton is guaranteed to contain the behavior of the underlying continuous plant model, the controller also forces the latter to obey the specifications.

Observations on mass atresia and skipped spawning in northern Atlantic cod, from Smith Sound, Newfoundland

Abstract: Atlantic cod Gadus morhua were collected from Smith Sound, Newfoundland in January 1999. Visual examination of females (n=150) and males (n=126) revealed that some large fish (42–79 cm) had underdeveloped gonads. Histological examination of underdeveloped ovaries indicated that the majority of these females were undergoing mass resorption of oocytes and would not have spawned in 1999. Fish in this condition included females that were aborting their first attempt at maturation and females that had spawned the previous year but were failing to re-ripen. Somatic and liver condition were significantly lower (P<0·05) for fish undergoing mass oocyte resorption than ripening females, suggesting that the interruption in the maturation cycle may have been related to insufficient nutrient storage. In males, testes of some adult fish were considered to be non-reproductive as they showed no signs of ripening and probably would not have spawned in 1999. Liver condition was significantly higher (P<0·05) for non-reproductive males than those that were ripening. Disruptions in male and female reproductive cycles may also have been related to water temperatures that were too cold (0–0·5° C) for successful gamete development. Immature gametes (perinucleolar oocytes in females; spermatogonia in males) showed no signs of breakdown in non-reproductive individuals, suggesting that they retained the potential to develop and spawn gametes in 2000.