Analysis of run-in process for PC manufacturing

This paper gives a review of the methodology used to tune the run-in process of a PC manufacturing line. It shows in some detail the analysis carried-out on the test data gathered on the manufacturing line and presents a clear picture of the run-in process in order to choose the best compromise between process efficiency and costs.     

Step response classification for model-based autotuning via polygonal curve approximation

A model-based autotuning method consists of an identification and a regulator tuning phase. To achieve satisfactory performance and robustness, it is advisable that both phases be tailored a priori to the characteristics of the observed process dynamics. Such characteristics include, but are not limited to, the model structure. For example, overdamped and underdamped models with the same pole-zero structure are parametrised and controlled in different ways. Step response data, that are typically used for the identification phase in the autotuning context, can also be pre-processed to reveal those characteristics. This paper presents a step response classification method suitable for the above purpose. The method is based on a polygonal curve approximation technique for data pre-processing, followed by a neural network classifier. Only normalised I/O data are employed, so that the neural network can be trained off-line with simulated data. Simulation results are reported to show the effectiveness of the proposed classification method in terms of the achievable tuning results.     

Symbolic analysis of linear polyhedra

This paper concerns several analytical problems related to linear polyhedra in euclidean three-dimensional-space. Symbolic formulas for line, surface, and volume integration are given, and it is shown that domain integrals are computable in polynomial time. In particular, it is shown that mass, first and second moments, and products of inertia are computable inO(E) time, whereE is the number of edges of the boundary. Simple symbolic expressions for the normal derivatives of domain integrals are also derived. In particular, it is shown that they are closely linked to the topology of the integration domain, as well as that they are expressible as combinations of domain integrals over lower-order domains (faces, edges, and vertices). The symbolic results presented in this paper may lead to an easy incorporation of integral constraints, for example, concerning mass and inertia, in the engineering designing process of solid objects.     

Flavonoids of “La Alcarria” honey A study of their botanical origin

Summary The flavonoids present in ten selected samples of La Alcarria honey with different pollen compositions have been HPLC analysed in order to establish if correlations between botanical origin and flavonoid profiles are possible. A common flavonoid pattern is observed in the different samples showing that pollen is not the main source of honey flavonoids. A close correlation between the flavonoid patterns of honey flavonoids and propolis flavonoids has been found suggesting that flavonoid analysis could be more useful in geographical origin determinations than in botanical origin studies.

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Flavonoide des La-Alcarria-Honigs Eine Studie ihres botanischen Ursprungs

Zusammenfassung Die Flavonoide in Proben in Alcarria-Honig mit unterschiedlicher Pollenzusammensetzung wurden untersucht, um Kortrelationen zwischen dem botanischen Ursprung und den möglichen Flavonoiden zu finden. In den verschiedenen Proben wurde ein Flavonoid-Muster gefunden, wobei der Pollen nicht die Hauptquelle der Honigflavonoide ist. Es wurde jedoch eine enge Korrelation zwischen den Flavonoid-Mustern des Honigs und des Bienenkittharzes gefunden, was für die geographische Herkunft wichtiger ist als die botanische.

     

Vessel Inspection: A Micro-Aerial Vehicle-based Approach

Vessel maintenance entails periodic visual inspections of the internal and external parts of the hull in order to detect the typical defective situations affecting metallic structures, such as coating breakdown, corrosion, cracks, etc. The main goal of project MINOAS is the automation of the inspection process, currently undertaken by human surveyors, by means of a fleet of robotic agents. This paper overviews an approach to the inspection problem based on an autonomous Micro Aerial Vehicle (MAV) which, as part of this fleet, is in charge of regularly supplying images that can teleport the surveyor from a base station to the areas of the hull to be inspected. The control software approach adopted for the MAV is fully described, with a special emphasis on the self-localization capabilities of the vehicle. Experimental results showing the suitability of the platform to the application are as well reported and discussed.     

PORE-MOUTH POISONING OF NON-UNIFORM CATALYSTS

Impurity poisoning of a catalyst particle having a non-uniform activity distribution is analyzed. Equations that relate the position of the poison-front with time for different activity profiles are derived. It is shown that the effect of the activity distribution on the poisoning rate is apparent in the case of intraparticle-diffusion control. The performance of a non-uniform bifunctional catalyst in such conditions is also studied.     

Thermodynamic interactions of branched polyethylene in polar and nonpolar systems

The thermodynamic properties of polymer solutions are frequently described in terms of the Flory-Huggins equation. This equation includes a parameter χ, which depends upon the intermolecular forces acting between the molecules in a solution. The experimental determination of χ was performed by an improved microtechnique and extended to a wide range of polar and nonpolar diluents of polyethylene. Careful correlations are prescribed for calculating χ from pure-component properties; they are based on an extension of the Hildebrand-Scatchard theory of solutions and on the theory of intermolecular forces. Polar (τ) and nonpolar (δ) solubility parameters are presented for a variety of solvents. For polyethylene—nonpolar solvent systems we have emphasized the factor deciding the sign of heat of mixing, while for polyethylene-polar solvent systems we have determined the contribution of dipole-induced dipole interactions ψ (δτ) in interchange-energy density B and, hence, χ.     

An approach to reduce energy consumption and performance losses on heterogeneous servers using power capping

Journal of Scheduling - Rapid growth of demand for remote computational power, along with high energy costs and infrastructure limits, has led to treating power usage as a primary constraint in...