Phase-shifting real-time holographic interferometry applied to load transmission evaluation in dried human skull

Phase-shifting real-time holography with photorefractive Bi(12)SiO(20) crystal as holographic recording medium applied to load transmission evaluation and tension dissipation on a dried human skull under loading is presented. The applied loading stands as a simulation of isolated contraction (SIC) of some masticatories muscles. The four-frames phase-shifting technique and the unwrapping branch-cut technique were used to obtain the phase map. The quantitative results show the feasibility of the employed system in the study of microdisplacements in the skull structure provided by SIC.     

Stator‐core structure and winding technology for EPS motors

Electric power steering (EPS) motors must have the performance characteristics of precision machines. They should be compact and produce high power. Moreover, the loss torque and the change of loss torque should be as low as possible. In this study, dividing the stator core into small blocks and winding the coils densely on the blocks are shown to be effective techniques for achieving compact high‐power motors. We examined whether I‐shaped divided cores or T‐shaped divided cores were more suitable for EPS motors in terms of motor performance and production cost. We built two experimental motors, one with I‐shaped divided cores and the other with T‐shaped divided cores, and measured three important characteristics of EPS motors: output torque, loss torque, and loss torque change. The T‐type motor proved to have better performance for all three characteristics. Moreover, the productivity of the T‐type motor was shown to be higher than that of the I‐type motor, indicating that overall, T‐shaped divided cores are advantageous for the stators of EPS motors. Next, we considered a new winding method for the continuous winding of two T‐shaped cores in order to achieve a compact terminal connection board. The extending lines made by the new winding method do not extend beyond the coil end. Therefore, this method will contribute to reduction of the axial dimension of EPS motors. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Electr Eng Jpn, 175(1): 35–42, 2011; Published online in Wiley Online Library ( wileyonlinelibrary.com ). DOI 10.1002/eej.21085     

Permeability and blood compatibility of nanoporous parylene film‐coated polyethersulfone membrane under long‐term blood diffusion

Nanoporous polyethersulfone (PES) membranes are widely used in dialysis systems due to their permeability and diffusion characteristics. However, PES membranes lack blood compatibility, which influences their permeability performance when employed in blood contact devices. Parylene film was deposited on a PES membrane surface and the membrane permeability and blood compatibility were investigated by long‐term blood diffusion testing. After 28 days of testing, 90% of a bare PES membrane was covered with platelets, while the parylene film coated PES membrane had improved biocompatibility with a platelet coverage of only 20–30%. The permeability of the bare PES membrane significantly declined during the first 7 days of the blood diffusion and became stable after 8 days. In contrast, the permeability of the parylene film coated PES membrane exhibited more consistent performance during the entire test. Thus, parylene film coating on PES membrane has potential for application in hemodialysis systems. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci., 2014 , 131, 40024.     

A novel framework based on a data-driven approach for modelling the behaviour of organisms in chemical plume tracing

We propose a data-driven approach for modelling an organism''s behaviour instead of conventional model-based strategies in chemical plume tracing (CPT). CPT models based on this approach show promise in faithfully reproducing organisms’ CPT behaviour. To construct the data-driven CPT model, a training dataset of the odour stimuli input toward the organism is needed, along with an output of the organism’s CPT behaviour. To this end, we constructed a measurement system comprising an array of alcohol sensors for the measurement of the input and a camera for tracking the output in a real scenario. Then, we determined a transfer function describing the input–output relationship as a stochastic process by applying Gaussian process regression, and established the data-driven CPT model based on measurements of the organism’s CPT behaviour. Through CPT experiments in simulations and a real environment, we evaluated the performance of the data-driven CPT model and compared its success rate with those obtained from conventional model-based strategies. As a result, the proposed data-driven CPT model demonstrated a better success rate than those obtained from conventional model-based strategies. Moreover, we considered that the data-driven CPT model could reflect the aspect of an organism’s adaptability that modulated its behaviour with respect to the surrounding environment. However, these useful results came from the CPT experiments conducted in simple settings of simulations and a real environment. If making the condition of the CPT experiments more complex, we confirmed that the data-driven CPT model would be less effective for locating an odour source. In this way, this paper not only poses major contributions toward the development of a novel framework based on a data-driven approach for modelling an organism’s CPT behaviour, but also displays a research limitation of a data-driven approach at this stage.     

URANS simulations for a free-running container ship:Part 1.Turning-circle

The incompressible unsteady Reynolds-averaged Navier-Stokes(URANS)simulations are performed for a free-running container ship in maneuvering conditions:the star...     

Phospholipid-Coated Boronic Oxide Nanoparticles as Boron Agents for Boron Neutron Capture Therapy

Minimally invasive boron neutron capture therapy (BNCT) is an elegant approach for cancer treatment. The highly selective and efficient deliverability of boron agents to cancer cells is the key to maximizing the therapeutic benefits of BNCT. In addition, enhancement of the frequencies to achieve boron neutron capture reaction is also significant in improving therapeutic efficacy by providing a highly concentrated boron agent in each boron nanoparticle. As the density of the thermal neutron beam remains low, it is unable to induce high-efficiency cell destruction. Herein, we report phospholipid-coated boronic oxide nanoparticles as agents for BNCT that can provide a highly concentrated boron atom in each nanoparticle. The current system exhibited in vitro BNCT activity seven times higher than that of commercial boron agents. Furthermore, the system could penetrate cancer spheroids deeply, efficiently suppressing thermal neutron irradiation-induced growth.