Boron distribution in a low-alloy steel

Boron distribution in a low-alloy steel (15B26:0.25C-0.29Cr-0.03Ti-0.028Al-0.0016B) has been characterized employing Fission Track Etching (FTE) method. The characteristics of boron distribution with variation of cooling rate after austenitization and through case-hardened depth after carburization were analyzed. Hardenability of 15B26 steel was also evaluated through Jominy-end-quench test and the results are as follows: It was observed that, in austenitized 15B26 steel, boron was distributed uniformly over the whole area of specimen with a little segregation along the austenite grain boundaries at higher cooling rates and boron precipitates were formed in the intergranular as well as transgranular regions at lower cooling rates. Jominy equivalents (HRC 35) of 15B26 steel were fairly increased between the Jominy temperatures of 820°C and 850°C, which might result from the increase of the amount of soluble boron in austenite due to the dissolution of borocarbides between 820°C and 850°C. In carburized 15B26 steel, the different through thickness features of boron distribution from the carburized surface were found; coarse nodular boron precipitates up to the depth of 150 μm; uniform distribution of dissolved boron between 150~650 μm; and segregation of boron atoms along grain boundaries in the regions deeper than 650 μm.     

Observer‐based decentralized adaptive control for large‐scale pure‐feedback systems with unknown time‐delayed nonlinear interactions

This paper presents an approximation design for a decentralized adaptive output‐feedback control of large‐scale pure‐feedback nonlinear systems with unknown time‐varying delayed interconnections. The interaction terms are bounded by unknown nonlinear bounding functions including unmeasurable state variables of subsystems. These bounding functions together with the algebraic loop problem of virtual and actual control inputs in the pure‐feedback form make the output‐feedback controller design difficult and challenging. To overcome the design difficulties, the observer‐based dynamic surface memoryless local controller for each subsystem is designed using appropriate Lyapunov‐Krasovskii functionals, the function approximation technique based on neural networks, and the additional first‐order low‐pass filter for the actual control input. It is shown that all signals in the total controlled closed‐loop system are semiglobally uniformly bounded and control errors converge to an adjustable neighborhood of the origin. Finally, simulation examples are provided to illustrate the effectiveness of the proposed decentralized control scheme. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Quantification model of proper curvature for large‐sized curved TVs

We present a feasible modeling method to estimate the proper curvature for large‐sized curved TVs. We especially focused on two factors – preference and perceived distortion – to be considered to determine the proper curvature. The preference includes a number of advantages that people expect to fulfill the possibilities of a more immersive image and sense of realism from curved display. On the other hand, the perceived distortion means the side effects that people can notice uncomfortable feeling caused by the shape of a curved one. In order to find out how two factors would be different as a number of conditions like curvature, size, and viewing angle change, a series of subjective assessments were conducted. The evaluation results show that both the preference and perceived distortion vary with the conditions considerably. We performed the statistical analysis based on the results and proposed the quantification model of proper curvature, which has higher preference and less perceived distortion, for various‐sized curved TVs.     

Exploring the Relationship Between Green Consumption Value,Satisfaction, and Loyalty to Hybrid Car in Elderly Consumers

The study aimed to examine the relationship between green consumption value, satisfaction, and loyalty of driving hybrid cars among elderly consumers. Data were collected from a cross‐sectional survey of 314 elderly consumers who purchased hybrid cars in the United States. A partial least squares analysis revealed that elderly consumers’ social, price, and quality values positively influenced the satisfaction of their hybrid car experience, and their satisfaction significantly influenced their loyalty of hybrid car. The relationship between green consumption value, satisfaction, and loyalty toward driving hybrid cars among elderly consumers revealed insight into their value orientations toward the hybrid car. Special efforts are suggested in promoting hybrid car use to elderly consumer groups. Marketers should pay attention to changing beliefs and increasing perceived values of driving a hybrid car for consumers to encourage them to use green products.     

Hardware Technologies for High-Performance Data-Intensive Computing

Data-intensive problems challenge conventional computing architectures with demanding CPU, memory, and I/O requirements. Experiments with three benchmarks suggest that emerging hardware technologies can significantly boost performance of a wide range of applications by increasing compute cycles and bandwidth and reducing latency.     

A study of roll‐printing technology for TFT‐LCD fabrication

Abstract— Recently, potential breakthrough technologies for low‐cost processing of TFT‐LCDs and new process developments for flexible‐display fabrication have been widely studied. A roll‐printing process using etch‐resist material as a replacement for photolithographic patterning was investigated. The characterization of the properties of patterns formed in roll printing, a method to fabricate cliché plates for fine patterns, and the design of a new formulation for resist printing ink is reported. The pattern position accuracy, which is one of the most important issues for the successful application of printing processes in display manufacturing was studied and how it can be improved by optimizing the blanket roll structure is explained. New design rules for the layout of the thin‐film‐transistor array was derived to improve the compatibility of roll printing. As a result, a prototype 15‐in.‐XGA TFT‐LCD panel was fabricated by using printing processes to replace all the photolithographic patterning steps conventionally used.     

Proteomic analysis of sera of asymptomatic,early‐stage patients with Wilson's disease

Wilson's disease (WD) is characterized by excessive accumulation of intracellular copper in liver and extrahepatic tissues, leading to significant oxidative stress and tissue damage. To date, several diagnostic biomarkers for WD such as serum ceruloplasmin, serum or urine copper levels and copper content in liver have been identified. However, these biomarkers may not be convincing for the diagnosis in some WD patients. To identify additional novel diagnostic biomarkers, we compared the serum protein profiles of asymptomatic childhood WD patients (n=20), without neurologic manifestation or liver cirrhosis, with normal controls (n=13). Fourteen spots, five up‐regulated and nine down‐regulated (>2‐fold), were differentially expressed in WD patients in comparison to normal control on 2‐DE. Among them, three spots were down‐regulated in both male and female WD. MS/MS analysis revealed that the three spots were complement component C3, complement factor B and alpha‐2 macroglobulin. By comparative proteome analysis, complement component C3, complement factor B and alpha‐2 macroglobulin, which are related to oxidative stress and inflammation, turned out to be good candidates for novel diagnostic biomarkers for early stages of WD.     

Characterization of magnetic materials using a scanning microwave microprobe

We investigated the electromagnetic properties of metals of iron, nickel, cobalt, aluminum, gold, copper, silver, and permalloy thin films on SiO(2) substrates using a near-field microwave microprobe. The electromagnetic properties of metal sheets were estimated by measuring the microwave reflection coefficient S(11) and compared with the theoretical values. We observed the hysteresis behavior of permalloy thin films on SiO(2) substrates using a near-field scanning microwave microprobes (NSMM) system. Experimental results are in good agreement with the theoretical model of transmission theory. In order to better characterize the electromagnetic properties of metals and magnetic metals instead of the usual method, we take advantage of the noncontact microprobing evaluation capabilities using a near-field microwave.     

Room-Temperature-Processable Highly Reliable Resistive Switching Memory with Reconfigurability for Neuromorphic Computing and Ultrasonic Tissue Classification

Reversible metal-filamentary mechanism has been widely investigated to design an analog resistive switching memory (RSM) for neuromorphic hardware-implementation. However, uncontrollable filament-formation, inducing its reliability issues, has been a fundamental challenge. Here, an analog RSM with 3D ion transport channels that can provide unprecedentedly high reliability and robustness is demonstrated. This architecture is realized by a laser-assisted photo-thermochemical process, compatible with the back-end-of-line process and even applicable to a flexible format. These superior characteristics also lead to the proposal of a practical adaptive learning rule for hardware neural networks that can significantly simplify the voltage pulse application methodology even with high computing accuracy. A neural network, which can perform the biological tissue classification task using the ultrasound signals, is designed, and the simulation results confirm that this practical adaptive learning rule is efficient enough to classify these weak and complicated signals with high accuracy (97%). Furthermore, the proposed RSM can work as a diffusive-memristor at the opposite voltage polarity, exhibiting extremely stable threshold switching characteristics. In this mode, several crucial operations in biological nervous systems, such as Ca²⁺ dynamics and nonlinear integrate-and-fire functions of neurons, are successfully emulated. This reconfigurability is also exceedingly beneficial for decreasing the complexity of systems—requiring both drift- and diffusive-memristors.