Influence of sub-micrometer notches on the fracture of single crystal silicon thin films

The influence of notches on the fracture of single crystal silicon thin films was investigated. The tests were conducted on notched and smooth tensile specimens micromachined on a silicon wafer. The specimen geometry was 100 μm long, 50 μm wide and 5 μm thick. For the notched specimen, a V‐shaped sub‐micrometer notch was introduced on one edge of it by using a focused ion beam (FIB) process. The notch lengths ranged from 0.07 to 1.3 μm. Four types of specimens with different surfaces and tensile orientations were tested. The smooth specimens showed scattered fracture strengths and ‘collapsed’ fractures. For the restrictive‐shaped notches, the critical length was 0.5 μm. The short‐notched (<0.5 μm) specimens also showed ‘collapsed’ fractures, and the stress concentrations on notch tips decreased their fracture strengths. For the long‐notched (>0.5 μm) specimens, the notch was equivalent to a crack in the Griffith model and the crack mainly propagated on {111} cleaved planes.     

A new methodology to guarantee the structural integrity of Al2O3/SiC composite using crack healing and a proof test

Structural ceramics are brittle and sensitive to flaws. As a result, the structural integrity of a ceramic component may be seriously affected by inherent flaws. Self-crack-healing is an excellent answer to this problem. At the moment, however, there is no technique to heal embedded flaws. Therefore, a technique to guarantee the reliability of ceramic components is demanded, and thus a technique using crack healing followed by proof test was developed by K. Ando et al. to accomplish this. With this technique, testing the mechanical behaviour of the crack-healed zone is very important for ensuring the structural integrity of a ceramic component. In this study, first Al₂O₃/SiC composite with an excellent crack-healing ability was sintered. Second, a crack was introduced on the sample (3 mm × 4 mm × 36 mm), which reduced the bending strength by about 80%, and subsequently the crack was healed. Third, a proof test was carried out on the crack-healed sample. Last, using the crack-healed and proof-tested sample, a fracture test was carried out up to 1373 K. The measured minimum fracture stress (σ_Fmin) was compared with the theoretical minimum strength (σ_G) from room temperature (R.T.) to 1373 K. It was concluded that σ_G showed good agreement with σ_Fmin up to 1373 K and that the crack healing followed by proof test was an excellent technique to increase the survival probability by administering a proof test and to guarantee the reliability of Al₂O₃/SiC composite.     

基于物性推算法的膜分离材料设计

针对渗透汽化或蒸汽渗透法进行有机溶剂混合物分离,首次提出基于物性推算法的膜分离材料设计方法。基于溶解－扩散机理模型,使用统计热力学和状态方程式为基础的GCLF－EOS模型进行溶解度计算,自由体积模型推算扩散系数,同时考虑填充型复合膜的基膜影响,建立膜渗透通量计算模型。溶解性、扩散性的物性推算结果,较好地再现芳香族有机溶剂在高分子材料中的溶解和扩散行为,复合膜的渗透通量计算值与实验测定结果基本一致。由于计算模型中不包含任何从实验直接回归参数,本设计法具有可预测性和普遍适用性。     

Socially inspired search and ranking in mobile social networking: concepts and challenges

In this paper, we provide an overview of challenges in mobile search and ranking, and envision the fundamental features that should be satisfied. We argue that two principles will help improve the relevance and quality of mobile search and ranking: the first one is to examine both intrinsic content features and context of items (usage statistics and social features, etc.); and the second one lies in that no algorithms can replace the objectivity of a human being—let users define the sites that they feel are relevant, leverage their social networks, and over time see their results become highly personalized. Specifically, wireless-virtualcommunity- based mobile search and ranking architecture is proposed in this paper, in which communities act as a first class abstraction for information sharing. Then, we introduce briefly the potential procedures of achieving high relevance and quality in mobile search and ranking based on wireless virtual community.     

综合型设备系统通信网络iopeNet概要

本篇论文介绍的是,将建筑物内部中分散存在的各类机器设备所属的原有网络在上层组成一个可联动的设备系统通信网络,即iopeNet。它具有能够轻松地搭载于嵌入式设备、组成结构重量轻、能够确保设备之间进行实时通信、与Web浏览器之间具有很高的融洽性等特点。     

Strength recovery of machined Al2O3/SiC composite ceramics by crack healing

Alumina is used in various fields as a machine component. However, it has a low fracture toughness, which is a weakness. Thus, countless cracks may be initiated randomly by machining, and these cracks decrease the component's mechanical properties and reliability. To overcome this problem, a crack‐healing ability could be a very useful technology. In this study, Al₂O₃/SiC composite was sintered. This alumina exhibits excellent crack‐healing ability. Small specimens for a bending test were made from the Al₂O₃/SiC. A semicircular groove was machined using a diamond ball‐drill. The machining reduced the local fracture stress from approximately 820–300 MPa. The machined specimens were crack‐healed under various conditions. The fracture stress of these specimens after crack healing was evaluated systematically from room temperature (RT) to 1573 K. It was found that the local fracture stress of the machined specimen recovered almost completely after crack healing. Therefore, it was concluded that crack healing could be an effective method for improving the structural integrity of machined alumina and reducing machining costs.     

MILK BASIC PROTEIN ENHANCES THE BONE STRENGTH IN OVARIECTOMIZED RATS

We studied the effects of milk basic protein (MBP) on bone metabolism in ovariectomized (OVX) rats. Five‐week‐old female Sprague‐Dawley rats were ovariectomized and fed a low‐calcium diet (0.009% Ca) for 5 weeks. The OVX rats were divided into three experimental groups: Control group (20% casein), MBP‐L group (19.9% casein, 0.1% MBP), and MBP‐H (19% casein, 1% MBP) of six animals. The rats were fed each experimental diet for 3 weeks. The bone breaking strength and energy of femur in the MBP‐H group were significantly higher than those in the control group. The bone breaking energy of femur in the MBP‐L group was also significantly higher than those in the control group. There were no differences in the amount of femoral calcium and phosphorus among the three groups, however, the amounts of femoral proline, hydroxyproline and hydroxylysine (typical amino acids of collagen) in the MBP groups were significantly higher than those in the control group. These data indicate that MBP in the whey protein increases the amount of the bone collagen and enhances the bone strength.     

Thermoirreversible Characteristics of Curdlan Gels in a Model Reduced Fat Pork Sausage

Dynamic viscoelasticity and thermal characteristics of a model reduced fat pork sausage containing curdlan were investigated. Curdlan formed thermoirreversible gels during preparation of sausage at end point temperatures that were within the range in which such gels usually transform from thermoreversible to thermoirreversible. Dynamic viscoelasticity of curdlan gels and thermal characteristics of curdlan aqueous suspensions were analyzed to help explain the physicochemical behavior of curdlan gels in sausage. Once formed curdlan gels exhibited stronger thermoirreversibility with increasing concentrations. The thermoirreversibility could be attributed to the curdlan concentration being higher than the maximum theoretical curdlan to water ratio.     

Vector Control Specialized for Switched Reluctance Motor Drives

This paper proposes vector control specialized for a switched reluctance motor (SRM) drive. Because it is a unipolar drive, a sinusoidal current with a dc offset is applied to each circuit instead of the conventional trapezoidal current. The current consists of dc and ac components which can be identified by their generation of a (virtual) rotor flux and rotating stator magnetic field, respectively. Thus, the vector control system can be developed in the same way as conventional ac machines. The proposed technique provides new mathematical models of SRMs on a rotating reference frame and achieves precise and fast torque response and advanced operations such as linear torque‐current control and maximum‐torque‐per‐ampere control. The vector control theory was verified through simulations and experiments.     

Screening of Eurotium Species for Synergists of Tocopherol

Screening of Aspergillus glaucus group (genus of Eurotium) for the isolation of synergists for tocopherol (Toe) was carried out by growing molds in malt medium with sodium chloride. The respective acetone and ethyl acetate extracts from mycelial mats and culture broth of Eurotium species were used to estimate their synergism with Toe in lard. Especially, the extracts of E. chevalieri IFO 5233, IFO 6272 and E. repens IFO 4885 contributed to inhibiting the autoxidation of lard.