Applications of computer and numerical analysis techniques in welding research

In recent years, computer technology has made remarkable progress and a computer has become an indispensable tool for both engineers and scientists. In this article, utilization of computers in welding research is briefly summarized. Their use in numerical analysis is particularly discussed and applied to physical phenomena in molten pool, hydrogen diffusion and residual stresses due to welding. A comparison is made between theoretical and experimental results.     

Strengthening of Preloaded RC Beams Using Hybrid Carbon Sheets

Reinforced concrete (RC) beams subject to service loads of 40 or 60% of steel yielding were strengthened using hybrid continuous carbon fiber sheets. The hybrid systems were made of high-strength and high-modulus carbon sheets, and compared with systems using only high-strength carbon. It was found that the use of high-modulus carbon sheets in hybrid systems could increase the yielding load, the flexural stiffness, the postyielding ductility, and reduce the crack opening in concrete. The slope changes on load-deflection curves at steel yielding are not noticeable in hybrid systems. The tensile strains developed in hybrid sheets after the fracture of high-modulus carbon are higher in magnitude and distributed in a larger area, leading to an ultimate carbon fracture with concrete crushing. These unique features are attributed to the high stiffness and low ultimate tensile strain of the high-modulus carbon fibers which stiffen the structures, avoid or delay the fiber-reinforced polymer debonding, and facilitate the deformability during their subsequent breakdown.     

Effectiveness of spatial representation in the formation of network communities: experimental study on community organizer

In this paper, we present and discuss Community Organizer, a system designed to support network communities. The main characteristic of Community Organizer is the use of spatial representations for the relationships among community members including the communications exchanged among these members. These spatial representations reflect the degree of closeness of interests and concerns among the members, and are intended to provide users with clues on how to form network communities. In order to investigate the effectiveness of the proposed spatial representations, we conducted experiments with two different versions of the software. One version offered meaningful spatial representations while the other version did not. The subjects who used the former software version felt a greater sense of ‘community’, enjoyed using the software more, and actively used it longer than the subjects using the latter software version (control condition). These results indicated that the proposed spatial representations are effective in supporting network community formation.     

Preoperative thermochemotherapy of oral cancer using magnetic induction hyperthermia (Implant Heating System: IHS)

This study investigated the impact of Difficulty Level and Type of Suggestion upon the durability of posthypnotic suggestion over an 8-week period. Seventy-eight highly susceptible subjects selected by both the Harvard Group Scale of Hypnotic Susceptibility: Form A (HGSHS:A) and Stanford Hypnotic Scale of Susceptibility: Form C (SHSS:C) were assigned to six groups (two levels of Difficulty x three Types of Suggestion). S's were tested for posthypnotic suggestion at 1, 3, 6, and 8 weeks. A 2 x 3 x 4 (Difficulty x Suggestion x Time) factorial ANOVA was conducted, with Time treated as a repeated-measure. The outcome variable at each time was either pass or fail for relevant suggestion. We found a significant Time effect, a significant Difficulty effect, and a significant Time x Difficulty interaction. Fewer subjects passed the difficult suggestions than passed the easy suggestions; fewer passed suggestions at a latter time; and the decay in pass rate was more pronounced for the easy suggestion condition, due largely to the higher initial pass rate. Type of Suggestion was not significant, nor were any of the other interactions. Clinical implications were discussed.     

A CMOS integrated circuit for multichannel multiple-subjectbiotelemetry using bidirectional optical transmissions [weightlessnessin space effects application]

A CMOS integrated circuit for a noninvasive biological-signal telemetry system specified for use in medical and physiological studies of the influence of weightlessness in space is presented. The system can monitor multichannel (4 channels maximum) biological signals from multiple subjects (4 subjects maximum) in real time by using time multiplexing. A key technique so-called synchronized multiple-subject telemetry, to achieve multiple-subject telemetry has been proposed. This technique utilizes bidirectional optical transmissions with direct and scattered infrared lights between an observer and each of the subjects. An experimental CMOS IC to give a small light-weight low-power, and smart telemetry instrument for use on animals has been developed. This IC is for evaluating circuit blocks of the implantable monolithic telemetry instrument. The major circuit blocks include CMOS digital circuits for synchronization, subject selection and time multiplexing, analog circuits for pulse interval modulation, and other blocks such as a CMOS optical pulse receiver and an LED driver. A preliminary experimental multichannel telemetry from two subjects has been performed with the implemented IC chips, and the principal operation of the multiple-subject optical biotelemetry has been demonstrated     

Which vessel is more important in the supercharged flap--artery, vein, or both? An experimental study

The supercharged flap is one which is expected to attain better survival, by anastomosing the distal vessels of the flap to the recipient vessels. An experimental study is reported to determine whether the vessel to be anastomosed should be an artery, a vein, or both. The authors advise anastomosing an artery and a vein, but they believe that arterial inflow is more important than venous drainage.     

Hot carrier magnetophonon spectroscopy of semiconductors in high magnetic fields up to 40 T

Hot carrier magnetophonon resonances of n-type Si, short channel InP and p-type InSb were investigated in pulsed high magnetic fields up to 40 T. Using a recently developed high resolution technique in pulsed high fields, many new features of the hot carrier-phonon interactions in high magnetic fields were found.     

Electron transport in InGaO3(ZnO)m (m=integer) studied using single-crystalline thin films and transparent MISFETs

We have investigated the characteristics of transparent metal-insulator-semiconductor field-effect transistors (MISFETs) fabricated using InGaO₃(ZnO)_m (m=integer) single-crystalline thin films as n-channel layers and amorphous alumina as gate insulator films. The MISFETs exhibit good characteristics such as insensitivity to visible light illumination, off-current as low as ∼1 nA with a positive threshold voltage of ∼3 V and on/off current ratio of 10⁵. The field-effect mobility increased from ∼1 to ∼10 cm² (V s)⁻¹ as the m-value increased. Room temperature Hall mobility also increased. However, unexpectedly these values were lower than the field-effect mobility. It is explained by existence of shallow localized state in the homologous compounds.     

Silica removal from Mokai, New Zealand, geothermal brine by treatment with lime and a cationic precipitant

Preliminary experiments using two chemicals (CaO, a quicklime, and a cationic nitrogen-bearing precipitant, EC-004) to remove silica from geothermal brine were undertaken at the Mokai geothermal plant, New Zealand. The brine was mixed with the reagent (CaO or EC-004). The reaction was studied from the start of the experiment (NRT, 0 min, no retaining time) and after 15 min (15RT) at 90 °C. The concentration of silica in the brine was initially 954 mg/l, and decreased linearly with increasing reagent concentration. When CaO is added, the silica concentration at 15RT was 200 mg/l lower than at NRT and became almost zero on addition of 1.5 g/l. In contrast, when EC-004 is added, the total silica concentration nearly reaches the solubility of amorphous silica at 90 °C. In order to prevent silica scaling in Mokai brines cooled to 90 °C, the CaO and EC-004 added should be individually adjusted to 0.5 g/l and 80 mg/l, respectively.     

Small increase of CR1 and CR3 by C5a-receptors on polymorphonuclear leukocytes in systemic lupus erythematosus

One of the anaphylatoxins, C5a, is known to increase the expression of the complement receptors, CR1 and CR3, on PMNs which play important roles in the phagocytosis. We measured the expression of these receptors before and after the stimulation with C5a and C5a-receptors (C5aR) on PMNs in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). PMNs from 16 patients and 11 normal controls were tested. All the patients with SLE were administered with prednisolone orally and were in the inactive stage. The CR1 expression in SLE was significantly weak (p < 0.01) before and after stimulation with 4.55 nM (50 micrograms/ml) of C5a. There was no significant difference of CR3 expression before stimulation. However, after the stimulation with C5a, the increase of CR3 on PMNs from SLE was significantly small (p < 0.01). C5aR on PMNs showed no difference between the two groups. However, the expression of C5aR was significantly suppressed in patients treated with a high dosage of prednisolone (> = 10 mg/day) compared to those with a low dosage of prednisolone (< 10 mg/day). There was no significant difference of CR1 and CR3 expression between these groups. It is concluded that the increase of CR1 and CR3 on PMNs by C5a in small in SLE, of which impaired increase is not due to C5aR on PMNs, and that the expression of C5aR is suppressed by prednisolone.