Interactive Cover Design Considering Physical Constraints

We developed an interactive system to design a customized cover for a given three‐dimensional (3D) object such as a camera, teapot, or car. The system first computes the convex hull of the input geometry. The user segments it into several cloth patches by drawing on the 3D surface. This paper provides two technical contributions. First, it introduces a specialized flattening algorithm for cover patches. It makes each two‐dimensional edge in the flattened pattern equal to or longer than the original 3D edge; a smaller patch would fail to cover the object, and a larger patch would result in extra wrinkles. Second, it introduces a mechanism to verify that the user‐specified opening would be large enough for the object to be removed. Starting with the initial configuration, the system virtually “pulls” the object out of the cover while avoiding excessive stretching of cloth patches. We used the system to design real covers and confirmed that it functions as intended.     

Ergonomic design and evaluation of the handle for an endoscopic dissector

The purpose of this study was to design an endoscopic dissector handle and objectively assess its usability. The handles were designed with increased contact area between the fingers and thumb and the eye rings, and the eye rings were modified to have a more perpendicular insertion angle to the finger midline. Four different handle models were compared, including a conventional product. Subjects performed dissection, exclusion, grasping, precision manipulation and precision handling tasks. Electromyography and subjective evaluations were measured. Compared to conventional handles, the designated handle reduced the muscle load in the extensor and flexor muscles of the forearm and increased subjective stability. The activity of the first dorsal interosseous muscle was sometimes influenced by the shape of the other parts. The ergonomically designed endoscopic dissector handle used in this study achieved high usability. Medical instrument designs based on ergonomic concepts should be assessed with objective indices.

Practitioner Summary: The endoscopic dissector handles were designed with increased contact area and more suitable insertion angle between the fingers and thumb and the eye rings. Compared to conventional handles, the designated handle reduced the muscle load in the extensor and flexor muscles of the forearm and increased subjective stability.     

A Face Identification System Based on the Mahalanobis–Taguchi System

In this paper, we propose a face identification system based on the Mahalanobis–Taguchi System (MTS). The MTS is one of the pattern recognition methods frequently used in quality engineering, and can perform robust pattern recognition by using training data, including noise. It is likely that this advantage will allow the effective implementation of a robust face identification system against lighting and face position fluctuations. Moreover, the MTS can optimize the number of attributes required for identification by using the orthogonal array and the signal/noise (SN) ratio. The face identification system has to deal with many users and the amount of data in a facial image is large. Therefore, the time required for identification can be decreased and the amount of data in the facial image database can be reduced by performing the optimization. We confirmed the effectiveness of the proposed system through practical experiments. The experimental results revealed that the MTS was an effective method for robust face identification, and could effectively reduce the number of attributes required for identification.     

Proof of termination within a weak logic of programs

Summary A weak logic of programs is a formal system in which statements that mean the program halts cannot be expressed. In order to prove termination, we would usually have to use a stronger logical system. In this paper we show how we can prove termination of both iterative and recursive programs within a weak logic by augmenting the programs with counters and adding bound assertions on the counters as loop invariants and entry conditions. Thus, most of the existing verifiers which are based on a weak logic of programs can be used to prove termination of programs without any modification. We give examples of proofs of termination and of upper bounds on computation time that were obtained using a Pascal program verifier. The use of the method to locate causes of non-termination is also illustrated.This research was supported inpart by the Advanced Research Agency of the Office of the Secretary of Defence under contract DAHC 15-73-C-0435     

Theoretical and evolutionary parameter tuning of neural oscillators with a double-chain structure for generating rhythmic signals

A neural oscillator with a double-chain structure is one of the central pattern generator models used to simulate and understand rhythmic movements in living organisms. However, it is difficult to reproduce desired rhythmic signals by tuning an enormous number of parameters of neural oscillators. In this study, we propose an automatic tuning method consisting of two parts. The first involves tuning rules for both the time constants and the amplitude of the oscillatory outputs based on theoretical analyses of the relationship between parameters and outputs of the neural oscillators. The second involves an evolutionary tuning method with a two-step genetic algorithm (GA), consisting of a global GA and a local GA, for tuning parameters such as neural connection weights that have no exact tuning rule. Using numerical experiments, we confirmed that the proposed tuning method could successfully tune all parameters and generate sinusoidal waves. The tuning performance of the proposed method was less affected by factors such as the number of excitatory oscillators or the desired outputs. Furthermore, the proposed method was applied to the parameter-tuning problem of some types of artificial and biological wave reproduction and yielded optimal parameter values that generated complex rhythmic signals in Caenorhabditis elegans without trial and error.     

Antiferromagnetic ordering of enhanced nuclear spin in Cs2NaHoCl6

The field dependence of the magnetic susceptibility at low temperatures was investigated in a single crystal of Cs₂NaHoCl₆. The result is well explained by the second-order Zeeman splitting of the electronic ground state with a nonmagnetic ₃ doublet. Enhanced nuclear cooling experiments were carried out. Antiferromagnetic ordering of the enhanced nuclear spin system was observed at about 1.5 mK.     

Colorimetric microdetermination of sulphites in foods by use of the modified rankine apparatus. IV.

Summary Detection and determination of traces of sulphites in foods was attempted by use of the modified Rankine apparatus and pararosaniline colorimetry. Replacement of alkaline titration reported previously by pararosaniline colorimetry lowered the absolute detection limit from 30 g (titration method) to 2 g. In view of clean analysis, in the color developing system, 0.1 N-sodium hydroxide was used in place of mercuric chloride solution commonly used as an absorbant of sulphites. In order to prevent oxidative decomposition of sulphites during operation, nitrogen gas was used as carrier instead of air. Dimedone and sodium azide were used for the elimination of aldehydes and nitrites, respecitvely, in the sample, which will disturb the color development of sulphites with pararosaniline-formaldehyde reagents. With this improved method, it was possible to determine the residual sulphites in frozen peeled shrimps, sugared beans and other foods with low sulphite contents accurately.

---

Colorimetrische Mikrobestimmung von Sulfiten in Lebensmitteln bei Anwendung der modifizierten IV. Rankine Apparatur

Zusammenfassung Geringe Sulfitmengen in Lebensmitteln (geschälte Garnelen, gezuckerte Bohnen) können colorimetrisch bestimmt werden. Die neuentwickelte Methode beruht auf einer Kombination von colorimetrischer Bestimmung mittels p-Rosanilin und der Bestimmungsmethode nach Rankine. Auf diese Weise lassen sich Gehalte von 2 g noch genau bestimmen. Bei der Farbentwicklung wurde das giftige Quecksilbertetrachlorid durch 0.1 n-NaOH ersetzt, anstelle von Luft Stickstoff als Trägergas verwendet und somit eine Oxydation des Sulfits während der Bestimmung vermieden. Da Nitrit und Aldehyde die Farbentwicklung stören, wurde ihr Einfluß durch Dimedon und Natriumazid ausgeschaltet.

---

---

Studies on the Analyses of Sulphites in Foods (IV)     

Solidification of coal fly ash using hydrothermal processing method

Solidification of Coal Fly-ash (CFA) has been carried out using a hydrothermal processing method. In the hydrothermal processing, the CFA was first compacted in a mold at 20 - 50 MPa, and then hydrothermally cured in an autoclave. The hydrothermal curing was performed at 150 – 250°C for 15 – 60 h. The experimental results showed that NaOH solution, Ca(OH)₂ content, compaction pressure, autoclave curing temperature and time significantly affected the strength of solidified bodies. The most important strength-producing constituent in the solidified bodies produced with CFA was tobermorite, or tobermorite-like calcium silicate hydrate. When the CaO/SiO₂ ratio of the starting material was close to 0.83, tobermorite readily formed and the formed tobermorite enhanced the strength of solidified bodies. The tensile strength determined by the Brazilian test reached more than 10 MPa under the hydrothermal processing. As such, the hydrothermal processing method may provide a high potential for recycling CFA on a large scale.     

A 950-MHz rectifier circuit for sensor network tags with 10-m distance

This paper presents a 950-MHz wireless power transmission system and a high-sensitivity rectifier circuit for ubiquitous sensor network tags. The wireless power transmission offers a battery-life-free sensor tag by recharging the output power of a base station into a secondary battery implemented with the tag. For realizing the system, a high-sensitivity rectifier with dynamic gate-drain biasing has been developed in a 0.3-/spl mu/m CMOS process. The measurement results show that the proposed rectifier can recharge a 1.2-V secondary battery over -14-dBm input RF power at a power conversion efficiency of 1.2%. In the proposed wireless system, this sensitivity corresponds to 10-m distance communication at 4-W output power from a base station.