Similarity considerations in the physical modelling of steel making tundish systems

To assess and quantify the relative importance of Reynolds and Froude numbers in reduced scale model studies (these cannot be simultaneously respected when the scale factor is less than unity), aqueous model investigations were carried out on three different laboratory scale tundish models. The experimental tundish systems included two strand, five strand skewed delta shaped and six strand rectangular shaped vessels. Experimental observations show that the depth of liquid in the model would only correspond to that in the full scale system, provided the model flow rate is scaled in accordance with the relationship: Q_m = λ^5/2 Q_f.S, in which, A is the geometrical scaling factor. Furthermore, on the basis of residence time distribution measurements in two different configurations of the five strand tundish, it was demonstrated explicitly that flow phenomena in tundish systems are largely dominated by inertial forces and are therefore, essentially Froude dominated.     

Low-Programmable-Voltage Nonvolatile Memory Devices Based on Omega-shaped Gate Organic Ferroelectric P(VDF-TrFE) Field Effect Transistors Using p-type Silicon Nanowire Channels

Nano-Micro Letters - A facile approach was demonstrated for fabricating high-performance nonvolatile memory devices based on ferroelectric-gate field effect transistors using a p-type Si nanowire...     

Optimisation on the two-layer stack gamma detectors of CsI(Tl) coupled with a pin photodiode for non-destructive testing

This paper proposed the two-layer stack scintillator-coupled photodiode detector to improve the measurement accuracy of the gamma-ray scanning. Both MCNPX and DETECT97 code were used to design the detector. The two manufactured two-layer stack gamma detectors were used to measure the density profile of the distillation column of the radiographic non-intrusive process diagnostic area. To compare the measurement accuracy of the density profile through the non-destructive transmission test, the relative error of the four fluids used for the process diagnostics was analysed. To summarise the measurement results with regard to the relative error of the NaI(Tl) detector and the manufactured detector by material as well as the total relative error, the total relative error of the NaI(Tl) detector was about 15.7 %, whereas that of the two-layer stack CsI(Tl) with photodiode detectors were about 5 %. This paper confirmed that the measurement accuracy of the detector proposed was improved by about three times as compared with the NaI(Tl) detector mostly used for non-destructive testing.     

Nanostructured, molecularly imprinted, and template-patterned polythiophenes for chiral sensing and differentiation

An innovation to thin-film molecular imprinting is presented for the sensitive detection and effective discrimination of chiral compounds using a portable quartz crystal microbalance transduction technique. The facile approach involves i) colloidal sphere layering of latex particles onto the surface via a Langmuir-Blodgett-like technique followed by ii) template molecular imprinting using electrodeposition of a single functional and cross-linking monomer.     

Optimal design of PML absorbing boundary condition for improving wide-angle reflection performance

A method to optimise the angle reflection performance of Berenger's perfectly matched layer (PML) absorbing boundary condition for finite-difference time-domain (FDTD) method is described. By specifying the conductivity in each of the PML sublayers, the wide-angle reflection performance can be improved. To improve the angle reflection performance as well as to reduce the discretisation error characteristic due to the FDTD approximation, a two-step conductivity profile is used in PML. To obtain the optimal value for each conductivity profile, the micro-genetic algorithm method is employed. Using this method, good wide-angle reflection performance of PML is achieved.     

Design,Implementation, and Validation of KOMPSAT‐2 Software Simulator

In this paper, we present design features, implementation, and validation of a satellite simulator subsystem for the Korea Multi‐Purpose Satellite‐2 (KOMPSAT‐2). The satellite simulator subsystem is implemented on a personal computer to minimize costs and trouble on embedding onboard flight software into the simulator. An object‐oriented design methodology is employed to maximize software reusability. Also, instead of a high‐cost commercial database, XML is used for the manipulation of spacecraft characteristics data, telecommand, telemetry, and simulation data. The KOMPSAT‐2 satellite simulator subsystem is validated by various simulations for autonomous onboard launch and early orbit phase operations, anomaly operation, and science fine mode operation. It is also officially verified by successfully passing various tests such as the satellite simulator subsystem test, mission control element system integration test, interface test, site installation test, and acceptance test.     

Synthesizing robust systems

Systems should not only be correct but also robust in the sense that they behave reasonably in unexpected situations. This article addresses synthesis of robust reactive systems from temporal specifications. Existing methods allow arbitrary behavior if assumptions in the specification are violated. To overcome this, we define two robustness notions, combine them, and show how to enforce them in synthesis. The first notion applies to safety properties: If safety assumptions are violated temporarily, we require that the system recovers to normal operation with as few errors as possible. The second notion requires that, if liveness assumptions are violated, as many guarantees as possible should be fulfilled nevertheless. We present a synthesis procedure achieving this for the important class of GR(1) specifications, and establish complexity bounds. We also present an implementation of a special case of robustness, and show experimental results.     

An epidemiological needs assessment of carotid endarterectomy in an English health region. Is the need being met?

OBJECTIVE: To compare the level of provision of carotid endarterectomy (an intervention of proved efficacy for prevention of stroke in patients with symptomatic high grade carotid artery stenosis) with estimates of need. DESIGN: Comparison of regional, district, and age-sex specific operation rates derived from hospital episode statistics with estimates of need based on demographic and epidemiological data; interviews with regional vascular surgeons and a joint provider-purchaser workshop to discuss implications. SETTING: Former Wessex Regional Health Authority, 1991-2 to 1995-6. SUBJECTS: All residents covered by Wessex region treated for carotid artery reconstruction. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Regional, district, and age-sex operation rates as three year average 1993-6 (use) compared with respective estimates of need for carotid endarterectomy among those who presented with symptomatic carotid disease-transient ischaemic attack or minor stroke. RESULTS: The operation rate more than doubled between 1991-2 and 1995-6, from 35 to 89 per million population, compared with an estimated level of need in the region's general population of 153 per million population (transient ischaemic attack 77, minor stroke 76). The ratio of use to need was 0.47 (95% confidence interval 0.4 to 0.54); district ratios were 0.28 (0.19-0.38) to 0.81 (0.62 to 1.06). The annual use:need ratio rose over the three years 1993-6 from 0.38 to 0.59. Use:need ratios were lower in elderly and female patients. Providers were keen to develop guidelines for referral and to increase access to diagnostic facilities; purchasers were more reluctant, given the limited impact of this intervention on the incidence of stroke and the relatively high cost of the operation. CONCLUSION: Although treatment rates increased in Wessex there is still unmet need. Further research is needed to determine the referral pathways of patients with symptomatic carotid disease for diagnosis and operation and to evaluate strategies to improve access to diagnostic facilities.     

Deformation and microstructure in L10 type Ti-Al-V alloys

The addition of vanadium to polycrystalline, single-phase γ-TiAl significantly enhances stiffness from room temperature (RT) to 1173 K. The maximum yield stress in Ti-55A1-10V alloy is centered near 1073 K, in contrast with those of single-crystal Ti-54A1 at 873 and 1073 K, depending upon deformation orientation. The effect of strain rate on yield stress is present over the entire temperature range, but it is more prominent above 873 K, while the effect becomes significantly small between 673 and 873 K, similar to that observed in Ll₂ type Ni₃Al. The microstructure of deformed Ti-55A1-10V and Ti-49.5A1-10V alloys evolved by slip, twinning, and formation of stacking faults. Twinning is a major deformation mode in Ti-49.5-10V alloy and a minor mode in Ti-55A1-10V alloy. It appears that the amount of twins for a given deformation decreases with increasing Al content. The twin structures in both alloys were found to be true twins of {111}〈112]. No pseudotwinning was observed in the alloys deformed in the temperature range of RT to 1273 K. The stacking faults found in the deformed alloys had an extrinsic character. No intrinsic type of stacking faults were found in these alloys. In addition to the cross slip of superdislocations, the anomalous hardening up to 1073 K appears attributable to an ordinary superdislocation pinning structure, dislocation loops, and nonglissile “square shaped dislocations,” which are products of super-superdislocation reaction. These nonglissile or pinning structures are unwinded in the deformed Ti-55A1-10V alloy at 1273 K, consistent with the softening behavior at this temperature.