Integration of mobile vehicles for automated material handlingusing Profibus and IEEE 802.11 networks

This paper focuses on a method to integrate mobile devices such as a mobile robot, automated guided vehicle, and unmanned container transporter to form an automated material handling system. In this paper, the stationary devices are connected via a Profibus network while the mobile devices are communicating via an IEEE 802.11 wireless LAN. In order to integrate these two networks, a protocol converter is developed on a PC platform that runs two interacting processes with shared internal buffers. The protocol converter performs a role of translator between two different protocols by converting the format of a data frame. In addition to this basic conversion function, the protocol converter has a virtual polling algorithm to reduce the uncertainty involved in accessing the wireless network. Finally, the integrated network. of Profibus and IEEE 802.11 is experimentally evaluated for its data latency and throughput, which shows the feasibility of the Profibus-IEEE 802.11 network for industrial applications involving mobile devices     

Extraction of penicillin G from simulated media by an emulsion liquid membrane process

The extraction of penicillin G from simulated media was performed by water/oil/water (w/o/w) emulsion liquid membranes (ELMs) and studied under various operational conditions in a batch system. The degree of extraction achieved was between 80% and 95% under specific conditions. A concentration of greater than nine times the initial concentration of penicillin G in the external phase was obtained in the internal phase. The pH of the internal aqueous solution, containing a basic salt, was theoretically calculated on the basis of the amount of penicillin G transported into the internal phase. The calculated results agreed with the experimental data well and were used to select a suitable type and concentration of a basic salt in the internal phase to give a pH within the range 5 to 8 where penicillin G was stable after the termination of extraction. The extraction of penicillin G was successfully performed by the ELM process with sodium carbonate in the internal phase.     

Application of artificial neural networks to the analysis of two‐dimensional fluorescence spectra in recombinant E coli fermentation processes

A two‐dimensional (2D) spectrofluorometer was used to monitor various fermentation processes with recombinant E coli for the production of 5‐aminolevulinic acid (ALA). The whole fluorescence spectral data obtained during a process were analyzed using artificial neural networks, ie self‐organizing map (SOM) and feedforward backpropagation neural network (BPNN). The SOM‐based classification of the whole spectral data has made it possible to qualitatively associate some process parameters with the normalized weights and variances, and to select some useful combinations of excitation and emission wavelengths. Based on the classified fluorescence spectra a supervised BPNN algorithm was used to predict some of the process parameters. It was also shown that the BPNN models could elucidate some sections of the process's performance, eg forecasting the process's performance. Copyright © 2005 Society of Chemical Industry     

Differentially coherent code acquisition in the MIMO-aided multi-carrier DS-CDMA downlink

Both differentially coherent and non-coherent code acquisition schemes designed for the multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO)-aided multi-carrier (MC)-DS-CDMA downlink are analysed, when communicating over uncorrelated Rayleigh channels. The attainable mean acquisition time (MAT) performance is studied as a function of both the number of multiple transmit/multiple receive antennas and that of the number of subcarriers. It is demonstrated that in contrast to the expectations, when the number of multiple transmit antennas and/or that of the subcarriers is increased in both the differentially coherent and the non-coherent code acquisition scenarios, the achievable MAT deteriorates over the entire signal-to-interference plus noise ratio (SINR) per chip (E_c/I_o) range considered, except for the scenario of single-carrier (SC)-DS-CDMA using P = 2 transmit antennas and R = 1 receive antenna. As expected, the degree of performance degradation depends upon the specific scheme and the E_c/I_o ratio considered, although paradoxically, the correctly synchronised MIMO-aided system is capable of attaining its target bit error ratio performance at reduced SINR values.     

Hydrodynamic characteristics of a FCC regenerator

The hydrodynamic and gas mixing characteristics have been determined in a FCC regenerator (0.48 m I.D.x3.4 m high) with FCC particles. Solids holdup in the dense bed decreases with increasing gas velocity, but it increases in the freeboard region. The bubble/void fraction increases with an increase along the bed height at a given gas velocity and increases with increasing gas velocity at a constant bed height. Backmixed tracer gas at the wall region is higher than that at the center region of the bed. The gas backmixing coefficient decreases with increasing gas velocity.     

Infrared reflectance and transmission spectra of semiconducting non-stoichiometric CdGe x As2

The infrared reflectance and transmission spectra of amorphous CdGe _x As₂ were investigated to study the amorphous structure with varying Ge content. The mid-infrared optical absorption edges of amorphous CdGe _x As₂ with 0<x<1.2, were observed in the range 1.6–1.7 m, indicating a structural similarity in short-range order throughout. Comparing the reflectance and transmission spectra of amorphous and devitrified crystalline phases established that the structures of amorphous CdGe _x As₂ transformed from the CdAs₂ basic structure to the chalcopyrite (CdGeAs₂) structure, as one progressed fromx=0 tox=1.2. The infrared spectra were interpreted interactively with radial distribution function, magnetic susceptibility, density measurements, and crystallization studies. The crystallization behaviour of amorphous CdGe _x As₂ that was heat treated at different temperatures was investigated using far-infrared transmission spectra.     

Immobilizing chromium in stainless steel slags with MnO addition

This work investigates the stabilizing impact of MnO on the leaching behavior of hazardous Cr-containing CaO-SiO₂-Al₂O₃-Cr₂O₃-MnO stainless steel slags after equilibrating at various elevated temperatures and evaluates the potential immobilization of Cr into a MnCr₂O₄ spinel phase from the existing Cr₂O₃ phase. The MnCr₂O₄ spinel phase was found to be an excellent Cr-stabilizer in stainless steel slags, where the leaching tendency of potentially hazardous Cr-related ions decreased with higher MnO content and lower equilibration temperatures within the range of 0 to 15 mass pct. and 1500 to 1300°C, respectively. Thermodynamic calculations by conducting the phase stability diagram also showed that the MnCr₂O₄ spinel phase was relatively stable and the Ca₃Si₂O₇ (Ca_3-xMn_xSi₂O₇) phase was relatively unstable compared with other crystal phases in acid extractant with pH value of 3.2. Combined with the scanning electron microscopy and X-ray powder diffraction results along with the thermodynamic calculations, the leached Cr-related ions was predominantly originating from the unstable amorphous glass phase.     

Viscosity of high-entropy melts in the Cu—Bi—Sn—In—Pb system

High-entropy melts in the Cu—Bi—Sn—In—Pb system have been studied by viscosity measurements during heating and subsequent cooling. The experimental data have been used to determine the temperatures at which microinhomogeneities in the melts irreversibly disappear.     

Preparation of bao-pbo-nd2o3-tio2 powders by hydrothermal synthesis

Homogeneous and nano-sized BPNT [(Ba_1-xPb_x)Nd₂Ti₅O₁₄] powders were prepared under various hydrothermal conditions. Crystallinity and homogeneity of the synthetic powders were investigated. The microwave dielectric properties of the filters prepared with hydrothermal powders were compared with those of the filters prepared with conventional powders. The microwave dielectric properties of the filter prepared with the hydrothermal powders were also better than those of the filter manufactured with the conventional powders. The dielectric constant, quality constant and temperature coefficient of resonance frequency of hydrothermally prepared filter under optimum condition and measured at 3.5 GHz around were about 93, 6067 and 0 ppm/°C, respectively.     

Carbon nanotube field emitters for planar emission vacuum micro-and nanoelectronics

The design and manufacturing technology of carbon nanotube field emitters for novel devices of planar emission vacuum micro-and nanoelectronics are described. Prototypes of diode structures with such emitters are obtained in which the threshold field strength amounts to ～2 V/μm and the direct to reverse current ratio exceeds 10⁵. The obtained small scatter of characteristics points to the possibility of creating integrated circuits possessing high operation speed and a working temperature range expanded from ?60 to +30°C.