Interoperability of manufacturing applications using the Core Manufacturing Simulation Data (CMSD) standard information model

The goal of this paper is to propose an approach to enhance interoperability between manufacturing applications using the Core Manufacturing Simulation Data Information Model (CMSDIM) in order to streamline design and manufacturing activities throughout the product life cycle. To this end, a system framework required to facilitate such interoperability is first presented. The proposed approach, architecture, and developed translators are then illustrated and demonstrated using two separate case studies. The first case study facilitates design for manufacturing and assembly improvements for the development of new products, allowing for part of a discrete event simulation model of a downstream manufacturing and assembly process to be automatically generated from corresponding product assembly information contained in the lean design engineering software. Conceptual design and development of this case study, which extracts outputs from Design Profit™ lean design software and generates a corresponding discrete event simulation model in ProModel™ for a Nikon® L-100 Camera, is then discussed. The second case study demonstrates interoperability of three applications (order and inventory system, Gantt chart scheduler, and discrete event simulation) for a generic job shop operation. Using the considered case studies, this paper also details and demonstrates the benefits of interoperability enhancement using the CMSDIM, which is an important consideration in any product life cycle. Finally, we discuss how future research opportunities integrating additional manufacturing applications can be used to address intellectual challenges present in our current approach.     

Determination of arsenic species in rice grains using HPLC-ICP-MS

Determination of As species in rice is necessary because inorganic As species (arsenate (As^V) and arsenite (As^III)) are more toxic than organic As (monomethylarsonic acid (MMA) and dimethylarsinic acid (DMA)). This study evaluated the As species in Korean and USA rice grains. Levels were determined using microwave extraction and high performance liquid chromatography coupled with inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (HPLC-ICPMS). Arsenite and DMA were the major species detected in Korean and USA rice. The percentage of inorganic As was 76.94% (54.50–87.86%) for Korean rice and 69.28% (52.94–72.92%) for USA samples. The order and percentage of As species observed in Korean and USA rice were As^III (70%)>DMA (24%)>As^V (5%)>MMA (1%), and As^III (64%)>DMA (28%)>As^V(5%)>MMA (3%), respectively. The As^III concentrations were not significantly different in Korean rice grains, compared to USA grains. The high As^III predominance indicates an elevated toxic effect of As in rice grains and needs further attention.     

Occurrence and risk characterization of non-nutritive sweeteners in selected food products from Korea

Food Science and Biotechnology - Non-nutritive sweeteners (NNS) are food additives that impart a sweet taste to food product with lower calories. Acesulfame potassium, aspartame, sodium saccharin,...     

Passive air sampling of polychlorinated biphenyls and organochlorine pesticides at the Korean Arctic and Antarctic research stations: implications for long-range transport and local pollution

To assess levels and patterns of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) in polar regions, XAD-resin based passive air samplers were deployed for one year at the Korean polar research stations at Ny-Alesund, Norway (2005-2006) and King George Island, Antarctica (2004-2005). Backward trajectories suggest that these stations are affected by long-range transport from source regions in Northern Europe and Russia and the southern tip of South America, respectively. Relatively high levels of PCB-11, averaging 60 pg x m(-3), were observed in Antarctica, suggesting an unusual source of PCB-11 to the Southern Hemisphere. Reflecting the hemispheric distribution of global PCB emissions, the average level of sigma205PCB (excluding three mono-CBs and PCB-11) was five times higher in the Arctic (95 pg x m(-3)) than in the Antarctic (19 pg x m(-3)). Levels of sigma9PCB at Ny-Alesund were similarto those reported for other Arctic sites, while levels at King George Island were lower than at other sites on the Antarctic Peninsula but 1 order of magnitude higher than background levels measured at a more remote Antarctic site. Light homologues were predominant in all samples (except for one Arctic sample), consistent with the hypothesis of global fractionation and predictions of long-range transport potential. Dominance of heavy PCBs on the roof of the main building at Ny-Alesund and a concentration gradient with distance from the main building at King George Island strongly indicated the influence of local sources. OCP levels were also influenced by long-range transport but not by local sources. This study highlights the feasibility of using passive air sampling to assess both long-range transport and local pollution in remote regions.     

Electrochemical behaviors of SnO and Sn anodes for lithium rechargeable batteries

Electrochemical behaviors of Sn and SnO anodes are studied. Charging/discharging curves show irreversible capacities at the first cycle in both Sn and SnO electrodes. The irreversible capacity loss in Sn electrode is due to the incomplete Li removal from Sn after the first cycle. Although the largest capacity loss in SnO electrode is a result from the lithia formation during the first discharge, additional capacity loss arises from the residual Li in metallic Sn owing to the aggregation of Sn upon repeated cycling. Contrary to the previous studies, Li₂₂Sn₅ phase is not observed in the discharge product in Sn and SnO electrodes. The LiSn alloy electrode shows almost 100% cycling efficiency at the first cycle due to the pre-existing Li.     

Analysis and verification of power transmission characteristics of the hydromechanical transmission for agricultural tractors

In this study, we developed a network model of a Hydromechanical transmission (HMT) for tractors. We verified the developed network model using commercial software and analyzed the power transmission characteristics of an HMT-equipped tractor based on the verified network model. We developed a network model considering the power losses of the transmission elements to analyze the power transmission characteristics of the HMT’s main shift. Using this model, we analyzed the power transmission characteristics of the main shift and confirmed that the power of the main shift can be split and circulated depending on the stroke of the Hydrostatic unit (HSU). We then used the model to analyze the HSU stroke, the power transmission efficiency, and the wheel torque, all of which comprise the power transmission characteristics of an HMT-equipped tractor. As a result, the HMT changed the driving speed of the tractor by continuously varying the HSU stroke. The tractor efficiency increased with the driving speed at each mode and decreased after having reached its maximum efficiency. To verify the developed network model, we compared the analysis results of the tractor’s power transmission efficiency and wheel torque with those obtained from commercial software. From the comparative analysis, we confirmed that the power transmission efficiency and wheel torque of the two models coincided. Therefore, we conclude that the developed network model is highly suitable for analyzing the power transmission characteristics of the HMT.

     

Tribological approaches to material removal rate during chemical mechanical polishing

In this study, the effect of the friction and wear of a polishing pad on the material removal rate of a silicon oxide wafer was investigated during chemical mechanical polishing (CMP) with ceria slurry. Further, the effect of surface properties of the polishing pad, such as surface roughness and hardness, on the variation in the material removal rate was examined. From a tribological viewpoint, the in-situ friction force was monitored during the CMP process, and wear of the polishing pad was controlled by different types of conditioners. After CMP, the pad surface roughness was measured by optical profiling and scanning electron microscopy. Experimental results showed that the material removal rate was almost linearly proportional to the friction force between the pad and the wafer surface, irrespective of the properties of the pad. Experiments on the dependency of the pad wear rate on the material removal rate showed that the material removal rate increased with a decrease in the pad wear rate. Experiments and pad characterization confirmed that such a correlation was attributed to the pad surface roughness and the friction force.     

Improved dimensional stability of water-blown polyurethane foam with aluminum hydroxide and magnesium hydroxide

Water is eco-friendly and safe; thus, it used as a blowing agent in the fabrication of water-blown polyurethane (PU) foam. However, water-blown PU foam may experience dimensional instability due to shrinkage of the cells inside the foam. In order to reduce cell shrinkage due to the loss of CO₂ gas, vacuum formation is prevented in the closed-cell foam and the maximum reaction temperature must be raised to increase the degree of curing of the PU foam. In this study, two flame retardants, aluminum trihydrate (ATH) and magnesium dihydrate (MDH), were selected as additives to partially open the cells and increase the maximum reaction temperature. ATH and MDH were both effective for increasing the maximum foam reaction temperature and decreasing dimensional change. Notably, PU foams with 7.5 wt% ATH were the most dimensionally stable at both room temperature and high temperature. Moreover, the compressive strength and flexural strength of such foams were also improved compared to those of the foams without any additive.     

Influence of microstructure on dynamic mechanical property of emulsion blend containing heterocoagulated composite particles

In this article, the dynamic mechanical properties of a multiphase system containing a dispersed phase with complex morphology is discussed with respect to the microstucture of the dispersed phase. The samples are prepared by emulsion blending of matrix particles (MP) and particles for a dispersed phase that are obtained with heterocoagulation techniques. The heterocoagulated particles were prepared using two kinds of particles of different sizes: small negative particles (SP) and large amphoteric particles (LP), taking advantage of their opposite surface charge in the colloidal state. To vary compatibility between SP and LP, two kinds of small particles were used: poly(methyl methacrylate-butyl acrylate-acrylic acid) and poly(styrene-butyl acrylate-acrylic acid) (SP-M and SP-S). Dynamic mechanical behavior of simple blends composed of MP and SP were also measured to examine the effect of microstucture. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 66: 1899–1909, 1997     

Potential risk of using General Estimates System: Bicycle safety

Beneficial effects of bicycle helmet use have been reported mostly based on medical or survey data collected from hospitals. This study was to examine the validity of the United States General Estimates System (GES) database familiar to many transportation professionals for a beneficial effect of helmet use in reducing the severity of injury to bicyclists and found potential risk of erroneous conclusions that can be drawn by a narrowly focused study when the GES database is used. Although the focus of the study was on bicycle helmet use, its findings regarding potential risk might be true for any type of traffic safety study using the GES data. A partial proportional odds model reflecting intrinsic ordering of injury severity was mainly used. About 16,000 bicycle-involved traffic crash records occurring in 2003 through 2008 in the United States were extracted from the GES database.Using the 2003–2008 GES data, a beneficial effect of helmet use was found in 2007, yet a detrimental effect in 2004 and no effect in 2003, 2005, 2006, and 2008, which are contrary to the past findings from medical or hospital survey data. It was speculated that these mixed results might be attributable to a possible lack of representation of the GES data for bicycle-involved traffic crashes, which may be supported by the findings, such as the average helmet use rates at the time of the crashes varying from 12% in 2004 to 38% in 2008. This suggests that the GES data may not be a reliable source for studying narrowly focused issues such as the effect of helmet use. A considerable fluctuation over years in basic statistical values (e.g., average) of variables of interest (e.g., helmet use) may be an indication of a possible lack of representation of the GES data. In such a case, caution should be exercised in interpreting and generalizing analysis results.