Evolutionary design of dynamic neural networks for evaporator control

This paper presents a novel neural network (NN) to control an ammonia refrigerant evaporator. Inspired by the latest findings on the biological neuron, a dynamic synaptic unit (DSU) is proposed to enhance the information processing capacity of artificial neurons. Treating the dynamic synaptic activity after the nonlinear somatic activity helps to capture the dynamics demarcated by the Gaussian activation pertaining to the input space. This practice leads to a remarkable reduction in curse of dimensionality. The proposed NN architecture has been compared with two other conventional architectures; one with dynamic neural units (DNUs) and the other with nonlinear static functions as perceptrons. The objective is to control evaporator heat flow rate and secondary fluid outlet temperature while keeping the degree of refrigerant superheat in the range 4–7 K at the evaporator outlet by manipulating refrigerant and evaporator secondary fluid flow rates. The drawbacks of conventional approaches to this problem are discussed, and how the novel method can overcome them are presented. An evolutionary approach is adopted to optimize the parameters of the NN controllers. Then evaporator process model is accomplished as a combination of governing equations and a sub NN resulting in a simple and sufficiently accurate model. The effectiveness of the proposed dynamic NN controller for the evaporator system model is validated using experimental data from the ammonia refrigeration plant.     

Preparation of carbon microparticle assemblies from phenolic resin using an inverse opal templating method

Three-dimensionally (3D) well-ordered carbon microparticle assemblies with different particle morphologies were fabricated by infiltration of phenolic resin solution into SiO₂ inverse opal structures and subsequent carbonization. The effect of the phenolic resin solution concentration and the carbonization temperature on the morphology of the fabricated carbon microparticles was investigated. At a carbonization temperature of 1000 °C, carbon microparticles with interlocked bridges were obtained when the concentration of phenolic resin solution is 40 wt% and hollow carbon microparticles with opened window channels were obtained at a concentration of 30–35 wt%. When the carbonization temperature was decreased to 500 °C, carbon microparticles with interlocked bridges also were observed, even when the phenolic resin concentration was 30 wt%. The structures and properties of the carbon microparticles and their assemblies were characterized using SEM, XRD, and N₂ adsorption.     

Magnetization Curve of Two-Dimensional Anti-ferromagnetic Solid 3He on Graphite

Two-dimensional anti-ferromagnetic solid ³He on graphite, so called 4/7 phase, is a highly frustrated magnetic system and its ground state is considered to be a gapless spin liquid. Then how is the behavior in high magnetic fields? We tried to observe the magnetization curve at around 1 mK in high magnetic fields up to 10 T, using a Faraday-type magnetometer. To eliminate a large background signal from graphite as a substrate and copper as a thermal link, a double gradient coil system is employed to produce opposite field gradients in two regions equidistant from the field center. Preliminary results of the 4/7 phase on graphite show no saturated magnetization even at 1 mK and 10 T, suggesting the existence of magnetization plateau.     

Transient analysis of an advanced static var compensator using quad-series voltage-source PAM inverters

This paper deals with an advanced static Var compensator (ASVC) using quad-series voltage-source PAM inverters. The ASVC consists of four three-phase voltage-source inverters with a common dc capacitor and four three-phase transformers, each primary winding of which is connected in series with each other. Each inverter outputs a square-wave voltage, while the synthesized output voltage of the ASVC has a 24-step wave shape. This results not only in a great reduction of harmonic currents and dc voltage ripples but also in fewer switching and snubbing losses. In this paper, transient analysis is performed with the focus on the response of reactive power and the resonance between the dc capacitor and ac reactors. Experimental results obtained from a small-rated laboratory model of 10 kVA are also shown to verify analytical results based on the p-q transformation. The analytical results help in the design of system parameters such as the capacity of the dc capacitor and feedback gains.     

Elimination of artifacts in MRCP: technical consideration

Artifacts of MR cholangiopancreatography (MRCP) include fluid-filled gastrointestinal tracts, respiratory motion artifacts, spasm of Oddi's sphincter, vascular compression of bile ducts, overlapping of various anatomical structures and bright signal of surrounding fatty tissue. In this article, various technical considerations to eliminate these artifacts were described for the better imaging analysis of MRCP. The use of high-concentration ferric ammonium citrate (Ferriseltz) is recommended to reduce bright signal of fluid-filled gastrointestinal tracts. In case of long breathhold sequences, O2-inhalation study is useful to eliminate respiratory motion artifacts. Careful attention should be paid to the spasm of Oddi's sphincter and the vascular compression of bile ducts to avoid erroneous interpretation of MRCP findings.     

Systemic effects and withdrawal syndrome in chronic users of corticosteroids]

Three newly found vibrational levels at energies Te(v) = 45127.88(3), 51900.40(4), and 52604.95(3) cm-1 allow the first application of resonance-enhanced multiphoton ionization for detecting the SO radical in its low-energy singlet states, a1Delta and b1Sigma+. The analysis of the spectra is based on the observation of 10 rotationally resolved bands starting from a1Delta v = 0, 6 ellipsis 11 and b1Sigma+ v = 8, covering a typical range of J = 5 ellipsis 40 or 50. Population of these SO singlet states has been achieved by two-photon dissociation of SO2 in a molecular beam environment, applying wavelengths in the 248 to 291 nm range. This paper presents an analysis of the rotational, vibrational, and electronic properties of the new levels. Reviewing earlier works on the singlet states of SO, a revised term energy scheme is provided which connects the singlet and triplet systems of the molecule. Copyright 1998 Academic Press.     

A voltage-source PWM rectifier-inverter with feedforward control of instantaneous power

In general, diode rectifiers with electrolytic capacitors on the dc side have been used as dc power supplies for voltage-source inverters. Rectifiers of this type, however, cause many problems such as poor power factor and harmonics. Recently, voltage-source PWM rectifier-inverters have been studied to provide the following advantages: (1) harmonic-free on both ac sides; (2) unity power factor on the input ac side; (3) power flow of either direction or power regeneration; (4) reduction of the dc capacitor. However, it is difficult for a conventional voltage-source PWM rectifier-inverter to regulate the capacitor voltage on transient states because it has only a voltage feedback loop. This paper describes a voltage-source PWM rectifier-inverter with feedforward control of instantaneous power. Based on the pq theory, the instantaneous power which is calculated in the control circuit of the inverter is fed forward to the control circuit of the rectifier. The feedforward control of instantaneous power contributes greatly to sufficiently suppress voltage fluctuation of the dc capacitor on transient states. Transient characteristics are discussed, and some interesting experimental results of a laboratory model are shown.     

Excessive closure of the right eye: a new sign of infarction in the territory of the ipsilateral right middle cerebral artery

In right middle cerebral territory infarction a new sign, excessive closure of the right eye ipsilateral to the lesion and mild closure of the left eye on command, was noted. The excessive ipsilateral eye closure was not observed on spontaneous eye closure.