Integration of knowledge-based systems with data processing

Transaction Oriented Prolog-Online Environment is a multi-user, mainframe implementation of the logic programming language Prolog, specially designed and developed for the data processing environment. This article describes the background, functionality, implementation and use of TOP-ONE, stressing that applications of knowledge-based systems technology to data processing environments will achieve full success only when existing systems and existing conventional data are incorporated within the applications.     

Current collecting efficiency of micro tubular SOFCs

In this study, current collecting efficiency of the micro tubular solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) was estimated to determine optimum size of the micro tubular SOFC. Two models for collecting current from single terminal (ST) and double terminal (DT) of anode tube were proposed and used to calculate the current collecting efficiency as functions of anode thickness, tube length and operating temperature. It was shown that design of the cell geometry and current correcting method are significantly important to achieve high performance micro tubular SOFC stacks. The efficiency loss estimated from the DT model was about 2–4-fold lower than those of obtained from the ST model. The DT model was shown to be more effective for higher operating temperature and the tube length.     

Modeling of the pharyngeal muscle in Caenorhabditis elegans based on FitzHugh-Nagumo equations

The pharyngeal pumping motion to send food to the bowel is a rhythmic movement in Caenorhabditis elegans. This paper proposes a simulation-based approach to investigate the mechanisms of rhythm phenomena in the pharyngeal pumping motion. To conduct the simulations, first, we developed a pharyngeal muscle model including 29 cell models which simulate the activity of each cell as a membrane potential based on FitzHugh-Nagumo equations. Then, to compare the response of the model with that of C. elegans, we calculated the electropharyngeogram (EPG), which represents the electrophysiological responses of the pharyngeal cells, using the simulated membrane potentials. The results confirmed that our model could generate the EPG similar to that measured from C. elegans. We proposed a computer simulation of the pumping motion to investigate the mechanisms of rhythm phenomena in living organisms.     

Crystallization process and magnetic properties of Fe100−x,B x (10 ≦ × ≦ 35) amorphous alloys and supersaturated state of boron inα-Fe

Amorphous specimens of Fe_100–x B _x were prepared in the range 10 × 35 at % B by a single-roller method. The crystallization process and the boron concentration dependence of the Curie temperature were examined by differential scanning calorimetry, X-ray diffraction, Mössbauer spectroscopy and magnetic measurements. Two-step crystallization was observed in specimens with× < 17: amorphous amorphous + boron-supersaturated b c c phase (-Fe(B)) t-Fe₃B +-Fe. A single-Fe(B) phase was not observed. The transition temperature from t-Fe₃B to stable (-Fe + t-Fe₂B) sensitively depends on the boron content in the alloys. The crystallization temperature (T _x) of the amorphous alloys was almost unchanged for 17 × 31, but increased remarkably at high boron concentrations of× 33, where the decomposition products consisted of t-Fe₂B and o-FeB. The Curie temperature (T _c) of the amorphous phase was as low as 480 K at× = 10, increased with increasing boron content up to 820 K and then decreased in the high boron concentration alloys of× > 28. A single-Fe(B) phase was not detected in the as-quenched specimens of× = 8 and 10. The phase coexisted with the o-Fe₃B and amorphous phases. The lattice parameter of the phase was 0.2861₀ nm which was smaller than that of pure iron by 2/1000, indicating the substitutional occupation of boron atoms in the b c c lattice.     

Preparation of rod-shaped BaTiO3 powder

Rod-shaped BaTiO₃ powder particles have been prepared from rod-shaped TiO₂ ·nH₂O and BaCO₃ in molten chloride. The morphology of BaTiO₃ particles was studied referring to the effects of the chemical species of the starting titanium compound, amount of chloride, particle size of the titanium compound and reaction conditions, and the preparation condition of rod-shaped BaTiO₃ has been determined: i.e., large TiO₂ ·nH₂O particles were heated at 700°C in molten salt with an equal amount of BaTiO₃. This condition was effective in suppressing the formation of BaTiO₃ by a solution-precipitation process as well as the deformation of either TiO₂ ·nH₂O or BaTiO₃, which are responsible for the formation of equiaxed BaTiO₃ particles. The obtained rod-shaped BaTiO₃ particles had a cubic symmetry. Electron diffraction analysis showed that the following topotactic relation is retained; 0 1 0_{potassium tetratitanate} 0 1 0_{hydrated titania} 1 0 0_anatase 1 0 0_{barium titanate}     

Motivational bases of the public goods problem.

Compared 2 motivational bases for not contributing to a public good, desire to "free ride" (or greed) and fear of being a "sucker," among 110 Japanese undergraduates. It was hypothesized that these 2 types of motivation would be activated under different situations. When a public good was provided conjunctively, fear would have a strong effect but greed would not; when a public good was disjunctively provided, greed would have a strong effect but fear would not. In addition, it was predicted that the greater mutual trust existing among friends would make them contribute more than strangers would in the conjunctive condition but would make no difference in the disjunctive condition. Three types of production rules, in which a public good was conjunctively, disjunctively, or additively produced on the basis of members' contributions, were experimentally created. Half of the groups in each condition consisted of total strangers, and the other half consisted of friends. The hypotheses were supported when the size of the public good (bonus points) was relatively large. Also, Ss responded similarly in the conjunctive condition and in the additive condition. (25 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

钢表面化学气相沉积TiC晶体的择优取向

本文用化学气相沉积(CVD)法,以TiCl_4-CH_4-H_2为原料气体,在不锈钢表面获得了致密的TiC膜.研究了TiC的成膜速度、表面形貌和晶体择优取向与沉积条什的关系.结果表明,沉积温度T_(dep),碳钛比CH_4/TiCl_4强烈地影响了TiC的成膜速度、表面形貌和晶体择优取向.CH_4/TiCl_4低时,TiC晶体的择优取向为(220):而CH_4/TiCl_4高时,TiC晶体的择优取向为(200).TiC晶体的择优取向主要取决于气氛中活性碳的平衡浓度。     

Effects of magnetic field and hydrostatic pressure on martensitic transformation

Effects of magnetic field and hydrostatic pressure on martensitic transformations in some ferrous and nonferrous alloys have been studied. The studies clarified the effects of magnetic field and hydrostatic pressure on martensitic transformation start temperature, magnetoelastic martensitic transformation, morphology of martensites and transformation kinetics of athermal and isothermal transformations. That is, transformation start temperatures of all the ferrous alloys examined increase with increasing magnetic field, but those of non-ferrous, such as Ti-Ni and Cu-Al-Ni shape memory alloys, are not affected. On the other hand, transformation start temperature decreases with increasing hydrostatic pressure in some ferrous alloys, but increases in Cu-Al-Ni alloys. The magnetic field and hydrostatic pressure dependences of the martensitic start temperature are in good agreement with those calculated by the equations proposed by our group. In the work on the Fe-Ni-Co-Ti alloy, we found that magnetoelastic martensitic transformation appear. In addition, several martensite plates grow nearly parallel to the direction of applied magnetic field in the specimen of an Fe-Ni alloy single crystal. Moreover, we found that the isothermal process in an Fe-Ni-Mn alloy changes to the athermal one under magnetic field and the athermal process changes to the isothermal one under hydrostatic pressure. Based on the facts, a phenomenological theory is constructed, which unifies the two transformation processes.     

High-Temperature Corrosion Resistance of Al–Re and Re Coatings

The oxidation behavior in air at 1473 K, and sulfidation behavior in a H2S–H2 gas mixture with a sulfur partial pressure of 10^–2 Pa at 973 K of Al–Re coated CMSX-4 were studied. Investigation on the sulfidation behavior of the Re-coated CMSX-4 was carried out in a H2S–H2 gas mixture with a sulfur partial pressure of 10^–2 Pa at 973 K. The experimental results show that a Re-rich alloy layer was formed between an -Al₂O₃ layer and the inner concentration zone of Ta and Ti for the CMSX-4 single crystal alloy with an Al–Re coating after oxidation. The Re-rich alloy layer containing Cr, W, Ni, Co, and Mo effectively inhibited the outward diffusion of alloying elements and the inward diffusion of Al. The Al/Re-coated CMSX-4 single crystal alloy had excellent sulfidation resistance; the Re-rich alloy layer, containing W, Ti, Ta, and Mo, which formed during the sulfidation process and located between the alumina scale and the CMSX-4 base alloy, plays a role in inhibiting the outward diffusion of alloying elements. The sulfidation resistance of CMSX-4 single-crystal alloy is greatly improved by a Re coating on the CMSX-4 alloy surface; this is attributed to a Re–Cr–W alloy layer that retarded the outward diffusion of cations and the oxide layer containing Ta, Ti, and Al, which inhibited the inward penetration of sulfur.     

Crystallographic Texture Development in Bismuth Sodium Titanate Prepared by Reactive-Templated Grain Growth Method

Bi_0.5Na_0.5TiO₃ (BNT) and 0.94Bi_0.5Na_0.5TiO₃·0.06BaTiO₃ (BNT–BT) bulk ceramics with extensive 〈100〉 texture were prepared by the reactive-templated grain growth method, using platelike Bi₄Ti₃O₁₂ (BIT) particles as templates for BNT. Calcined compacts were composed of matrix grains with random orientation and 〈100〉-oriented grains transformed from aligned BIT particles, and the texture developed by the growth of oriented grains during sintering. Ceramics with extensive texture were obtained by using the starting mixture containing the maximum concentration of platelike BIT to form the maximum volume fraction of oriented grains.