Tagging of η mesons using the pd → 3Heη reaction near threshold

A zero-degree spectrometer for tagging η mesons on the CELSIUS/WASA facility is described, and its characteristics are presented. Tagging of η mesons is performed by detecting ³He ions produced by reaction pd → ³Heη close to the production threshold. The low background level (<2%) is in good agreement with the data obtained earlier on the SATURNE accelerator.     

A spectrometer for seeking exotic states of pionic atoms of xenon

The parameters of a spectrometer for searching for deeply bound pionic states of xenon are presented. The main component of the spectrometer is a multilayer semiconductor telescope based on high-purity germanium detectors. A technique for calibrating the spectrometer and measuring its energy resolution using reactions p(d, ³He)π⁰ and ¹⁴N(d, ³He)¹³C is described. The energy resolution of the setup is shown to be 0.85 MeV for ³He ions with an energy of ～360 MeV.     

Optimisation of cobalt-based hardfacing in carbon steel using the fuzzy analysis for the robust design

In this paper, we present the application of the fuzzy logic analysis to a Taguchi orthogonal experiment for developing a robust model with high efficiency in multiple performance characteristics (MPCs) of the plasma transfer arc welding (PTAW) hardfacing process. It eliminates uncertain information and is a simple, effective, and efficient approach. A fuzzy logic system is used to simultaneously investigate relationships between various MPCs and to determine the efficiency of each trial of the Taguchi experiments. From the fuzzy inference process, we are able to determine the optimal setting of factor-levels for the MPCs. In addition, we also use the analysis of variance (ANOVA) to identify the significant factors, which coincide with findings from the fuzzy logic analysis and are found to account for about 79% of the total variance. Furthermore, a confirmation experiment of the optimal process is conducted, and it verifies that both individual performance characteristics and MPCs are successfully optimized and satisfy our desired levels of MPCs.     

Postantibiotic effect of imipenem, alone and in combination with amikacin, on Pseudomonas aeruginosa

Imipenem and amikacin, alone and in combination, were investigated for their postantibiotic effect (PAE) on Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Four clinical strains of P. aeruginosa in the logarithmic phase of growth were exposed for 1 h to antibiotics, alone and in combination. Recovery periods of test cultures were evaluated after dilution using viable counting. Imipenem produced a PAE ranging from 0.7 to 1.55 h. Similar PAEs were induced by amikacin (ranging from 0.65 to 2 h). In combination, imipenem and amikacin produced as a final PAE (ranging from 1.6 to 2.65 h), a rough mathematical sum of the individual effects. The finding of this study may have important implications for the timing of doses during therapy with antimicrobial combinations.     

The effect of par‐baking and frozen storage time on the quality of cup cake

The effects of frozen storage and initial baking time of par‐baked cake on baking loss, volume, moisture, colour and textural properties of cake obtained after thawing and rebaking were investigated. Cakes, par‐baked at 175 °C for 15, 20 and 25 min, were stored at ?18 °C for 3, 6 and 9 months. After storage, par‐baked cakes were thawed and rebaked at 175 °C for 10, 15 and 20 min. Baking loss, moisture content, L and +b colour values, firmness, gumminess and chewiness of the resulting full‐baked cakes were significantly affected by both par‐baking and frozen storage time, while specific volume, cohesiveness, springiness and resilience values were significantly affected by frozen storage time. The increase in the time of frozen storage of the par‐baked cake leads to a decrease in the quality of the rebaked cake, namely an increase of baking loss and cake crumb firmness, and a loss in the moisture content and specific volume. Moisture of cake crumb, L and +b colour values, firmness, gumminess and chewiness significantly increased as the par‐baking time increased. However, regarding baking loss, specific volume, moisture content and textural properties, 3‐month intermediate storage at ?18 °C and 20‐min initial baking time gave the best result among the cakes produced by using the two‐step baking procedure.     

Optimum design of slurry pipelines by genetic algorithm

Various applications of slurry transportation through pipelines exist. A transportation problem is formulated to determine the pipe diameters and amounts of transported slurry from the production to the consumption points. The minimisation of the cost consisting of the pipe and energy cost terms is considered as the objective function. Pipe cost is given as the function of pipe diameters and the energy cost is defined as the function of pipe diameters and slurry amounts. Energy cost is obtained by using the relation that is previously determined after the experimental studies have been made for the magnetite ore. Genetic algorithm is used as the optimisation method and to apply this method a commercially available software written in the C language is used and modified. The proposed methodology to solve this non-linear programming problem is applied to a transportation system and it is found that the proposed methodology has made the complex, labour-intensive solution process very convenient for the users.     

Microwave Sintering and Optical Properties of Sm3+-Activated KSrPO4 Phosphors

The microwave sintering and photoluminescence properties of KSr_1?x PO₄:xSm³⁺ phosphors have been investigated. KSrPO₄ phosphates activated by various concentrations of Sm³⁺ ions (x = 0.007, 0.009, 0.01, 0.03) were microwave sintered at 1200°C for 3 h under air atmosphere. x-Ray diffraction patterns showed that all phosphor samples exhibited a single phase without any extraneous phases. Scanning electron microscopy images showed that the particle size increased with the Sm³⁺ concentration and that the particle morphology was fine and uniform. The photoluminescence results showed that a concentration quenching effect occurred when the concentration of Sm³⁺ ions reached x = 0.01. Decay time measurement results showed that the lifetime decreased gradually from 3.12 ms to 2.34 ms as the Sm³⁺ concentration increased. All the chromaticity (x, y) values of the microwave-sintered KSrPO₄:Sm³⁺ phosphors were located in the red region (0.57, 0.41).     

Optimisation of cobalt-based hardfacing in carbon steel using the fuzzy analysis for the robust design

In this paper, we present the application of the fuzzy logic analysis to a Taguchi orthogonal experiment for developing a robust model with high efficiency in multiple performance characteristics (MPCs) of the plasma transfer arc welding (PTAW) hardfacing process. It eliminates uncertain information and is a simple, effective, and efficient approach. A fuzzy logic system is used to simultaneously investigate relationships between various MPCs and to determine the efficiency of each trial of the Taguchi experiments. From the fuzzy inference process, we are able to determine the optimal setting of factor-levels for the MPCs. In addition, we also use the analysis of variance (ANOVA) to identify the significant factors, which coincide with findings from the fuzzy logic analysis and are found to account for about 79% of the total variance. Furthermore, a confirmation experiment of the optimal process is conducted, and it verifies that both individual performance characteristics and MPCs are successfully optimized and satisfy our desired levels of MPCs.     

Human behavioral assessment in neurotoxicology: producing appropriate test performance with written and shaping instructions

Neurotoxic effects are of such breadth and complexity that functional biomarkers (behavioral tests) that integrate many areas of the nervous system predominate in human neurotoxicology research. The increasing distribution of chemical and other manufacturing throughout the world, particularly in developing nations, suggests the acute need to develop biomarkers for chemical exposures and effects that can be employed internationally. A language-free method for training performance on behavioral tests is described, which holds promise for international research that circumvents the vagaries of translation. Four behavioral tests were administered to 74-114 adult US subjects. Procedures, collectively termed shaping, produced effective performance on three tests [Symbol Digit, Vigilant Attention Test (VAT), Digit Span Forward and Backward], and produced appropriate but unacceptably slow performance in initial testing on the Simple Reaction Time test. Effective performance on the Symbol-Digit test also was produced by shaping instruction, without assistance from examiners, in small groups of residents of Taipei (Taiwan) and US children between the ages of 5 and 16.