A sales agent for part manufacturers: VMSA

The sales activity of most parts manufacturing companies is based on orders of buyers. The process of promotion, receipt and selection of orders of the parts manufacturers is closely coupled with the load status of the production lines. On deciding whether to accept an order or not, as well as negotiating with buyers, sales persons need information such as load and schedule of production lines, and manufacturability of the order. Manufacturability analysis, process planning, and scheduling are therefore key features in developing an agent of sales activity for the parts manufacturing business. In this paper, an intelligent agent, a virtual manufacturing-based sales agent (VMSA) with multi-agent architecture is proposed to support the sales activity for the parts manufacturers in the Internet environment. A VMSA has an integrated architecture of agent and virtual manufacturing. The prototype of VMSA has been developed for a machine parts manufacturing company that has lathe machines, drilling machines, cutting machines, and milling machines.     

芭蕉河梯级水电站群监控系统

中小型水电站群监控系统是适合中小型流域监控的一种模式。文中简要介绍了芭蕉河水电站群的系统功能、设计原则、系统结构，并讨论了水电站群的调节方式，通过经济调度控制（EDC）可以有效地实现经济运行，提高整个水电站群的经济效益。     

某型机载武器控制系统自动测试仪的硬件设计

介绍了一种基于EC3—1541CLDNA3．5”全功能嵌入式工业主板为核心构成的嵌入式计算机自动测试系统硬件设计方案，阐述了自动检测仪的构成及工作原理；系统通过向机载武器控制系统施加指令并对其反馈信号进行自动采集、分析，实现了对被测对象的自动测试。     

EC + +与C + +嵌入式系统编程比较研究

文中主要阐述了在国外广泛应用的嵌入式系统面向对象编程语言EC ，比较了它与C 的区别，论述了EC 对嵌入式系统编程的优点。     

The Atmospheric Scanning Electron Microscope with open sample space observes dynamic phenomena in liquid or gas

Although conventional electron microscopy (EM) requires samples to be in vacuum, most chemical and physical reactions occur in liquid or gas. The Atmospheric Scanning Electron Microscope (ASEM) can observe dynamic phenomena in liquid or gas under atmospheric pressure in real time. An electron-permeable window made of pressure-resistant 100 nm-thick silicon nitride (SiN) film, set into the bottom of the open ASEM sample dish, allows an electron beam to be projected from underneath the sample. A detector positioned below captures backscattered electrons. Using the ASEM, we observed the radiation-induced self-organization process of particles, as well as phenomena accompanying volume change, including evaporation-induced crystallization. Using the electrochemical ASEM dish, we observed tree-like electrochemical depositions on the cathode. In silver nitrate solution, we observed silver depositions near the cathode forming incidental internal voids. The heated ASEM dish allowed observation of patterns of contrast in melting and solidifying solder. Finally, to demonstrate its applicability for monitoring and control of industrial processes, silver paste and solder paste were examined at high throughput. High resolution, imaging speed, flexibility, adaptability, and ease of use facilitate the observation of previously difficult-to-image phenomena, and make the ASEM applicable to various fields.     

Development and validation of an analytical method for the determination of arsenic,cadmium and lead content in powdered infant formula by means of quadrupole Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry

Cadmium (Cd), lead (Pb) and arsenic (As) can enter the food chain through the environment and/or as a consequence of the manufacturing process making foodstuffs the main human exposure route to these chemical elements. The risk associated with this exposure is of such a big concern for human health that the European Food Safety Agency recommends to reduce the exposure to Cd and Pb so as to protect especially vulnerable subgroups of population (e.g., infants). Therefore, the setting of new maximum levels (MLs) for chemical elements in infant formulae (e.g., for Cd) or the reconsideration of the existing ML for Pb is under discussion. On this basis, the availability of analytical methods, precise, accurate and sensitive enough to quantify low concentration values, is a key point especially for official control laboratories that have to state the sample compliance using a fully validated method with an associated uncertainty compliant with the requirements specified in the pertinent regulations. This work describes the development and validation of an analytical method to quantify As, Cd and Pb in powdered infant formulae based on animal protein at values of concentration close to the MLs that are likely to be set. The results obtained make the method suitable for a precise and accurate determination of these chemical elements at these low concentration values. In particular, the results for limit of quantification (LoQ) were respectively (μg kg⁻¹): As 6.2, Cd 1.2 and Pb 4.5. While for the recovery rates the following percentages were obtained: As 105%, Cd 98% and Pb 108%. The expanded uncertainties were found extremely satisfactory (Cd 13% and Pb 19%). The LoQ and the uncertainty for Pb meet the requirements set in Commission Regulation (EC) No. 333/2007 and following amendments being lower than the maximum values allowed. Even for Cd the expanded uncertainty resulted adequate in relation with the low concentration considered.     

Feature extraction and soft computing methods for aerospace structure defect classification

This study concerns the effectiveness of several techniques and methods of signals processing and data interpretation for the diagnosis of aerospace structure defects. This is done by applying different known feature extraction methods, in addition to a new CBIR-based one; and some soft computing techniques including a recent HPC parallel implementation of the U-BRAIN learning algorithm on Non Destructive Testing data. The performance of the resulting detection systems are measured in terms of Accuracy, Sensitivity, Specificity, and Precision. Their effectiveness is evaluated by the Matthews correlation, the Area Under Curve (AUC), and the F-Measure. Several experiments are performed on a standard dataset of eddy current signal samples for aircraft structures. Our experimental results evidence that the key to a successful defect classifier is the feature extraction method – namely the novel CBIR-based one outperforms all the competitors – and they illustrate the greater effectiveness of the U-BRAIN algorithm and the MLP neural network among the soft computing methods in this kind of application.     

Monitoring the presence of residues of tetracyclines in baby food samples by HPLC-MS/MS

Tetracyclin is a group of antimicrobial permitted in animal food production, but their concentrations in food of animal origin should not exceed 100 μg kg⁻¹ (in meat and milk). Although the detection of these substances above these limits involves fines and jail for the producer, residues of tetracyclines are still being detected in food a potential risk to consumer health, especially babies.In the past, baby foods were carefully prepared at homes. However, modern lifestyles have led to the commercialization of ready-made baby food. Generally, these products are made with vegetable and meat from different animals, such as pork, chicken or beef. The presence of tetracyclines in meat at concentrations above 100 μg kg⁻¹ is forbidden in Europe by the Regulation 37/2010. Consequently this concentration is also applicable to the portion of meat present in baby food. Even if the presence of tetracyclines is controlled regularly in meat, they should also be monitored in baby food as babies are vulnerable to such as drugs.A rapid analytical method based on high-performance liquid chromatography coupled to a tandem mass spectrometer (HPLC-MS/MS) for quantification of four tetracyclines (tetracycline, chlortetracycline, doxycycline and oxytetracycline) in baby food is presented. The tetracyclines are extracted with EDTA-McIlvaine buffer, acidified at pH 4.0, followed by liquid–liquid extraction with ethyl acetate. The final extract is analysed within 19 min on a Sunfire HPLC column from Waters. Validation was performed according to the Commission Decision 2002/657/EC. The mean accuracy was 103 μg kg⁻¹, and the mean precision, was less than 23% for all the tetracyclines. The method was tested on 31 prepared baby food samples containing vegetable and beef. The presence of oxytetracycline was detected in one of the samples at a concentration of 5 μg kg⁻¹.     

Optimization of millimeter wave system in ITER Equatorial EC H&CD Launcher

A high power (20 MW) and CW millimeter wave (mm-wave) injection is planned for Electron Cyclotron Heating and Current Drive (EC H&CD) in ITER. An optimization of the mm-wave system for the ITER EC H&CD Equatorial Launcher (EL) is performed. The optimization of the system is aimed to obtain the maximum transmission efficiency on the condition that 1.8 MW injection per waveguide, ∼20 cm in beam radius at the resonance layer and narrow opening of the Blanket Shielding Module (BSM). The transmission efficiency of 99.1% from the end of the waveguide inside the launcher to the output of the BSM is achieved.The mm-wave propagation with high order modes is also calculated by using an experimentally obtained high power mm-wave beam pattern that includes 95%HE₁₁, 0.6%LP₁₁, 0.2%LP₀₂ and 4.2% other higher order modes. The analysis predicts the 1–2% additional loss will be induced by the high order modes.