Automated generation of simply connected solid objects from wire-frame data using operations on graphs

This paper presents an algorithm for the automatic generation of solid objects from three-dimensional wire-frame data. In this work, as we mainly use topological information of wire-frame data, we can achieve high-speed execution and adapt this algorithm to free-from surfaces. We present the conversion algorithm and show several experimental results.     

Monoarthritis of the knee as an isolated manifestation of paracoccidioidomycosis

Osteoarthritis in paracoccidioidomycosis has been rarely reported. The present case describes a 36-"year"-old woman, with chronic monoarthritis in the knee lasting 4 years. The diagnosis was achieved only after synovial biopsy, by anatomopathological examination showing granulomatous reaction with a large number of the characteristic "pilot wheel"Paracoccidioides brasiliensis yeast cells. Specific therapy, initially with ketoconazole and followed by cotrimoxazole led to complete functional recovery of the compromised joint. No other affected site was detected by various propaedeutic methods, including computed axial tomography of the thorax and abdomen. The authors emphasize the rarity of the case and discuss its possible pathophysiology.     

Partial trisomy for short arm of chromosome 5

The incidence of sudden death due to undiagnosed primary intracranial tumor is low in forensic autopsy. The cause of death in a 20-year-old male found dead in his dormitory room was glioblastoma multiforme in the left temporal lobe. The direct cause of death was hemorrhage in the tumor. Three nights before the discovery of his body, he had several episodes of vomiting and had been absent from work since that time. On discovery of the body, it was thought that he had been dead for about 2 days. About 4 months before his death, he consulted an eye doctor for "fatigue of the eyes" and 1 month thereafter he visited the neurosurgical department of a hospital complaining headache. A diagnosis of tension headache was made; the possibility of brain tumor appears not to have been considered. A causal relationship between head trauma and hemorrhage in the tumor was excluded based on the circumstantial evidence.     

An alternating method based on the VNA solution for analysis of damaged solid containing arbitrarily distributed elliptical microcracks

This paper presents the development of an alternating method for the interaction analysis of arbitrary distributed numerous elliptical microcracks. The complete analytical solutions (VNA solutions) for a single elliptical crack in an infinite solid, subject to arbitrary crack-face tractions, are implemented in the present alternating method, together with the coordinate transformations for stress tensors. First, the present method is verified by solving the problems of two interacting cracks for which accurate numerical solutions have been obtained previously. Next, the present method demonstrates obtaining efficient and accurate solutions for the problems of many interacting elliptical cracks, which cannot be solved in a practical sense by the ordinary numerical methods such as the finite element method. Furthermore, damaged solids containing periodically distributed elliptical microcracks are analyzed by the present alternating method. The effective elastic moduli are evaluated for varying microcrack density. Detailed structures of the interactions in the damaged solids are visualized and clarified. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

An experimental investigation of influencing chemical factors onCs-chemisorption behavior onto stainless steel

A more accurate cesium hydroxide (CsOH)-chemisorption model is required to improve the estimation of the Cs distribution in Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station by severe-accident (SA) analysis codes. The current CsOH-chemisorption model incorporated in SA analysis codes was developed with insufficient information of chemical factors such as H₂/H₂O ratio, concentration of chemically affecting elements, heating time, and surface condition of the stainless steel (SS). Therefore, we have conducted experimental tests for CsOH-chemisorption onto SS type-304 (SS304) in order to examine the effect and dependence of such chemical factors on the CsOH-chemisorption behavior in detail. It was found that the first-order surface-reaction rate constant was influenced by not only temperature, as already known, but also H₂/H₂O ratio, CsOH concentration in the gas phase, and silicon content in SS304. Such chemical factors should be considered for the construction of the improved CsOH-chemisorption model. Another important finding is that the chemisorption behavior at lower temperatures, around 873 K, could differ from those above 1073 K. Namely, Cs–Fe–O compounds would form as the main chemisorbed Cs compounds at 873 K while Cs–Si–Fe–O compounds at more than 1073 K.     

Bending fatigue strength of case-carburized helical gears (In the case of large helix angles)

Case-carburizing enlarges the depth of the hardened layer at the tooth width end on the acute angle side of helical gears. For the helical gears with large helix angles (Exceeding 25°), this hardened layer may lower their bending fatigue strength. Therefore, we investigated the influence of this hardened layer on their bending fatigue strength through the bending fatigue tests. Our results suggest that this hardened layer might reduce the case-carburizing’s effect to enhance their bending fatigue strength. Thus, using only the maximum tooth root stress would be inadequate for evaluating their bending fatigue strength, and it would be necessary to consider the relationship between the hardened layer and the tooth root stress distribution (Especially, the stress applied at the tooth width end on the acute angle side) from the beginning of meshing to the end.     

Direct Patterning of Silver Circuit Using Surface- modification and UV Irradiation on Polyimide Resin

A simplified method is proposed for the formation of a silver circuit pattern on a polyimide resin substrate through modification of the resin surface followed by adsorption of silver(l) ion and UV photoreduction to form patterns. The amide bond and carboxyl group, as a cation exchange group, were formed on the polyimide resin surface by a potassium hydroxide treatment. UV irradiation of the adsorbed silver(I) ion results in the formation of a silver thin film. Silver circuit patterns are easily formed on the modified polyimide resin substrates without using a plating resist by use of a metal-on-quart: mask