Hybrid high order neural networks

Neural networks (NNs) represent a familiar artificial intelligence approach widely applied in many fields and to a wide range of issues. The back propagation network (BPN) is one of the most well-known NNs, comprising multilayer perceptrons (MLPs) with an error back propagation learning algorithm. BPN typically employs associate multiplicative weightings for layer connections. For single connections, BPN combines neuron inputs linearly to neuron outputs. In this study, the author develops and embeds high order connections (exponent multipliers) into the BPN. The resultant proposed hybrid high order neural network (HHONN) is intended to be applicable to both linear and high order connections. HHONN allows an additional connection type for BPN, which permits BPN to adapt to different scenarios. In this paper, learning equations for both weighting and high order connections are introduced in their general forms. A feedforward neural network with a topology of two hidden layers and one high order connection was developed and studied to confirm the improved performance of developed HHONN models. Case studies, including two basic tests (a function approximation and the TC problem) and squat wall strength learning, were used to verify HHONN performance. Results showed that, when the high order connection was employed anywhere except the eventual connection, HHONN delivered better results than achievable using traditional BPN. Such results show that HHONN successfully introduces high order connections into BPN.     

Neuro-fuzzy speed control of traveling-wave type ultrasonic motor drive using frequency and phase modulation

This paper presents a Fuzzy Neural Network (FNN) control system for a traveling-wave ultrasonic motor (TWUSM) driven by a dual mode modulation non-resonant driving circuit. First, the motor configuration and the proposed driving circuit of a TWUSM are introduced. To drive a TWUSM effectively, a novel driving circuit, that simultaneously employs both the driving frequency and phase modulation control scheme, is proposed to provide two-phase balance voltage for a TWUSM. Since the dynamic characteristics and motor parameters of the TWUSM are highly nonlinear and time-varying, a FNN control system is therefore investigated to achieve high-precision speed control. The proposed FNN control system incorporates neuro-fuzzy control and the driving frequency and phase modulation to solve the problem of nonlinearities and variations. The proposed control system is digitally implemented by a low-cost digital signal processor based microcontroller, hence reducing the system hardware size and cost. The effectiveness of the proposed driving circuit and control system is verified with hardware experiments under the occurrence of uncertainties. In addition, the advantages of the proposed control scheme are indicated in comparison with a conventional proportional-integral control system.     

The evaluation of hot-working characteristics of cobalt-based implant alloys

The hot-working characteristics of wrought Co-Ni-Cr-Mo implant alloy during ingot-to-billet conversion were evaluated using a Gleeble-2000A simulator. The hot tensile test at 700–1 320 °C was used to determine the optimum hot-working parameters at a strain rate equivalent to that of conventional press forging to ensure acceptable hot workability. Hot ductility and deformation resistance as a function of temperature can be clearly established. The fracture surfaces of the tensile specimens were examined to correlate them with the hot tensile ductility values at various temperatures. The poor ductility at temperatures above 1300 °C was attributed to the incipient melting of grain boundaries. The effect of temperature and strain rate on the flow-stress behaviour and microstructures were investigated by uniaxial compression testing in the temperature range 900–1200 °C and strain rate, , range of 0.01–10s^–1. The strain-hardening and steady-state behaviour were described from the measured true stress-true strain curves.     

Lengthening kinetics of (01\bar 10) γ-TiH precipitates in α-Ti in the temperature range of 25 °c to 80 °c

Formation of y hydrides in α titanium involves a hcp → fct lattice transformation with hydrogen as an interstitial diffusing species. Since the crystallography of this reaction resembles that of a martensitic transformation and the hydrides form at temperatures where both titanium and hydrogen atoms may have negligible mobility, many investigators have concluded that γ hydrides form by a martensitic mechanism. In this study, the lengthening kinetics of γ hydrides were determined using conventional transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The length of the hydrides was measured as a function of time, temperature, and hydrogen concentration in samples isothermally aged in the range of 25 °C to 80 °C. These measurements were compared with the Zener-Hillert model of volume-diffusion-controlled precipitate growth. The experimental results indicate that y hydride growth is diffusionally controlled at 25 °C and possibly interfacially controlled at aging temperatures of 50 °C and higher. These and other aspects of the transformation are discussed.     

Open Innovation and Team Leaders’ Innovation Traits

Open innovation has transformed internal novel resource allocation and facilitated diverse interorganizational cooperation models. Previous studies have investigated open innovation archetypes and their formation. However, most researchers have neglected the crucial role that team leaders play in integrating internal and external resources and connecting creative ideas in open innovation. This study investigated the influence of open innovation archetypes and team leaders’ innovation traits on team performance. On the basis of the literature review, the analytical hierarchy process was applied to construct a framework for assessing and selecting team leaders in open innovation. The analysis was completed based on samples from 45 valid respondents (88% return rate) in Taiwan’s high-tech industry. The study results suggested that innovation knowledge is the most crucial innovation criterion for a leader, particularly core knowledge and advanced knowledge. Among the various sub-criteria, extrinsic motivation was the second most important sub-criterion. Leaders with strong innovation motivations are suitable to lead inbound open innovation projects.     

A new carbon structure in annealed film coatings of the carbon–lead system

Carbon–lead solid solutions coexisting with amorphous carbon have been obtained for the first time in a film coating deposited by ion-plasma sputtering. During subsequent vacuum annealing of carbon–lead films containing more than 68.5 at % Pb, this element almost completely evaporates to leave an amorphous carbon coating on a substrate. During annealing at 1100°C, this amorphous carbon crystallizes into a new hexagonal lattice with unit cell parameters a = 0.7603 nm and c = 0.8168 nm. Characteristic X-ray diffraction data for the identification of this phase are determined.

     

Study on the Impurity Effect in the Realization of Silver Fixed Point

The application of a thermal analysis model to estimate the temperature depression from the ideal fixed-point temperature is important, especially when the chemical analysis of the sample in a cell is insufficient or the cell might have been contaminated during fabrication. This study extends previous work, on thermal analysis with the tin point, to an investigation of the impurity dependence of the silver-point temperature. Close agreement was found between the temperature depression (\(-0.36\) mK) inferred from the thermal analysis of the measured fixed-point plateau and the temperature depression (\(-0.32\) mK) inferred using the sum of individual estimates (SIE) method with an impurity analysis based on glow discharge mass spectrometry. Additionally, the results of the thermal analysis manifest no significant dependence on the rate of solidification, and the scatter of observed gradients was within 0.36 mK among five plateaux with different temperature settings of the furnace. Although the results support the application of both the SIE method and thermal analysis for the silver point, further experiments with cell-to-cell comparisons linked to thermal analysis, a study of the thermometer-furnace systematic effects, the oxygen effect, and the locus of the freezing plateau should be investigated to reach a firm conclusion.     

The lateral load-deformation response of RC walls with a consideration of the height–length ratio

Reinforced concrete (RC) walls play an important role in resisting earthquakes, so understanding the lateral load-deformation response of an RC wall subjected to an axial load, shear, and moment is essential to nonlinear structural analysis. In this study, the moment-bending deformation response of an RC wall under an axial load and moment is obtained from moment–curvature analysis using the wall’s proper plastic hinge length. Furthermore, modified compression-field theory, adjusted according to the height–length ratio of the wall, is used to calculate the shear–shear deformation response of the wall under an axial load and shear. By integrating the moment-bending deformation and the shear–shear deformation responses, the lateral load-deformation response of the RC wall under axial load–moment–shear interaction can be reasonably determined. To confirm the reliability of the proposed method, experimental results for 67 RC walls are compared with analysis results from the proposed method. The statistical results show that the proposed method accurately predicts the lateral ultimate load but somewhat underestimates the lateral ultimate deformation. Finally, this paper gives an example using an equivalent column to simulate an RC wall using SAP2000 pushover analysis.     

Estimating potential disaster waste generation for pre-disaster waste management

The paper discusses development of a method for estimating disaster waste that can be potentially generated by a natural disaster in the future for pre-disaster waste management. In particular, this research focuses on micro-disaster waste originating from household consumer durables. We documented the number of household consumer durables and built a mass per unit database of major consumer durables using web-based and statistical surveys. We also estimated present and future figures of disaster waste that can be generated in the study area. The estimated total amount of disaster waste that could be generated in 2015 was 24.1 kt (18.1–29.8 kt) and 108 kt (81.8–133 kt) for Kobe City and Ise-Shima region, respectively. The total quantities of TV sets, air conditioners, refrigerators, and washing machines generated in Kobe and Ise-Shima will range between 10.9 and 22.8 kt (247,000–545,000 units) in 2015, and 10.7 kt to 22.8 kt (249,000–550,000 units) in 2035. The quantity estimated for 2015 is equal to 61 % of the annual processing capacity of Plant A, Japan’s leading home appliances recycling plant. Finally, we discussed the contribution of the estimation results and geographic information systems in future recycling planning.