Automated synthesis of modular fixture designs using an evolutionary search algorithm

Fixture design is a complex problem that requires a designer to ensure that a workpiece is located deterministically, totally restrained and sufficiently supported during a manufacturing process. The use of modular fixtures, while presenting an opportunity to improve the responsiveness of a manufacturing system, adds to the complexity of the fixture design problem. The complexity is a result of the large number of fixture elements in a modular fixture system and the constraints of specified locations in which fixture elements can be placed in a grid-based modular system. This paper presents an evolutionary search algorithm that aids a fixture designer by exploring the large number of possible fixture designs and suggesting an appropriate one. The algorithm can explore the large solution space using a flexible and generic representation and it considers fixture layout and fixture configuration constraints concurrently in arriving at appropriate solutions. The initial results of the algorithm are promising.     

Effect of solvents on the structural, optical and morphological properties of Zn0.96Cu0.04O nanoparticles

Zn_0.96Cu_0.04O nanoparticles were synthesized by co-precipitation method using different solvents like ethanol, water and mixer of ethanol and water in 50:50 ratios. Crystalline phases and optical studies of the nanoparticles were studied by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and UV–visible photo-spectrometer. The XRD showed that the prepared nanoparticles have different microstructure without changing a hexagonal wurtzite structure. The calculated average crystalline size was high for ethanol (27.3 nm) due to the presence of more defects and low for water (26 nm) due to the reduction of defects and vacancies. The energy dispersive X-ray analyses confirmed the presence of Cu in ZnO system and the weight percentage is nearly equal to their nominal stoichiometry within the experimental error. The presence of lower Zn and Cu percentage in the sample prepared using ethanol than other solvents was due low reaction rate which was confirmed by XRD spectra. Water solvent has relatively stronger transmittance in the visible region which leads to the industrial applications especially in opto-electronic devices. The average crystalline size is slowly decreased from 27.3 nm (ethanol) to 26 nm (water) whereas energy gap is steadily increased from 3.56 eV (ethanol) to 3.655 eV (water) when water concentration is increased from 0 to 100 % in ethanol. Existence of functional groups and bonding were analyzed by FTIR spectra. The observed blue shift of UV emission from ethanol (349 nm) to water (340 nm) solution and the high I_UV/I_G ratio in water solution in photoluminescence spectra was due to the decrease of crystalline size and defects/secondary phases. The intensity of blue–green band emission was gradually decreased due to the reduction of defects and vacancies when water concentration is increased from 0 to 100 % in ethanol solution, which was consistent with the XRD observation.     

Improved performance of ZnO thin film solar cells by doping magnesium ions

This study investigates the effect of magnesium doping on the performance of nanocrystalline zinc oxide (ZnO) thin film solar cells. Mg_xZn_1?xO (x = 0.00, 0.05, 0.075 and 0.1 %) nanoparticles were prepared by simple precipitation method. The crystallinity and morphology of the photo-anode was characterized by X-ray diffraction analysis and scanning electron microscopy. The effect of various concentrations of magnesium ions on the structural and optical properties of ZnO nanoparticles was examined. Doping of magnesium ions helps the ZnO nanoparticles to grow larger in size with rod like surface morphologies. Solar cell with 0.075 % magnesium doped ZnO electrode exhibits an enhanced short-circuit current density of 3.36 mA/cm², open-circuit photo voltage of 0.79 V, fill factor of 0.73, and overall power conversion efficiency of 2.1 %.     

Theoretical and experimental performance analysis for cold trap design

Cold trap is a purification unit used in sodium system of FBR's for maintaining the oxygen/hydrogen level in sodium within acceptable limits. It works on the principle of crystallization and precipitation of oxides/hydrides of sodium in a wire mesh, when the temperature of sodium is reduced below the saturation temperature. The cold traps presently used have lower effectiveness and get plugged prematurely. The plugged cold traps are cleaned and then put back into service. Frequent cleaning of cold trap results in the long down time of the sodium system. New design of cold trap has been conceived to overcome the above problems. The mathematical modeling for the new design was carried out and validated with experimentally tested results for its effectiveness. This paper shares the experience gained on the new design of cold trap for FBR's.     

植物乳杆菌KLDS 1.0318对小鼠免疫调节作用初步研究

目的:探讨植物乳杆菌KLDS 1.0318对小鼠免疫调节功能的影响。方法:将健康的BALB/c小鼠随机分为4组,即正常对照组、乳酸菌低剂量组、乳酸菌中剂量组、乳酸菌高剂量组。灌胃不同剂量植物乳杆菌KLDS 1.0318菌悬液后,分别测定各组脾脏指数和胸腺指数,脾淋巴细胞增殖、NK细胞活性、巨噬细胞能量代谢水平,巨噬细胞吞噬能力。结果:与正常对照组相比,植物乳杆菌KLDS 1.0318中、高剂量组能够显著提高小鼠的脾脏和胸腺指数,同时能够促进脾淋巴细胞增殖,增强小鼠NK细胞活性,提高小鼠巨噬细胞吞噬中性红能力及其能量代谢水平。结论:植物乳杆菌KLDS 1.0318可以通过促进机体的特异性免疫和非特异性免疫功能来增强机体的免疫作用。     

Characteristics and Fitness Analysis through Interspecific Hybrid Progenies of Transgenic Brassica napus and B. rapa L. ssp.

Interspecific hybridization between transgenic crops and their wild relatives is a major concern for transgene dispersal in the environment. Under controlled conditions, artificial hand pollination experiments were performed in order to assess the hybridization potential and the fitness of interspecific hybrids between Brassica rapa and genetically modified (GM) Brassica napus. Initially, six subspecies of B. rapa were hybridized with GM B. napus through hand pollination. In the resulting F₁ hybrids, the combination of B. rapa ssp. narinosa (♀) × GM B. napus (♂) had the highest crossability index (16.9 ± 2.6). However, the F₁ selfing progenies of B. rapa ssp. rapa (♀) × GM B. napus were found to be more effective in producing viable future generations with the highest crossability index (1.6 ± 0.69) compared to other subspecies. Consequently, they were used for the generation of F₂ and F₃ progenies. The 18 different morphological characteristics among the parental cross-combinations and F₁ hybrid progenies were measured and visualized through hierarchical clustering. Different generations were found to be grouped based on their different morphological characteristics. The chromosome numbers among the interspecific hybrids ranged from 2n = 29 to 2n = 40. Furthermore, the SSR markers revealed the presence of genomic portions in the hybrids in comparison with their parental lines. There is a high possibility of transgene flow between GM B. napus and B. rapa. The study concluded that the interspecific hybrids between B. napus and B. rapa can be viable and can actively hybridize up to F₃ generations and more. This suggests that the GM B. napus can disperse the transgene into B. rapa, and that it can pass through for several generations by hand pollination in a greenhouse environment.     

Performance evaluation of series compensated self-excited six-phase induction generator for stand-alone renewable energy generation

This paper presents the steady-state behavior of a series compensated (short-shunt) self-excited six-phase induction generator (SPSEIG) configured to operate as stand-alone electric energy source in conjunction with a hydro power plant. A purely experimental treatment is provided with the emphasis placed on operating regimes that illustrate the advantages of using SPSEIG. In particular, it is shown that the SPSEIG can operate with a single three-phase capacitor bank, so that the loss of excitation or fault at one winding does not lead to the system shutdown. The generator can also supply two separate three-phase loads, which represent an additional advantage. Experimental results include loading transients with independent three-phase resistive and resistive–inductive load at each of the two three-phase winding sets, and measured steady-state characteristics for various load and/or capacitor bank configurations. Practical results for long-shunt configuration are also given for comparative performance evaluation of series compensated SPSEIG.     

Studies on sputtering process of multicomponent Zr-Ti-Cu-Ni-Be alloy thin films

Sputter deposition process of a multicomponent Zr-Ti-Cu-Ni-Be metallic alloy has been studied experimentally and by numerical simulations. Monte-Carlo simulations were performed using a model based on thermalization and diffusion of sputtered atoms. Incident energy and angle of sputtered atoms on substrate were obtained from simulations. The incident angular distribution was observed to be a normal distribution at all sputtering pressures. Average incident kinetic energy of the condensing atoms on the substrate was observed to be 0.2-0.3 eV indicating most of them are thermalized. Simulations were extended to predict compositional variations in films prepared at various process conditions. These results were compared with composition of films determined experimentally using Rutherford Backscattering Spectrometry (RBS). Contents of Zr, Ti, Cu and Ni quantified using RBS were in moderate agreement with the simulated composition. Be could not be quantified accurately by RBS largely due to very low energy peak of Be in the spectrum. These studies are shown to be useful in understanding the complexities in multicomponent sputtering.     

Effect of Chilled Air on Machining Performance in End Milling

Flood coolant is customarily used to increase tool life and to improve workpiece surface finish in machining. It is also responsible for some adverse effects on the environment and users’ health, and hence the interest in chilled air assisted machining as an alternative to flood coolant. The effect of chilled air on machining performance was carried out using an end-milling operation on ASSAB 718HH mould steel using uncoated tungsten carbide inserts at different depths of cut, feedrates and cutting speeds under three different lubrication modes, i.e. chilled air, conventional coolant, and dry cutting. The relative performance of these modes is evaluated in terms of tool wear, surface finish, cutting force, and quality of the chips. Lower tool wear was observed using chilled air compared to that for the conventional flood coolant at a lower depth of cut, lower feedrate and lower cutting speed. The surface roughness was found to reduce at higher depths of cut, higher feedrates and higher cutting speeds for chilled air as compared to dry cutting and flood coolant. It is also observed that the cutting force experienced with chilled air is comparable and, in many cases, lower than that when using flood coolant. Stress lines on the chip surfaces show that the chips experienced the highest shear stress in dry cutting, followed by cutting with chilled air and lastly, with flood coolant.