Continuous serial thin sectioning for electron microscopy

The process of serial sectioning for electron microscopy has been refined such that loss of thin sections is kept below 0.1% and the series is continued at will. The method relies on microscopic control of all manipulative steps, Formvar casting on plate glass for coated slot grids, coating of the block with contact cement for reliable ribboning, pickup by a one-step method with grid support in the diamond knife trough, staining in LKB grid holders, gentle treatment of grids in the electron microscope, and a slight modification to the microscope for safe grid withdrawal. The results are particularly applicable to the reconstruction of neuronal microcircuits and larger volumes of neuropil.     

Improvement in the resolution of three-dimensional data sets collected using optical serial sectioning

In this paper an approach for improving the quality of 3-D microscopic images obtained through optical serial sectioning is described and implemented. A serially sectioned image is composed of a sequence of 2-D images obtained by incrementing the focusing plane of the microscope through the specimen of interest; ideally, the image obtained at each focusing plane should be in focus, and should contain information lying only within that plane. In practice, however, the images obtained contain redundant information from neighbouring focusing planes and are blurred by a three-dimensional low-pass distortion. These degradations are a consequence of the limited aperture of any optical system; using principles of geometric optics and allowing for the passage of light through the specimen, we are able to demonstrate that the microscope distortion can be described as a linear system, if the absorption of the specimen is assumed to be linear and non-diffractive. The transfer function of the microscope is found to zero a biconic region of 3-D spatial frequencies orientated along the optical axis; a closed-form expression is derived for the low-pass transfer function of the microscope outside the region of missing frequencies. The planar resolution of the serial sections can be greatly improved by convolving the image obtained with the inverse of the low-pass distortion function, although the missing cone of frequencies is not recoverable. The reconstruction technique is demonstrated using both simulated images, to demonstrate more clearly the effects of the distortion and the accuracy of the subsequent reconstruction, and actual experiments with a pollen grain and a stained preparation of human cerebellum tissue.     

Observation of three-dimensional internal structure of steel materials by means of serial sectioning with ultrasonic elliptical vibration cutting

A three-dimensional (3D) internal structure observation system based on serial sectioning was developed from an ultrasonic elliptical vibration cutting device and an optical microscope combined with a high-precision positioning device. For bearing steel samples, the cutting device created mirrored surfaces suitable for optical metallography, even for long-cutting distances during serial sectioning of these ferrous materials. Serial sectioning progressed automatically by means of numerical control. The system was used to observe inclusions in steel materials on a scale of several tens of micrometers. Three specimens containing inclusions were prepared from bearing steels. These inclusions could be detected as two-dimensional (2D) sectional images with resolution better than 1 μm. A three-dimensional (3D) model of each inclusion was reconstructed from the 2D serial images. The microscopic 3D models had sharp edges and complicated surfaces.     

Serial sectioning and digitization of porous media for two- and three-dimensional analysis and reconstruction

A procedure is proposed for serial sectioning of impregnated porous media, for photographing the sections under the microscope, and for digitizing the image using an IBM PC (XT) with a digitizing board. The result is a three-dimensional matrix containing the enhanced digitized image in a binary form of O's and I's which represent solid and pore spaces respectively. The procedure was tested on three different porous materials: (1) a pack of glass beads, 170–350 μm; (2) Berca sandstone; and (3) Elora clay loam soil. Each of these was impregnated, forty-six to eighty cross-sections were prepared by close parallel polishing of 10–50 μm per section, and then the sections were photographed and digitized. Examples of the real and digitized cross-sectioned samples are given as well as an example of reconstructed images in a plane perpendicular to the plane of sampling. It is proposed that the method of serial sectioning and automated digitization of porous media provides a powerful tool for further three-dimensional geometrical and topological investigation of pore space to be used in models of fluid transport phenomena.     

基于VB6.0串行通信中的错误预防方法

在串行通信中常出现数据传输错误的情况，本文介绍了基于VB的串行通信中的错误预防方法，并给出了相关实例。     

基于面域的火焰切割信息自动识别

在数控火焰自动编程过程中,为了实现切割信息的准确、自动识别,首先分析了排样图中包含的引入线及零件轮廓线的表达方式和特点,并对比AutoCAD中面域对象构成方式和特点,提出了基于面域的火焰切割信息自动识别方法。然后详细地阐述了识别过程,并针对识别过程中可能出现的问题,提出了有效解决方案。最后进行了信息识别试验,试验结果表明此方法方便、高效,识别结果完整、准确,为自动编制数控切割程序奠定了基础。     

基于STL文件的激光切割切口自动识别算法研究

随着板材多轴激光切割技术的广泛应用,快速、准确地识别板材上的切口形状将有效提高板材激光切割的工作效率。因此,根据板材五轴激光切割技术的特点,鉴于STL文件的诸多良好特性,提出了基于STL文件的凸型板材模型切口形状的自动识别算法,并利用Visual C＋＋6.0平台、C＋＋语言和OpenGL进行了可行性验证。算法实例表明,该算法简单有效。     

Recursive algorithm for modeling non-linear etching rates in reactive plasma jet based optical surface machining of borosilicate crown glass

Application-specific optical glass properties are achieved by utilizing complex material compositions. This can be problematic in reactive plasma-assisted deterministic surface processing since a non-volatile surface layer may form depending on the glass composition, which affects the etch rate and thereby the local etching depth. In this investigation, a model algorithm is proposed to tackle some restrictions in applying fluorine-based plasma jet as etching tool utilized for freeform surface machining of optics made of complex glass composition, like borosilicate crown glass (e.g., N-BK7®). In this regard, firstly an analytical model is proposed for estimating the depth-dependent etch rate function. Subsequently, a recursive simulation algorithm is introduced for convolving the derived depth-dependent etch rate function with the given dwell time matrix to simulate a deterministic freeform generation process. By the proposed simulation algorithm, the impeding influence of the residual layer on the reduction of etching depth is computed prior to a real experiment in order to scale the local dwell time to ensure the targeted local removal. Finally, the simulated freeform shape is compared with the corresponding result of an etching experiment to validate the feasibility of the proposed approach.     

Flow regime identification of steam-water two-phase flow using optical probes,based on local parameters in vertical tube bundles

Flow regime identification based on local parameters of axial upward two-phase flow in vertical tube bundles, at high-temperature and high-pressure, was performed using optical probes. A staggered arrangement of the tube bundles was simulated inside a non-circular test channel, the tube size and pitch are same as that in a real steam generator of a PWR under design. Optical probes were utilized to acquire the void fraction, interface frequency, and fluctuation characteristics of the local void fraction at two typical locations (centroid of the three tubes, named op-1, and centre of the minimum gap between two tubes, named op-2). The system pressure ranged from 5 to 9 MPa, mass flux from 100 to 350 kg m⁻² s⁻¹, thermodynamic steam quality from 0 to 1, and inlet fluid temperature from 263.9 to 303.3 °C, depending on the saturation pressure. This study investigated local parameters and flow pattern characteristics of high-pressure steam-water two-phase flow in vertical tube bundles using optical probes, with the measurement error of less than 2%. Results showed that local void fraction at op-1 was much larger than that at op-2, and the local void fraction difference between op-1 and op-2 increased first and then gradually decreased, which was primarily affected by the transition in flow regimes. The flow pattern characteristics of steam-water two-phase flow were described based on three aspects, namely, variation in interface frequency with local void fraction, fluctuation characteristics of local void fraction, and statistical analysis of local void fraction deviating from the average. Additionally, the flow regime identification criteria, applicable to the steam-water two-phase flow in vertical tube bundles, were proposed based on local parameters.     

基于图元的三维离散元法边界建模方法

为实现由三维计算机辅助设计模型（三维计算机辅助设计软件设计图）建立边界的三维离散元法分析模型,提出一种基于图元的三维离散元法边界建模方法及实边界图元和虚边界图元的概念。在此基础上,建立了圆形平面、圆锥面和圆柱面等二十余种三维图元与球体颗粒的接触检测、接触点求解,以及接触叠合量的计算方法,并通过几个实例,验证了该边界建模方法的正确性和有效性,为设计阶段的计算机辅助设计模型进行机械部件工作过程的仿真分析奠定了基础。     

Prediction of cutting force for ball end mill in sculptured surface based on analytic model of CWE and ICCE

Abstract

The force prediction is the precondition of improving equipment utilization ratio and optimizing process for CNC machining. Cutter-workpiece engagement (CWE) and in-cut cutting edge (ICCE) are the keys. In this article, a new analytic method of CWE and ICCE is proposed for ball end milling of sculptured surface and the prediction model of milling force is established. The sculptured surface is discretized into a series of infinitesimal inclined planes corresponding to cutter location points. The geometry relationships of cutter axis, feed direction and inclined plane are defined parametrically. The boundary curves and the boundary inflection points of the CWE are obtained by intersecting spatial standard curved surfaces with rotation transformation of coordinate system. The effective intersection points of the CWE and the cutter edge curve in X_c-Y_ctwo-dimensional plane are the upper and lower boundary points of ICCE. Based on the instantaneous chip thickness considering arbitrary feed direction, the force prediction model for ball end mill of three-axis surface milling is established. Simulation and experiment show that CWE and ICCE calculated by analytic method are well consistent with those of solid method. The predicted cutting forces match well with the measurements both in magnitude and variation trend.     

A multi-point optical fibre sensor for condition monitoring in process water systems based on pattern recognition

Preliminary results are presented for a multi-point optical fibre sensor designed to detect the presence of chemical species in water at spatial intervals of greater than 20 m. The sensor is addressed using optical time domain reflectometry (OTDR) with a spatial resolution of 10 m. The optical signals arising from the OTDR are highly complex due to interfering effects from external parameters such as localised fibre straining and temperature changes. Because of this level of complexity it has been found advantageous to use artificial neural networks (ANNs) as classifiers on the OTDR signals. The preliminary system has been trained initially to recognise only the presence of water, although it is planned to extend this capability to recognise the presence of contaminants in the water such as bacteria and chemical pollutants. Initial investigations show that different contaminants and interfering parameters (cross-sensitivities) may give rise to characteristic signatures on the OTDR signal which may be identified by the pattern recognition software.     

RF fingerprint measurements for the identification of devices in wireless communication networks based on feature reduction and subspace transformation

This document proposes a radiofrequency (RF) fingerprinting strategy for the proper identification of wireless devices in mobile and wireless networks. The proposed identification methods are based on the extraction of the preamble RF fingerprint of a device and its comparison with a set of already known device RF fingerprints. The identification method combines techniques for feature reduction such as Principal Component Analysis (PCA) and Partial Least Squares regression (PLS), both based on subspace transformation, along with a similarity-based analysis. In this work, a complete procedure for RF fingerprint data extraction and analysis is provided. In addition, some experimentation with commercial Wi-Fi devices is carried out for the methods validation.