Development of a stable localized visual inspection system for underwater structures

To avert potential crisis from Japan’s aging infrastructure and declining birth rate, the Japanese Government is planning to introduce robotic technology for the inspection of social infrastructure (such as pipes, dams, and bridges). Recording underwater positions is a difficult task for human divers who undertake conventional dam inspections. This study presents the Anchor Diver 5.2 system for efficient and effectual dam inspection. Anchor Diver 5.2 is based on an extended-tether-maneuvered remotely operated vehicle (ROV) equipped with cameras. The ROV is lowered into water by a hoist system from a boat and implements a visual survey of the concrete underwater structure. To improve the visibility of the ROV in murky and cloudy water, a novel concept named Water Loupe is proposed. In addition, a simple boat-fixing method is proposed to provide a stable base on the water surface, and the underwater position of the ROV, which cannot be accessed by global positioning systems, is recorded using a feasible localization method. Finally, the developed system was evaluated in field experiments conducted in the Amagase Dam, Japan, and its merits and problems are discussed.     

Single‐layered retardation films with negative wavelength dispersion birefringence made from liquid‐crystalline monomers

Organic light‐emitting diode displays have a cathode composed of a layer of highly reflective metal. Reflection of external light from this layer can be suppressed with a broadband quarter‐wave plate. Although various types of quarter‐wave plate retardation films have been prepared by copolymerizing, mixing, or laminating multiple polymers, ideal wavelength dispersion has not been achieved with thin retardation films because of their relatively low birefringence and the complexity of the procedure required manufacturing them. In this study, we developed (i) new liquid‐crystalline monomers with negative wavelength dispersion birefringence that we used to obtain thin, single‐layered retardation films suitable for coating and (ii) retardation films with different molecular alignments. We found that the monomers showed high solubility and high regularity of molecular alignment, with less damage to the substrate and alignment films. We also investigated the wavelength dispersion and thermal stability of the films. We succeeded in developing retardation films that had a homeotropic alignment or a hybrid alignment with negative wavelength dispersion. These alignments can be used to obtain antireflection films with an improved viewing angle for organic light‐emitting diode displays or next‐generation thin displays.     

Slow eye movement as a possible predictor of reaction delays to auditory warning alarms in a drowsy state

In recently developed intelligent vehicles, warning alarms are often used to prompt avoidance behaviours from drivers facing imminent hazardous situations. However, when critical reaction delays to auditory stimulation are anticipated, the alarm should be activated earlier to compensate for such delays. It was found that reaction times to an auditory stimulus significantly increased in the presence of slow eye movement (SEM), which is known to occur frequently during the wake-sleep transition. The reaction delay could not be attributed to temporal effects such as fatigue and was invariant regardless of response effectors (finger or foot). Moreover, it was found that applied pedal force decreased immediately after an auditory stimulus interrupted SEM. Consequently, it was concluded that SEM can be a good predictor of reaction delays to auditory warning alarms when drivers are in a drowsy state. STATEMENT OF RELEVANCE: The present study demonstrated that simple auditory reaction time significantly increased when SEM emerged. In the design of vehicle safety systems using warning alarms to prompt avoidance behaviours from drivers, such reaction delays during SEM must be taken into account.     

Gender differences in hand stability of normal young people assessed at low force levels

To examine gender differences in hand stability, finger position and force holding tasks at low force levels were conducted with 30 male and 30 female young adults. Total fluctuation was defined as the standard deviation of measured data and fluctuation and the 10-Hz component of the physiological tremor were compared between maleand female subjects. In all tasks, the total fluctuation and the 10-Hz tremor were significantly larger in male subjects than females. On average, the fluctuation was 1.3 times larger and the 10-Hz tremor was 1.6 times larger. The results of this study suggest that women have superior hand stability compared with men at low force levels. Finger length, maximal voluntary contraction and surface electromyography were also measured and factors related to gender differences in hand stability are discussed. STATEMENT OF RELEVANCE: Hand stability is crucial for precise manual operations. This study demonstrated gender differences in hand steadiness at low force levels. Though hand dexterity cannot be explained only by hand stability, the results of this study are useful not only for occupational aptitude tests but also for neuropsychological tests.     

New coprimeness over multivariable polynomial matrices and its application to control delay systems

This paper presents a new notion of coprimeness over multivariable polynomial matrices, where a single variable is given priority over the remaining variables. From a characterization through a set of common zeros of the minors, it is clarified that the presented coprimeness is equivalent to weakly zero coprimeness in the particular variable. An application of the presented coprimeness to control systems with non-commensurate delays and finite spectrum assignment is also presented. Because the presented coprimeness is stronger than minor coprimeness, non-commensurate delays are difficult to deal with in algebraic control theory. The “rational ratio condition” between delays, which can reduce non-commensurate delays to commensurate delays, proves to be both powerful and practical concept in algebraic control theory for delay systems.     

A knowledge assimilation method for logic databases

In this paper we consider a deductive question-answering system for relational databases as a logic database system, and propose a knowledge assimilation method suitable for such a system. The concept of knowledge assimilation for deductive logic is constructed in an implementable form based on the notion of amalgamating object language and metalanguage. This concept calls for checks to be conducted on four subconcepts, provability, contradiction, redundancy, independency, and their corresponding internal database updates. We have implemented this logic database knowledge assimilation program in PROLOG, a logic programming language, and have found PROLOG suitable for knowledge assimilation implementation.     

Microstructural evolution and mechanism of grain growth in magnesia ceramics prepared by high pressure and temperature with ultra-high heating rate

The fast densification method of combustion reaction plus quick pressing was adopted to prepare nanocrystalline ceramics.The densification process of magnesia compact with a particle size of 100 nm was investigated,under the applied pressure of up to 170 MPa,and the temperature range of 1740–2080 K with ultra-high heating rate(above 1700 K/min).High-purity magnesia ceramics with a relative density of 98.8%and an average grain size of 120 nm was obtained at 1740 K,and the grain growth during the densification process was effectively restrained.The characteristic morphology of evaporation-condensation was observed in the compact prepared at 2080 K,which revealed the actual process of mass transfer by gas diffusion.Moreover,the investigation on the microstructure evolution and mechanism of grain growth was carried out,on the basis of as-preserved nanocrystalline ceramics.The result indicated that the grain growth of the nanocrystalline MgO was controlled by the mechanism of evaporation-condensation rather than surface diffusion.Furthermore,the pressure had an influence of restraining the grain growth based on solid diffusion and strengthening the effect of gas diffusion with the increasing temperature.Under the particular conditions,there existed an appropriate temperature for the densification of nanocrystalline magnesia,while the excessive temperature would exaggerate grain growth and impede densification.     

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.

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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.

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Studies on the Analyses of Sulphites in Foods (IV)     

Experimental study of perforation and cracking of water-filled aluminum tubes impacted by steel spheres

Water-filled aluminum tubes were subjected to impact by six steel spherical projectiles of different diameters at impact velocities of 40–200 m/s. The effects of the diameter of the steel projectiles and of the material properties of the tubes on cracking and perforation were discussed. Water decreased the wall strength of the aluminum alloy tubes, and the impact velocity at which a steel projectile first passes through the tube wall decreased with increasing diameter of the steel projectile. Using the velocity at which the steel projectile perforates the tube wall, empirical equations of the energies required to perforate the tube wall were derived. Also, the energy balance in the steel projectile during a collision is discussed referring to the pressure history in the filled water and the velocities of the steel projectile before and after collision.     

Crystal orientation changes of Ag thin films on the Si(111) substrate due to tribo-assisted recrystallization

Crystal orientation changes of Ag thin films due to the tribo-assisted recrystallization have been studied using grazing incidence X-ray diffraction with synchrotron radiation. After preparation of an Si(111) √3 × √3-Ag surface, a 5-nm-thick Ag film was deposited on the surface at the substrate temperature of 303 K in an ultra-high vacuum chamber. The friction experiments were carried out using a diamond pin-on-plate type tribometer just after the Ag deposition in the same UHV chamber. We found that the coefficient of friction of the Ag films on the Si(111) √3 × √3-Ag surface decreases from 0.07 to 0.03, with increasing reciprocal sliding cycles. In synchronization with the coefficient change, Ag{100} grains are gradually disappearing. As a result, the Ag{111} grains cover the entire surface after 50 sliding cycles. Moreover, we found that the domain size of the Ag{111} grains increases with increasing reciprocal sliding cycles by measuring the rocking curve width. These results directly show that the Ag(111) plane is the sliding plane of friction and the coefficient of friction of Ag films is determined by the fraction of the Ag(111) grains in the Ag films. Moreover, to clarify the reaction between the Ag film and the Si substrate due to the tribo-assisted recrystallization, the substrate strain has been studied by an extremely asymmetric X-ray diffraction technique using synchrotron radiation.