Root cause analysis strategy for robust design domain recognition

Design domain identification with desirable attributes (e.g. feasibility, robustness and reliability) provides advantages when tackling large-scale engineering optimization problems. For the purpose of dealing with feasibility robustness design problems, this article proposes a root cause analysis (RCA) strategy to identify desirable design domains by investigating the root causes of performance indicator variation for the starting sampling initiation of evolutionary algorithms. The iterative dichotomizer 3 method using a decision tree technique is applied to identify reduced feasible design domain sets. The robustness of candidate domains is then evaluated through a probabilistic principal component analysis-based criterion. The identified robust design domains enable optimal designs to be obtained that are relatively insensitive to input variations. An analytical example and an automotive structural optimization problem are demonstrated to show the validity of the proposed RCA strategy.     

The Extracellular Zn2+ Concentration Surrounding Excited Neurons Is High Enough to Bind Amyloid‐β Revealed by a Nanowire Transistor

The Zn²⁺ stored in the secretory vesicles of glutamatergic neurons is coreleased with glutamate upon stimulation, resulting in the elevation of extracellular Zn²⁺ concentration (). This elevation of regulates the neurotransmission and facilitates the fibrilization of amyloid‐β (Aβ). However, the exact surrounding neurons under (patho)physiological conditions is not clear and the connection between and the Aβ fibrilization remains obscure. Here, a silicon nanowire field‐effect transistor (SiNW‐FET) with the Zn²⁺‐sensitive fluorophore, FluoZin‐3 (FZ‐3), to quantify the in real time is modified. This FZ‐3/SiNW‐FET device has a dissociation constant of ≈12 × 10^?9m against Zn²⁺. By placing a coverslip seeded with cultured embryonic cortical neurons atop an FZ‐3/SiNW‐FET, the elevated to ≈110 × 10^?9m upon stimulation with α‐amino‐3‐hydroxy‐5‐methyl‐4‐isoxazolepropionic acid (AMPA). Blockers against the AMPA receptor or exocytosis greatly suppress this elevation, indicating that the Zn²⁺ stored in the synaptic vesicles is the major source responsible for this elevation of . In addition, a SiNW‐FET modified with Aβ could bind Zn²⁺ with a dissociation constant of ≈633 × 10^?9m and respond to the Zn²⁺ released from AMPA‐stimulated neurons. Therefore, the can reach a level high enough to bind Aβ and the Zn²⁺ homeostasis can be a therapeutic strategy to prevent neurodegeneration.     

Infrared thermal imaging for melt pool analysis in SLM: a feasibility investigation

ABSTRACT

Melt pool dimension can help to relate process parameters and build part quality in selective laser melting (SLM) process. In this study, a near-infrared thermal imager (about 670?nm spectral range) was employed to collect powder layer thermal signal in SLM machine using nickel-based alloy as raw powder material. Radiant temperature distribution at different build heights has been acquired and melt pool sizes have been analysed. The major findings are as follows: (1) It is possible to estimate melt pool dimension based on the identified radiant liquidus temperature and appropriate thermal imager setting, but it is difficult to obtain true temperature. (2) At nominal process conditions of 600?mm/s beam speed and 180?W beam power for Inconel 718 powder, the melt pool has a length of about 0.36?mm and a width of about 0.21?mm. Build height seems to have little effect on melt pool dimensions.     

Nonlinear asymptotic theory of hypersonic flow past a circular cone

Summary The hypersonic small-disturbance theory is reexamined in this study. A systematic and rigorous approach is proposed to obtain the nonlinear asymptotic equation from the Taylor-Maccoll equation for hypersonic flow past a circular cone. Using this approach, consideration is made of a general asymptotic expansion of the unified supersonic-hypersonic similarity parameter together with the stretched coordinate. Moreover, the successive approximate solutions of the nonlinear hypersonic smalldisturbance equation are solved by iteration. Both of these approximations provide a closed-form solution, which is suitable for the analysis of various related flow problems. Besides the velocity components, the shock location and other thermodynamic properties are presented. Comparisons are also made of the zeroth-order with first-order approximations for shock location and pressure coefficient on the cone surface, respectively. The latter (including the nonlinear effects) demonstrates better correlation with exact solution than the zeroth-order approximation. This approach offers further insight into the fundamental features of hypersonic small-disturbance theory.Notation a speed of sound - H unified supersonic-hypersonic similarity parameter, - K hypersonic similarity parameter, M - M freestream Mach number - P pressure - T temperature - S entropy - u, v radial, polar velocities - V freestream velocity - shock angle - cone angle - density - density ratio, /() - ratio of specific heats - polar angle - stretched polar angle, / - (), (), () gage functions     

Common-path optical heterodyne profilometer: a configuration

A novel configuration that combines a linearly polarized He-Ne laser and a birefringent lens to produce a common-path polarized optical heterodyne profilometer with respect to the heterodyned P and S waves has been set up. In this profilometer a linear polarized frequency-stabilized He-Ne laser was used with an acousto-optical modulator to replace the Zeeman laser as the light source that had two polarization eigenstates in different temporal frequencies. The proposed interferometer shows a more symmetric and ideal common-path structure than the conventional optical heterodyne profilometers with the Zeeman laser. The phase error aroused by the elliptical polarization and the nonorthogonality of the two eigenpolarization modes of the Zeeman laser can be reduced. The system's resolution in the vertical direction reaches 2 A, and in a 27-mum scanning range the repeatability of the surface profile measurements is shown to be 5 A.     

模型参数优化中的降维计算方法及其在相平衡计算中的应用

本文提出了模型参数优化的降维计算方法的基本思想。它通过构造参向量空间某个子空间某个子空间族的极小化点集,使一个高维优化问题转化成等价的低维优化问题。降维法的应用常常可以有效地避免高维优化问题中的发散和伪收敛。由于降维法具有很强的收敛性和很宽的收敛初值范围,因此对许多函数性态较差,参数之间相关程度较大的优化问题,一般的通用方法较难给出理想的结果,而降维法的应用却可以使收敛情况大为改观。本文结合相平衡中的一些实例阐明了降维法的基本思想和极小化点集的构造技巧。     

Tool,Toy, Telephone,Territory, or Treasure of Information: Elementary school students’ attitudes toward the Internet

The purposes of this study are to investigate fifth-graders’ attitudes toward the Internet based on the 5-T framework (Tool, Toy, Telephone, Territory, and Treasure of Information), and to understand whether gender makes any difference in their attitudes. The data were obtained from 2,253 Taiwan fifth-grade students. Through a confirmatory factor analysis, the 5-T model was validated and can be used to explain the corresponding five-factors which constitute Internet attitudes. According to the results, the students perceived the Internet mainly as a useful and powerful tool for their academic work and daily lives. Moreover, students strongly considered the Internet a toy, which is somewhat indistinguishable from the role of Tool. The students acknowledged the role of the Territory that they can demonstrate themselves by writing and sharing personal information online. Therefore, the Internet is good for both reading and writing information. The least weighted factor among 5-Ts student recognized is the role of Telephone. Gender differences exist in the subscales of Tool, Toy, Treasure of Information, and Telephone, but not in the Territory subscale of the Internet attitudes scale. This study further discusses and presents implications of the findings for teachers, parents, and future studies.     

Classification and mass production technique for three-quarter shoe insoles using non-weight-bearing plantar shapes

We have developed a technique for the mass production and classification of three-quarter shoe insoles via a 3D anthropometric measurement of full-size non-weight-bearing plantar shapes. The plantar shapes of fifty 40-60-year-old adults from Taiwan were categorized and, in conjunction with commercially available flat or leisure shoe models, three-quarter shoe-insole models were generated using a CAD system. Applying a rapid prototype system, these models were then used to provide the parameters for manufacturing the shoe insoles. The insoles developed in this study have been classified into S, M and L types that offer user-friendly options for foot-care providers. We concluded that these insoles can mate tightly with the foot arch and disperse the pressure in the heel and forefoot over the foot arch. Thus, practically, the pressure difference over the plantar region can be minimised, and the user can experience comfort when wearing flat or leisure shoes.     

On avoiding RTS collisions for IEEE 802.11-based wireless ad hoc networks

The paper proposes an RCA (RTS collision avoidance) MAC protocol to reduce RTS collisions for IEEE 802.11-based mobile ad hoc networks (MANETs). RTS/CTS exchanging is used for the resolution of the hidden terminal problem. However, the paper shows that, even the backoff counters of two stations are different, RTS frames are also collided to each other due to the hidden terminal problem. The situation would be getting worse in high traffic load or in a dense network. RTS collisions not only result in the following CTS or ACK collisions, but also induce false blocking problem, even dead locks of transmissions. To address the above problems, an RCA MAC protocol is proposed to reduce RTS collisions. The RCA protocol utilizes a narrow band, called the tone channel, to announce the RTS transmission in advance in order to preclude the RTS transmissions of two-hop neighbors. To reduce the channel and hardware overhead, an improvement to the RCA protocol is also devised, which only uses a single channel and one transceiver to reduce RTS collisions. The RCA protocol provides a type of fast collision detection and decreases the probability of RTS collisions, which is benefit for RTS/CTS exchange scheme. Meanwhile, the RCA protocol can reduce the retransmission cost and have lower control overhead than that of IEEE 802.11 DCF. In addition, simulation results verify the advantages of the RCA protocol in comparison with IEEE 802.11 DCF.