Power-Transformation for Ordered Categorical Data

We consider in this paper a model of asymmetric power-transformation of response probability explained by linear function of some covariates. This model includes logistic and complementary log-log transformation models as its specific case, so we can use the model to evaluate the appropriateness or the goodness of fit of these models. Then the performances of the asymmetric power-transformation model are evaluated and examined, based on data used in published literatures. And we discuss various issues of diagnoses which may occur in the process of applying the model. Further we consider alternative transformations, and then in comparison with them, we point out the advantages of the asymmetric power-transformation.

     

Dummy humanoid robot simulating several trunk postures and abdominal shapes – Report of element technologies

Development of clothing in consideration of the shape and body function of a person with spinal cord injury is an important task. Then, a dummy robot with a deformation mechanism was developed in this study for evaluating the comfortable level of clothings. Specifically, a trunk joint mechanism and an abdominal mechanism that can realize various deformations of the abdominal area and various trunk poses were developed. The trunk joint mechanism was implemented in order to simulate the seated posture of persons with spinal cord injury. The abdominal deformation mechanism was implemented using linear actuators and rotating servomotors in order to simulate abdominal obesity of persons with spinal cord injury. Further, a tactile sensor system was developed for measuring the clothing pressure on the abdominal area and evaluating the comfort or discomfort of clothing.     

Numerical Flow Simulation in Turbine Mode of Counter-Rotating Type Pumping Unit to Cooperate with Wind Turbine

This serial research has proposed the hybrid power system combined the wind power unit with the counter-rotating type pump-turbine unit, to provide the constant output for the grid system, even at the suddenly fluctuating/turbulent wind circumstance. In this paper, the tandem impellers prepared for the counter-rotating type pumping unit were operated at the turbine mode, and the performances and the flow conditions were investigated numerically with accompanying the experimental results. Even though providing the pumping unit for the turbine mode, the maximum hydraulic efficiency is close to one of the counter-rotating type hydroelectric unit designed exclusively for the turbine mode. Besides, the runners/impellers of the unit work evidently so as to coincide the angular momentum change through the front runners/impellers with that through the rear runners/impellers, namely to take the axial flow at not only the inlet but also the outlet, without the guide vanes. From these results, it can be concluded that this type unit is effective to work at not only the pumping but also the turbine modes.     

Current collecting efficiency of micro tubular SOFCs

In this study, current collecting efficiency of the micro tubular solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) was estimated to determine optimum size of the micro tubular SOFC. Two models for collecting current from single terminal (ST) and double terminal (DT) of anode tube were proposed and used to calculate the current collecting efficiency as functions of anode thickness, tube length and operating temperature. It was shown that design of the cell geometry and current correcting method are significantly important to achieve high performance micro tubular SOFC stacks. The efficiency loss estimated from the DT model was about 2–4-fold lower than those of obtained from the ST model. The DT model was shown to be more effective for higher operating temperature and the tube length.     

Effect of Non-Equilibrium Condensation of Moist Air on Flow Field in Ludwieg Tube

The time-dependent behavior of non-equilibrium condensation of moist air through a Ludwieg tube with a diaphragm downstream is investigated by using a computational fluid dynamics work. The two-dimensional, compressible, Navier-Stokes equations, fully coupled with the condensate droplet growth equations, are numerically solved by a third-order MUSCL type TVD finite-difference scheme with a second-order fractional time step. Baldwin-Lomax turbulence model is employed to close the governing equations. The present computations represent the experimental flows well. The results obtained show that for an initial relative humidity over 40 %, the periodic excursions of the condensation shock occurs in the Ludwieg tube, and the frequency increases with the initial relative humidity. It is also found that total pressure loss due to non-equilibrium condensation in the Ludwieg tube should not be ignored even for a very low initial relative humidity. Furthermore, the variations of condensation properties are also di     

Pulse Combustors - Performance and Control

~nonEmphasising time characterishcs and contIDI, onlyfew workll'v is av'ailable among the numerous reports onPulse combustors. Rare work deals with tWin Pulsecombustorsls] or combined pulse combustor-"dinesystemsl']. Kenffield15] obtained with a combinedconvenhonal Pulse combustor-tulbine system acombushon Pressals gain of 3-7% and a totalPerformance Of the combustor-"dine system for Pulsecombushon 40% higher than that of steady'combushonwhat aught also be due tO the brine characteristics.…     

Effects of extraction solvents,cooking procedures and storage conditions on the contents of ergothioneine and phenolic compounds and antioxidative capacity of the cultivated mushroom Flammulina velutipes

Edible mushrooms contain considerable amounts of the potent natural antioxidant 2‐thiol‐l ‐histidine‐betaine (l ‐ergothioneine, ESH). The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of extraction solvents, common cooking methods and storage conditions on the ESH content, total phenols (TPs) and antioxidant capacity of the edible mushroom Flammulina velutipes fruiting body and its hot water extract that had been stored at different temperatures. Regarding cooking procedures, boiling in water resulted in the highest losses of antioxidant activity of both ESH and TPs. Most of the losses of ESH and TPs were detected in the cooking water. The ESH contents in the raw mushroom fruiting bodies significantly decreased after 8 days of refrigerated storage under both dark and fluorescent lighting conditions. However, the TP content in the raw mushroom stored under fluorescent lighting significantly increased during 10 days of refrigeration. In contrast, the ESH and TP contents as well as DPPH radical scavenging ability of the fruiting bodies remained unchanged for up to 15 days of frozen storage at ?18 °C. The same behaviour was obtained with the mushroom extract packed in plastic tubes. The correlation between DPPH radical scavenging activity and ESH contents was higher than that for TP compounds.     

Optical sensing of materials movements occurring at a plant surface with a probe beam

Optical sensing of materials movements across a plant surface with a probe beam is reported. It is based on monitoring of deflection of a probe beam passing through a vicinity of the plant surface. The deflection of the probe beam was caused by concentration gradients of chemical species involved in the materials moments in physiological activities of the plant. Typha angustifolia L. was used as a model plant. The beam deflection at different locations of both leaves and roots in respiration process were monitored and compared. It is found that deflection signals changed with time and locations. Experimental results showed that the beam deflection method could be used for noninvasive sensing and monitoring of materials movements across the plant surface.