A Lightweight nickel composite electrode II. Electrochemical impregnation

The structure of sintered nickel composite plaque is characterized by an irregular pore structure with a wide distribution of pore sizes as well as a l     

Non-contact flood discharge measurements using an X-band pulse radar (I) theory

This article describes a non-contact method for measuring surface velocity and discharge in a natural channel. The X-band pulse (9.36 GHz) radar, developed by the Applied Physics Laboratory of the University of Washington, was used to scan instantaneously the lateral distribution of surface velocity across a river section, according to Bragg scattering from short waves produced by turbulent boils on the surface of the river. Based on the assumption that the vertical velocity distribution follows a universal power or logarithmic law, the discharges were estimated.     

Modified Hopfield neural networks for retrieving the optimalsolution

Due to the rugged energy function of the original Hopfield networks, the output is usually one local minimum in the energy function. An analysis on the locations of local minima in Hopfield networks is presented, and a modified network architecture to eliminate such local minima is described. In particular, another amplifier is introduced at the processor nodes to give correction terms. This modified Hopfield network has been successfully applied to the construction of analog-to-digital converters with optimal solutions. Experimental results on the voltage transfer characteristics of data converters are presented.     

Life stress and lymphocyte alterations among patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

Studied the relation between life stress and immune parameters for 33 30–70 yr old female rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients interviewed during 3 routine monthly clinic checkups. Life stress from major and minor events, coping efficacy, and self-reported psychological distress were assessed, and immunofluorescence of T-cells and B-cells was performed on the blood drawn during each visit. Small stressful events were positively related to the proportion of circulating B-cells, psychological distress was inversely related to proportion of circulating T-cells, and major life events were associated with lower T-helper/T-suppressor cell ratios. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

A randomized voltage vector switching scheme for three-level powerinverters

In this paper, a feasibility study of a randomized space vector switching scheme for three-level inverters is reported. Based on the traditional space vector concept for pulse width modulation (PWM) inverters, the sequence of the space vector is randomized in this scheme. The overall vector, resulting from the randomization, is mathematically identical to that of the traditional space vector. It has been found that the randomized scheme can effectively spread the switching noise over a wide frequency range and at the same time keep the steady-state link capacitor voltage balanced. The proposed scheme has been implemented in real time in a digital controller and its features have been experimentally confirmed     

Casein Hydrolysate Fractions Act as Emulsifiers in Process Cheese

ABSTRACT: Degrees of hydrolysis and emulsifying activity of casein hydrolysates were the highest at 4 h hydrolysis. The oil-off values of the mixture of hydrolysate (H) or supernatant (S) and traditional emulsifier (T) were not significantly different from the control made with traditional emulsifier, except for S + T = 3:1. Two other samples made with hydrolysate or supernatant only (H or S) showed higher oil-off value than the others (p < 0.05). In flavor property, no difference was found between samples made with traditional emulsifier and those made with the mixture of hydrolysate or supernatant at the ratio of 3 to 1. Therefore, these results indicated that a mixture of the hydrolysate or supernatant and traditional emulsifier might replace a traditional emulsifier in process cheese manufacturing.     

Strange chaotic attractor crowding in boost converter model

A set of chaotic attractors is observed on a boost converter model. The union of their Poincare maps is strange. The attractors are densely packed such that they are sensitive to initial conditions. However every attractor in the set is stable with a finite (may be long) period     

Feature-Based Parametric Design of a Gating System for a Die-Casting Die

This paper presents a semi-automated approach for designing the gating system of a die-casting die. This approach combines the P-Q 2 technique and feature-based parametric design for achieving the automatic generation of the geometries for the gating system. It also enables users to integrate their expertise in the design at an early stage. User-defined gating features are pre-defined and stored in a gating library, and are then retrieved from the library and applied to the gating part with the desired parameters and locations during the design process. Algorithms based on the P-Q 2 technique are proposed for calculating the related parameters of the gating system. A prototype design has been developed using this approach, and the system is able to shorten the time for constructing the 3D geometries of the gating elements such as the gate, runner, overflow, shot sleeve, sprue, etc.     

Noise bandwidth suppression for low noise readout circuit

A new noise reduction circuit that suppresses noise bandwidth of the output stage is proposed for the readout circuit of an infrared detector operating at a high pixel rate. Using this circuit, it is found that the rms noise voltage of the output stage is effectively reduced from 87 to 52 μV at a pixel rate of 10 pixel/μs     

Progress in multiphase rubber processing: Controlled-ingredient-distribution mixing

The physical properties of finished polymer blend composites are, in general, strongly influenced by the heterogeneity of the blend and the distribution of ingredients (especially reinforcement fillers) in each of the polymer phases. In this article, we review and update a processing technology specifically for the processing of multiphase rubber blend compounds in order to produce blend compounds with more desirable properties for practical applications. The basic concept is centered on the controlled-ingredient-distribution mixing (CIDM) process. The improvements in the following properties of rubber blend compounds are discussed: crack growth resistance, heat buildup, oil swelling, covulcanization, green strength, and permeability.