Mechanism of high energy absorption by foamed materials-foamed rigid polyurethane and foamed glass

Energy absorbability of foamed rigid materials, polyurethane and glass, was studied under a compressive load. The brittle materials were proved to absorb much energy in a manner similar to ductile materials. A mechanism for such high energy absorption was proposed, based on a fracture model in which crushing of cells initiates at the weakest cell followed by propagation to cells lying in the layer containing the weakest one and lying in a direction perpendicular to the compressive force; then the crushing propagates to another layer under the compressive force after the completion of the first layer crushing. In the period of one layer crushing, the strain energy stored in the period of compression prior to the crushing is temporarily released, and it is stored again in the period of compression after the crushing. The store and release of strain energy is assumed to be repeated until all cell layers are crushed. This mechanism of layer-by-layer crushing allows the cells to absorb strain energy repeatedly, and causes high energy absorption in the brittle foamed material. The calculated energy based on the mechanism agrees well with the observed one.     

Impedance characteristics of double-hetero structure laser diodes

The effects of the onset of lasing on the I-V characteristics, the impedance characteristics and the light modulation characteristics of laser diodes have been discussed by introducing the rate equations which involve carrier diffusion process in the active layer interacting with the radiation field intensity. The static I-V characteristics exhibit a kink at lasing threshold current, reflecting the decrease of effective lifetime of carriers. Effective carrier lifetimes decrease with increasing light intensity, which results in a steep attenuation of injected carrier density in the active region. The impedance and light modulation characteristics are obtained in the small signal approximation. The small signal light modulation characteristics depend strongly on whether the laser diode is excited by the constant current modulation or the constant voltage modulation. The impedance is changed drastically by the onset of lasing and exhibits a resonance which coincides exactly with the optical modulation resonance frequency.     

Learning behavior of stochastic automata in the last stage of learning

In this paper, a learning behavior of stochastic automata acting in an unknown random environment is considered. Especially, a learning behavior of stochastic automata in the last stage of learning is investigated. Using the theory of Stochastic Stability and Control [9], it is shown that there exists an upper bound of the probability with which stochastic automaton goes back to an unfavorable state within some finite time.     

The effects of Na and some additives on nitrogen dissolution in the Ga-Na system: A growth mechanism of GaN in the Na flux method

In the growth of GaN single crystal using the Na flux method, we succeeded in clarifying the role of Na in promoting nitrogen dissolution in the Ga-Na melt system above 900 K. At the gas-liquid interface of high temperature Ga-Na melt, Na functions to ionize the nitrogen gas. The ionization of the nitrogen gas results in drastic increase of nitrogen dissolution in the melt. In consequence, these synthesize GaN single crystals easily. On the other hand, the addition of a minor amount of Ca or Li to the Ga-Na melt system also increases the nitrogen dissolution. However, the additives function to maintain the nitrogen dissolved in the Ga-Na melt, which results in drastic increase in the nitrogen concentration. In the present study, we report the solubility of GaN in the Ga-Na system and the threshold pressure of nitrogen gas to grow GaN. On the basis of these data, we propose a growth mechanism of GaN and the role of additives to maintain nitrogen.     

Is atrial fibrillation resulting from rheumatic mitral valve disease a proper indication for the maze procedure?

BACKGROUND: There are a few patients without detectable atrial contraction despite restoration of atrial rhythm after the maze procedure for atrial fibrillation (AF) associated with mitral valve disease. METHODS: From January 1995 to March 1997, 29 consecutive patients with AF associated with mitral valve disease underwent our modified maze procedure combined with mitral or other valve operations. The causes of mitral valve disease were rheumatic mitral stenosis (n = 22) and nonrheumatic mitral regurgitation (n = 7). The 17 patients with postoperative atrial rhythm were divided into group I with rheumatic mitral stenosis (n = 10), and group II with mitral regurgitation of nonrheumatic origins (n = 7). RESULTS: Seventeen patients regained atrial rhythm, 2 patients had junctional rhythm, and another 10 remained in AF. Between the group of patients with restoration of atrial rhythm and that of patients remaining in AF, significant differences were found in the percentage with rheumatic disease, history of AF, and maximum f-wave voltage. The postoperative peak velocity of the atrial filling wave to peak velocity of early filling wave ratio for the left atrium measured using Doppler echocardiography was 0.25 in group I, which was significantly lower than that (0.42) in group II. CONCLUSIONS: Reconsideration of the indications for the maze procedure for AF associated with rheumatic mitral stenosis may thus be reasonable, particularly for cases in which replacement using a prosthetic valve is necessary, but we believe that patients with nonrheumatic mitral valve disease, especially those able to undergo reconstructive operations, are the best candidates for the maze procedure.