Context-dependent product line engineering with lightweight formal approaches

This paper proposes a new style of product line engineering methods. It focuses on constructing embedded systems that take into account the contexts such as the external physical environments. In current product line development projects, Feature Analysis is mainly conducted from the viewpoint of system configurations: how hardware and software components are configured to constitute a system. In most cases, contexts are not considered explicitly. As a result, unexpected and unfavorable behavior might emerge in a system if a developer does not recognize any possible conflicting combinations between the system and contexts. To deal with this problem, this paper provides the notion of a context-dependent product line, which is composed of the system and context lines. The former is obtained by analyzing a family of systems. The latter is obtained by analyzing features of contexts associated to the systems. The system and context lines contain reusable core assets. The configuration of selected system components and contexts can be formally checked at the specification level. In this paper, we show a development process that includes the creation of both product line assets as well as context assets.     

Capillary rise properties of porous mullite ceramics prepared by an extrusion method with various diameters of fiber pore formers

Porous mullite ceramics with unidirectionally oriented pores were prepared by an extrusion method using rayon fibers as the pore formers. Rayon fibers of 8.1, 9.6, 16.8, and 37.6 μm in diameter were used as the pore formers and were kneaded with alumina powder, kaolin clay, China earthen clay, and water to form pastes. These pastes were extruded into cylindrical tubes, dried, and fired at 1500 °C for 4 h. The apparent porosities ranged from 45.7 to 48.2 %. The pore size distributions showed a sharp peak at 9.4, 10.0, 15.6, and 30 μm with increasing fiber diameters. The height of the capillary rise was 1780, 1670, 1320, and 950 mm with increasing fiber diameter. The maximum capillary rise is much higher than previously reported. The contact angle and effective pore radius that determine the capillary rise ability were calculated by fitting the capillary rise curves using the Fries and Dreyer’s equation.     

Agile and fast switching monolithically integrated four wavelengthselectable source at 1.55 μm

We demonstrate 4-nm spaced four emitted wavelengths on a single output waveguide in a four channel DBR lasers array monolithically integrated with a 4>1 coupler. Using distributed Bragg reflector tunability, all wavelengths within a 16-nm range can be reached with an accuracy better than 0.2 nm. Wavelength switching time measured at 90% of nominal power is 4 ns     

Two dimensional shape optimization using partial control and finite element method for compressible flows

The objective of this study is to determine the two dimensional shape of a body located in a compressible viscous flow, where the applied fluid force is minimized. The formulation to obtain the optimal shape is based on an optimal control theory. An optimal state is defined as a state, in which the performance function defined as the integration of the square sum of the applied fluid forces is minimized due to a reduction in the applied fluid forces. Compressible Navier–Stokes equations are treated as constraint equations. In other words, the body is considered to have a shape that minimizes the fluid forces under the constraint of the Navier–Stokes equations. The gradient of the performance function is computed using the adjoint variables. A weighted gradient method is used as the minimization algorithm. The volume of the body is assumed to be the same as that of the initial body. In the case of the algorithm used in this study, both the creation of a structured mesh around the surface of the body and the smoothing procedure are employed for the computation of gradient. In this study, a remeshing technique based on the structured mesh around the body changing its configuration in the iteration cycle is employed. For the correction to keep the volume constant, the surface coordinates are moved along the radial direction. For the discretization of both the state and adjoint equations, the efficient bubble function interpolation presented previously by the authors [18] is employed. The algorithm, which is known as the partial control algorithm, is applied to the numerical procedure to determine the movement of the coordinates. In the case of the gradient method, in order to avoid the convergence of the final shape to the local minimum shape, the new algorithm, which is called the partial control algorithm, is presented in this study. In numerical studies, the shape determination of a body in a uniform flow field is carried out in 2D domains. The initial shape of the body is assumed to be an elliptical cylinder. The shape is modified by minimizing the applied fluid forces. Finally, the desired shape of a body, whose performance function is reduced and converged to a constant value, is obtained. By carrying out a procedure that involves the use of the partial control algorithm, the desired shape of a body, whose performance function is reduced further, is obtained. Stable shape determination of a body in a compressible viscous flow is carried out by using the presented method. It is indicated that the optimal shape can be obtained by using the partial control algorithm.     

Estimation of forest area near deserts — production of Global Bio-Methanol from solar energy

This paper proposes a new synthesis method for methanol as a future alternative fuel, by the combination of carbon supplied from wood and hydrogen supplied from the electrolysis of water using a solar power generation system in the desert. In the developed countries, more than half of the potential forest area has already been converted into other land uses, while existing forests are well organized and available for wood production. In the developing countries, potential forest sites are expected to be available for wood production, even though they are presently grasslands or secondary forests, while natural tropical forests will not be allowed to be converted into artificial forests. The area available for plantations within 500 km distant from deserts was estimated to be 65 Mha in the world, except for the mountain areas. Biomass production from these sites will be converted annually into 980 Mt methanol with hydrogen from the deserts. This amount is equal to 34% of the world's fuel consumption by vehicles.     

Anodic acyloxylation based on the acid–base reactions between acetic acid or trifluoroacetic acid and solid-supported bases

We have developed a novel electrolytic system for anodic acyloxylation based on the acid–base reactions between acetic acid or trifluoroacetic acid and solid-supported bases. On the basis of the electrolytic system, anodic acyloxylation of organic compounds, which even have considerably high oxidation potentials, was successfully carried out to provide the corresponding acyloxylated products in moderate to excellent yields. Furthermore, it was found that silica gel supported bases are not only chemically stable under acidic conditions but also electrochemically stable and thus reusable for many times.     

1.3?m InGaAsP/InP distributed-feedback P-substrate partially inverted buried-heterostructure laser diode

A novel 1.3?m InGaAsP/lnP distributed-feedback buried-heterostructure laser diode on p-type InP substrate has been developed utilising a dopant diffusion technique. The laser has achieved a threshold current as low as 20 mA and high output power of 32 mW under CW and SLM operation.     

Buffer-trapping effects on current slump in AlGaN/GaN HEMTs

Two-dimensional transient analyses of GaN MESFETs and AlGaN/GaN HEMTs are performed in which a deep donor and a deep acceptor are considered in a semi-insulating buffer layer. Calculated transient characteristics are compared between the two FETs, and it is shown that the deep levels affect the results essentially in a similar way. Quasi-pulsed I–V curves are derived from the transient characteristics, and are compared with steady-state I–V curves. It is shown that so-called current slump is more pronounced when the deep-acceptor density in the buffer layer is higher and when an off-state drain voltage is higher, because trapping effects become more significant. It is suggested that to minimize current slump in GaN-based FETs, an acceptor density in a semi-insulating GaN layer should be made low.     

A comparison between fission gas release data and FEMAXI-IV code calculations

The FEMAXI-IV code is an extension of the earlier version FEMAXI-III. The primary improvement in the new version is the provision for treating the fuel rod behavior during an operational transient. For this purpose, the time-dependent models are used for heat conduction, fission gas release, and mixing of the released gas with the plenum gas.In FEMAXI-IV, the fission gas release model was thoroughly revised from the previous version. It is based on the fission gas release model presented by White and Tucker. The model takes into account the following mechanisms:

• - diffusion of gas atoms to the grain boundary;

• - sweeping of gas atoms by grain growth;

• - precipitation of gas atoms into intragranular gas bubbles;

• - resolution of gas atoms from intragranular and grain boundary gas bubbles;

• - fission gas release due to bubble interconnection.

The model was incorporated into FEMAXI-IV and code calculations were compared with the fission gas release data obtained in the Inter-Ramp and Over-Ramp experiments.This paper describes the fission gas release model involved and results of calculations.     

Effect of Pd and In on mercury evaporation from amalgams

The aim of work was evaluation of voice pathology in patients with allergic rhinitis. Larynx organic pathology were found in 75% patients with coexisting allergic rhinitis in the form of Reinke's oedema, chronic hypertrophic laryngitis, larynx polyp and vocal nodules. It caused serious voice pathology (dysphonia) which was confirmed by an objective spectrographic method. Larynx organic pathology was not in 15% patients. In these cases rhinophonia was found in consequence of resonance nasal defect.