Expert system approach in design of mechanical components

The present investigation is aimed toward the development of knowledge-based aids for the design of mechanical systems. We have developed and implemented the knowledgebased aid system, which includes MEET and DPMED. The basic approach of MEET follows along the lines ofDesign=Refinement+ Constraint Propagation. This approach has been proven successful in the circuit design domain. Our attempts to utilize MEET have convinced us that we need to extend this methodology to solve mechanical design problems. The DPMED methodology has been applied to design gear-pairs, v-belts, bearings, and shafts. Rules for selecting materials, critical design criteria, and so on are incorporated as part of the rule-system. In order for DPMED to select the design parameter values within the feasible design space, design criteria need to be investigated. Based on these criteria and input/output specifications, DPMED attempts to perform parameter selections. DPMED uses a general hill-climbing algorithm to guide the search.     

Combustion of multi-component liquid fuel drops

Combustion of Bunker C fuel drops has been studied by high-speed cinematography using both suspended and falling drop techniques. Suspended drops burned disruptively, the liquid phase shattering and the gas phase displaying ‘explosive’ behaviour. Falling drops of pre-heated fuel burned smoothly, whereas non-preheated fuel drops burned in stages, with frequent extinction and re-ignition, accompanied by fluctuating combustion in the gas phase, suggesting rapid and irregular evolution of volatiles.     

Large-cell change of hepatocytes in cirrhosis may represent a reaction to prolonged cholestasis

The deaths of 10 heroin body packers are reported and contrasted to those of cocaine body packers. Only one was a woman, and all were traveling to or from Colombia. Drug packets deteriorated in the gastrointestinal tract and caused the deaths of eight victims. Accomplices removed drug packets from two of these smugglers after death occurred. One died of peritonitis stemming from a small-bowel obstruction caused by the drug packets, and one died from the recreational use of heroin (nasally ingested). The heroin recovered was < or = 881 g, and the drug purity of the contraband in three cases was between 65% and 73%. Blood concentrations of morphine were < 1.0 mg/L in four victims; no morphine was detected in the smuggler who died of peritonitis. However, two victims had blood morphine concentrations of 4.4 mg/L and 6.7 mg/L, respectively, and three had morphine concentrations of 35.8, 39.4, and 52.6 mg/L, respectively. Fatal heroin body packing differs from cocaine body packing in that individuals may have extremely high drug levels in their blood and their accomplices appear to be more likely to abandon them in a remote location after attempting to remove the drug packets after death has occurred.     

Cooley-Tukey-type algorithm for the Haar transform

It is shown that the Haar transform can be computed using a Cooley-Tukey-type algorithm that is implemented in 2(N?1) additions/subtractions. This algorithm is derived by relating the Haar transform to the modified Walsh-Hadamard transform using a simple bit-reversal scheme.     

Performance Evaluation for Transform Coding Using a Nonseparable Covariance Model

Intraframe transform coding of pictures for the case of a nonseparable covariance model is considered. Performances of the Walsh-Hadamard, discrete cosine and Karhunen-Loeve transforms are compared based on the compaction of signal energy in the transform components, and, the degree of decorrelation of the data. The results demonstrate that the performances of the discrete cosine and Karhunen-Loéve transforms compare closely, as is the case with a separable covariance model. The corresponding performance of the Walsh-Hadamard transform is inferior.     

Error estimates for conforming finite element solutions

A method for determining realistic error estimates for conforming finite element solutions is presented. The method requires solution of the problem by at least two, and preferably three mesh schemes that yield monotonic solution covergence. This in turn will automatically yield one solution bound, upper or lower. The paper describes a simple and practical scheme for obtaining the other bound by utilizing the solutions from the multiple mesh schemes. These bounds bracket the exact solution within relatively narrow limits and provide the basis of the error estimate. The solution quantities considered are the system energy quantities; and for eigenvalue problems these correspond to the eigenvalues themselves. As in convergence proofs, it is expected that the displacement and stress quantities will follow the behavior of the energy quantities. The proposed bounding method is applicable to eigenvalue and static problems devoid of stress singularities, and considers only the discretization error of conforming finite element models. The validity of the proposed bounding method has not been proved mathematically; however, extensive numerical applications of the method indicate its workability in every case tested. Results of some applications are included in this article.     

A Wireless Instructor System for Computer-Supported Collaborative Learning Requiring Immersive Presence (CSCLIP)

The Computer-Supported Collaborative Learning Requiring Immersive Presence (CSCLIP) concept has been established with the objective of extending and enhancing thee-learning experience of distance education, especially for classes that involve laboratory (lab) experiments. The CSCLIP concept defines immersive presence as an inherent requirement that enables cognitive, affective, and most importantly psychomotor learning objectives to integrate into designs and concepts for next generation e-learning systems (Sharda et~al., 2003). Within the CSCLIP architectural framework, the Wireless Instructor (WI) system has been conceptualized and developed as an essential device to effectively support teaching while roaming instructional features for both local and distance students. The WI system provides cost effective means to establish a real-time immersive presence for the distance learning (DL) student and his/her lab group peers. The technical design and system architecture to create a WI system are introduced in this paper. The objective of the WI system is to make the learning experience more vivid and interactive by enabling the DL students, as well as the local students that are not in the same room with the instructor(s) at the same time, to be able to flexibly interact with the instructor(s) in real-time. With this system the students can experience real-time or non-real-time virtual tours with the instructor(s), enabling the students to visit places that may not be easily accessible due to distance, limited space and/or time, cost, or possible danger. The WI system consists of two major sub-components. First is a wireless audio and video (AV) system, which transfers real-time AV signals to and from the instructor(s) to all students. Second is the wireless instructor locator & data assistant system. These two systems can be combined into one WI unit, but as the applied development technologies are somewhat distinct, their features and architectural designs will be described separately throughout this paper. Integration of the two systems will enable further capabilities.This revised version was published online in March 2005 with corrections to the cover dateThis project was funded by the U.S. Department of Education (DoE) award no. P116Z020042 project titled Telecommunications Virtual Laboratory Development.     

Nonlinear constrained optimization of filled polyesters

An efficient method for optimization of a formulation problem subject to nonlinear constraints was demonstrated. Specifically, a nine-variable polyester-filler system was investigated experimentally. The investigation included selection of an efficient experimental design, regression analysis, and study of optimization methods. Recommended procedures are reported, along with examples and discussion of several typical applications.     

Electrobioleaching of base metal sulfides

Bioleaching of base metal sulfides, such as pyrite, chalcopyrite, and sphalerite, under the influence of applied direct current (DC) potentials is discussed. Contributions toward mineral dissolution from three effects, namely, galvanic, applied potential, and microbiological, are analyzed and compared. Sphalerite could be selectively bioleached in the presence ofThiobacillus ferrooxidans under an applied potential of −500 mV (SCE) from mixed sulfides containing sphalerite, pyrite, and chalcopyrite. Bacterial activity and growth were found to be promoted under electrobioleaching conditions. Probable mechanisms involved in the bioleaching of different sulfides under positive and negative applied potentials are discussed.     

The nuclear stethoscope: a simple device for generation of left ventricular volume curves

Initial evaluation has begun of a system for displaying left ventricular time-activity curves, relating the intraventricular content of radioactivity with the cardiac cycle as determined by the patient's electrocardiogram. Major problems include proper positioning of the detector, correction for background radioactivity outside the ventricle and calibration of the device to permit conversion of measurement of radioactivity to measurement of ventricular volumes.