Design and Investigation of Pd–C Eutectic Fixed-Point Cells for Thermocouple Calibration at NMIA

The calibration of Pt/Rh thermocouples up to 1560 \(^{\circ }\hbox {C}\) at NMIA currently uses the conventional ‘melt-wire technique’ to realize Gold (Au) and Palladium (Pd) melting points, resulting in the loss of 20 mm of wire from the junction end for each calibration. To avoid this loss, NMIA intends to replace the melt-wire technique with the use of miniature fixed-point cells. NMIA has established Copper (Cu) and Cobalt–Carbon (Co–C) eutectic cells for calibration of thermocouples to 1324 \(^{\circ }\hbox {C}\). To extend the calibration up to 1500 \(^{\circ }\hbox {C}\), miniature Palladium–Carbon (Pd–C) eutectic cells (1492 \(^{\circ }\hbox {C}\)) have been constructed and tested in collaboration with NMIJ, AIST. Although these cells are made of high-purity reference materials, careful consideration must be given to contamination introduced during the manufacture and filling of the crucibles and by their long-term use. These issues can only be assessed by measurement of cell-to-cell temperature differences within the ensemble of cells traceable to ITS-90. In the work presented here, 3 NMIA-design mini Pd–C cells were constructed: 1 at NMIA and 2 at NMIJ. These cells were compared, together with a “large” NMIJ Pd–C cell, using type-R, type-B and Pt/Pd thermocouples and radiation thermometry. Although the cells are found to be stable and repeatable, significant problems arising from migration of Pd to the thermocouples were identified.     

Agent-based material handling and inventory planning in warehouse

Agent technology has become popular in the last few years as an effective approach to develop software and hardware systems. Our research applies this technology to warehouse systems. Since warehouse system is crucial to the success of supply-chain systems, objective of our research is to implement a framework of warehouse system based on the agent technology. This paper proposes an agent-based model for warehouse system, which is called AWAS (Agent-based model for WArehouse System). AWAS is composed of three subsystems, or agent-based communication system (ACS), agent-based material handling system (AMATH), and agent-based inventory planning and control system (AIPCON). These subsystems are designed to cooperate together to facilitate just-in-time exchange of orders and materials. Under these subsystems, seven kinds of basic agents are defined, including customer, supplier, order, inventory, product, supplier-order, and automatic-guided vehicle (AGV) agents. We will describe our approach in designing and implementing warehouse systems simulation with agents. Using a prototype system which was developed based on the model, the paper presents some results of simulation to show the validity of the model.     

A methodology to allow rural extension professionals to build target-specific expert systems for Australian rural business operators

Expert systems (ES) development technology has been used to build rural business applications in the past but these have usually been developed using traditional expert systems shells. This paper introduces a new architecture for the development of a design environment where the domain experts can build a knowledge base for target-specific ES for rural business operators. The system allows rural business operators to use their own knowledge in building their own, target-specific ES for tailored development to their own specific requirements. At this stage, this reusable design environment caters for the Australian dairy industry but in the long run we claim it will be useful for the other livestock based rural industries such as beef cattle and sheep. This approach of developing target-specific ES contributes new knowledge in that it provides a new way of developing decision support by allowing human domain experts to develop relevant ES for different livestock farming business.An evolutionary prototyping approach was employed for initial development of a proof of concept example and as a method of outlining the solution environment. Multiple qualitative data collection methods were engaged to facilitate knowledge acquisition in the domain of milk protein enhancement for dairy operations. This paper also describes the generic development procedure used in this project.     

Material selection for femoral component of total knee replacement using comprehensive VIKOR

The increasing trend of total knee replacement (TKR) revision surgery, which is associated with aseptic loosening, makes it a challenging research subject. The concern of loosening can be partially improved by selecting the optimal materials for TKR components. Therefore, this paper considers selection of the best material among the set of alternatives for femoral component of TKR through the multi-criteria decision making approach. The comprehensive VIKOR method was used to select the optimum material, and a systematic technique for sensitivity analysis of weights was introduced to find more reliable results. The obtained ranking order suggested the use of new materials over the existing ones. Porous and dense NiTi shape memory alloys were ranked first and second respectively.     

Retracted and replaced: Enabling technologies for the ‘always best connected’ concept

This article has been retracted and replaced. Retraction notice DOI: 10.1002/wcm.426 ‘Always Best Connected’ (ABC) is considered one of the main requirements for next generation networks. The ABC concept allows a person to have access to applications using the devices and network technologies that best suits his or her needs or profile at any time. Clearly, this requires the combination of a set of existing and new technologies, at all levels of the protocol stack, into one integrated system. In this paper, a considerable set of the technologies, that are expected to play a key role towards the ABC vision, are presented. Starting from a reference architecture, the paper describes the required enhancements at certain levels of a traditional protocol stack, as well as technologies for mobility and end‐to‐end Quality of Service (QoS) support. The paper concludes with a case study that reveals the advantages of the ABC concept. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

A comparative experimental investigation of deep-hole micro-EDM drilling capability for cemented carbide (WC-Co) against austenitic stainless steel (SUS 304)

Microelectro-discharge machining (micro-EDM) has become a widely accepted non-traditional material removal process for machining difficult-to-cut but conductive materials effectively and economically. The present study aims to investigate the feasibility of machining deep microholes in two difficult-to-cut materials: cemented carbide (WC-Co) and austenitic stainless steel (SUS 304) using the micro-EDM drilling. The effect of discharge energy and electro-thermal material properties on the performance of the two work materials during the micro-EDM drilling has also been investigated. The micro-EDM drilling performance of two materials has been assessed based on the quality and accuracy of the produced microholes, machining stability, material removal rate (MRR), and electrode wear ratio. The results show that deep-hole micro-EDM drilling is technically more feasible in WC-Co as it offers microholes with smooth and burr-free surfaces at the rim in addition to improved circularity and lower overcut than those provided by SUS 304. Moreover, WC-Co exhibits better machinability during the deep-hole micro-EDM drilling, providing relatively higher MRR and stable machining.     

A framework for weighting of criteria in ranking stage of material selection process

Material selection is an onerous process of design activities which needs to be carefully carried out in order to increase the probability of success. A lot of multi-criteria decision-making methods have been proposed in material selection, many of which require quantitative weights for the attributes. Since weights play a very significant role in the ranking results of the materials, this paper presents a framework for determining importance degree of criteria to overcome the shortcomings of this subject in material selection. Furthermore, the suggested framework covers the situation of interdependent relationship between the criteria which has not been surveyed in material selection yet. An example was considered to illustrate how this framework is conducted. On the basis of the numerical results, it can be concluded that the proposed method can soundly deal with the material selection problems.     

Application of Vitis vinifera Microcapsules on Cotton Fabric: A Potential to Prevent UV-Induced Skin Problems

ABSTRACT

Considering the harmful effect of UV radiation, present study was aimed at developing a UV protective finish for cotton fabric using Vitis vinifera leaves extract. Process parameters of the study were optimized for getting maximum UV protection while maintaining other physical properties of the fabric. Box and Behnken design was used under response surface methodology (RSM) for optimization process. It was found that 3.574% concentration of microcapsules with 2.942% concentration of binder at 120.664°C curing temperature were selected as optimum conditions for application of Vitis vinifera microcapsules on cotton fabric. It can be concluded that application of Vitis vinifera microcapsules on cotton fabric incorporates UV protection properties on cotton fabric, which can helpful to prevent various UV-induced skin problems.     

The effect of 2 liquid feeds and 2 sources of protein in starter on performance and blood metabolites in Holstein neonatal calves

The aim of present study was to investigate the effect of 2 liquid feeds and 2 protein sources in starter on the performance and blood metabolite responses of Holstein neonatal calves from birth to 6 wk of age. Calves (20 males and 20 females) based on sex were randomly assigned to 4 treatments in a 2 × 2 × 2 factorial arrangement, including soybean meal (SBM) and meat and bone meal (MB) with either fermented colostrum (or fresh milk. Although sex and liquid feed had no significant effect on feed intake, calves consumed more feed intake on the diet containing SBM (15 ± 0.2 kg) than MB (13 ± 0.2 kg) during the experimental period; also, weight gain was affected by both liquid feed and starter. Liquid feed and starter had significant effects on calf body size, including pin width, hip width, withers height, hip height, and stomach size, but no significant effects were observed on calf body size between the sexes. Plasma glucose concentration was not affected by sex, liquid feed, or starter. Plasma urea nitrogen concentration decreased in the first 3 wk and then started to increase during the last 3 wk, but it was only affected by starter and calves receiving SBM (10.18 mg/dL) had a higher concentration of plasma urea nitrogen than calves receiving MB (9.6 mg/dL) at the end of the experiment. Plasma growth hormone and insulin-like growth factor I concentrations decreased in all treatment groups from d 0 to the end of the study. No significant effects were observed on plasma growth hormone and insulin-like growth factor I concentrations between the 2 sexes, but they were significantly affected by both liquid feed and starter. Results of the present study provide useful information to apply to Holstein neonatal calves during the first 6 wk of life when liquid feed and 2 sources of protein in starter are considered.