Impedance, attenuation and power-handling characteristics of doubleL-septa waveguides

Rectangular waveguides with two L-shaped septa attached to the broad walls in antipodal configuration have been shown theoretically by the authors (see ibid. vol.40, no.4, p.777-781, 1992) to be an improved variant of the double T-septa guide having larger cut-off wavelength and broader bandwidth of the dominant TE mode. Numerical data on the attenuation, impedance, and power handling capability of this new type of broadband guide are presented as additional design information     

Dynamics Modelling of Hexaslides using the Decoupled Natural Orthogonal Complement Matrices

In this paper, dynamic model of a class of parallel systems, namely, the hexaslides, is proposed. The model developed is based on the concept the decoupled natural orthogonal complement (DeNOC) matrices, introduced elsewhere. The dynamic model of hexslides, though complex due to the existence of multi-loop kinematic chains, is required for actuator power estimation, computed-torque control, optimum tool trajectory generation, etc. The use of DeNOC offers many physical interpretations, recursive algorithms, and parallel computations. Using the proposed dynamic model, a parallel inverse dynamics algorithm has been presented to compute the actuator forces. This is useful to choose suitable motors for an application. An illustration is provided using an existing machine tool based on hexaslides, namely, the HexaM, while it is carrying out a circular contouring. Secondly, the effect of leg and slider inertias is also studied, which clearly suggests that neither of these can be neglected while finding the actuator forces.     

Evaluation of the reactivity of titanium with mould materials during casting

A methodology for evaluating the reactivity of titanium with mould materials during casting has been developed. Microhardness profiles and analysis of oxygen contamination have provided an index for evaluation of the reactivity of titanium. Microhardness profile delineates two distinct regions, one of which is characterised by a low value of hardness which is invariant with distance. The reaction products are uniformly distributed in the metal in this region. The second is characterised by a sharp decrease in microhardness with distance from the metal-mould interface. It represents a diffusion zone for solutes that dissolve into titanium from the mould. The qualitative profiles for contaminants determined by scanning electron probe microanalyser and secondary ion mass spectroscopy in the as-cast titanium were found to be similar to that of microhardness, implying that microhardness can be considered as an index of the contamination resulting from metal-mould reaction.     

The pattern of inflammation in rat sepsis due to enterotoxin-producing Staphylococcus aureus: a comparison with ischemia-reperfusion injury

Sepsis and trauma have similarities in their immunopathologic profiles. Both conditions can result in multi-system organ failure which is sometimes associated with cytokine generation and inflammatory cell activation. Furthermore, decreases in peripheral blood monocyte expression of HLA-DR have been noted in both human sepsis and trauma. However, the magnitude, onset, and time course of such stimuli are often difficult to ascertain in human studies. Thus, to study a more detailed in vivo immunologic profile in these conditions, rat models were employed. Our aim was to describe and analyze cytokine and peripheral blood immunophenotype patterns in bacterially induced rat sepsis and to compare this to rat ischemia-reperfusion injury. Sprague-Dawley rats underwent either bacterial injection with enterotoxin producing Staphylococcus aureus or hind limb ischemia/ reperfusion. Two bacterial doses which were either lethal or sublethal at 24-48 hours were utilized. Peripheral blood neutrophils and B-lymphocytes were studied for expression of beta-integrins (CD11b and CD11b/c) and I-A, respectively, using flow cytometry. Corresponding plasma levels of TNF alpha and interferon gamma were measured by ELISA. At 24 hr, a lethal bacterial lethal bacterial dose injection resulted in significantly higher levels of neutrophil CD11b/c expression (p < 0.005) compared with ischemia-reperfusion treatment. B-cell I-A expression was also higher in lethal sepsis. Gamma interferon levels were significantly higher in lethal sepsis compared with ischemia-reperfusion (p = 0.005). Studies over time showed that CD11b expression and interferon gamma were both more marked at 6 hr than at 24 hr in lethal sepsis. This pattern was not observed in sublethal sepsis or in ischemia-reperfusion. CD11b/c expression on the other hand remained elevated at comparable levels at 6 and 24 hr in lethal sepsis. B-cell I-A expression in ischemia-reperfusion and sublethal sepsis decreased at 24 hr compared with baseline. Lethal sepsis in rats injected with enterotoxin producing staphylococcus results in phasic alterations in neutrophil CD11b and plasma interferon levels prior to death. In analogy to the findings of monocyte decreases in DR expression observed in human trauma and sepsis, rat B-cell I-A expression showed decreases in sublethal sepsis as well as in ischemia-reperfusion injury. However, this was not observed in lethal sepsis. These findings have implications in understanding the immunologic/inflammatory changes observed in human sepsis and trauma.     

Hierarchical Fuzzy Systems Integrated with Particle Swarm Optimization for Daily Reference Evapotranspiration Prediction: a Novel Approach

Water Resources Management - Reference evapotranspiration (ET0) is a crucial element for deriving irrigation scheduling of major crops. Thus, precise projection of ET0 is essential for better...     

Optimisation of solar photovoltaic (PV) parameters using meta-heuristics

Microsystem Technologies - This paper presents a critical analysis of the meta-heuristic techniques used in various researches on the optimisation of photovoltaic (PV) parameters, which involves...     

Abrasion Resistance of Field-Assisted Ion-Exchanged Glass

The fracture strength of HF-etched samples was measured as a function of field-assisted K-Na ion exchange depth, as well as the severity of abrasion. As expected, the more severe the abrasion, the greater the depth required to make the strength insensitive to abrasion. An abrasion-independent weakening mechanism that increased with exchange depth was also found to be operative.