Imaging of the optic disc and retinal nerve fiber layer: the effects of age, optic disc area, refractive error, and gender.

We cross-sectionally examined the relationship between age, optic disc area, refraction, and gender and optic disc topography and retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) measurements, using optical imaging techniques. One eye from each of 155 Caucasian subjects (age range 23.0-80.8 y) without ocular pathology was included. Measurements were obtained by using the Heidelberg Retina Tomography (HRT), the GDx Nerve Fiber Analyzer, and the Optical Coherence Tomograph (OCT). The effects of age were small (R2 < 17%) and were limited to specific HRT, GDx, and OCT parameters. Disc area was significantly associated with most HRT parameters and isolated GDx and OCT parameters. Refraction and gender were not significantly associated with any optic disc or RNFL parameters. Although effects of age on the optic disc and RNFL are small, they should be considered in monitoring ocular disease. Optic disc area should be considered when cross-sectionally evaluating disc topography and, to a lesser extent, RNFL thickness.     

Numerical simulation model for exhaust gas transportation of dust in the BOF

During the BOF process for the production of crude steel, the specific amount of dust emitted is of the order of 2 % of the steel weight at turn down. The process gas conveys the dust through the boiler system into the primary and secondary dust catchers. The transportation of dust particles is influenced by blowing parameters; physical properties of process gas and of dust phases; and, type and layout of the converter and the filter system. In this work, a numerical simulation model is developed that simulates the pneumatic conveyance and sedimentation of primarily coarse dust particles in the BOF gas cleaning system. Comparison is then made of predicted coarse dust characteristics with values for dust sampled from an existing plant in order to verify the plausibility of the developed model.     

Action of chelators on solid iron in phosphate-containing aqueous solutions

To study the effect of strong iron-ligands on steel corrosion, mild steel electrodes were immersed in solutions containing 20 mM phosphate buffer (pH=7.2) and between 0.01 mM and 1 M of either the iron(II)-chelators 2,2^′-bipyridine or FerroZine, or the iron(III)-chelators citrate or acetylacetonate. Resulting surface reactions were investigated by quantifying the electrochemical potential (E), the electrochemical polarization resistance (R_p), the corrosion current (I_corr) and the release of iron into solution. The surface was further analyzed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM/SEM-EDAX) and atomic force microscopy. Concentrations of 0.1 mM of any of the chelators led to slight, temporary changes in E, I_corr and R_p. Concentrations of 10 mM resulted in characteristic changes of E, which were the same for all chelators and in the precipitation of FePO₄ in the case of citrate and acetylacetonate, or vivianite [Fe₃(PO₄)₂ · 8H₂O] in the case of bipyridine and FerroZine. Concentrations of 1 mM of both iron(III)-chelators led to a temporary drop of E similar to that found with 0.1 mM chelator. With iron(II)-chelators, E dropped to about −500 mV before oscillating for several days. The amplitudes of the oscillations were up to 200 mV with periods of 30 and 20-25 min for bipyridine and FerroZine, respectively.     

Adaptive control-based high-performance drive system implementation of traveling-wave-type ultrasonic motor

In recent years, ultrasonic motors (USM) as new actuators have attracted special interest. Several kinds of constructions and characteristics of USMs have been reported so far. Of these USMs, a traveling wave-type USM has many characteristics such as: high torque in the low-speed range, large holding torque based upon frictional force, flexible free forms, compactness in size and low magnetic noise. In practice, an inherent mechanical resonant frequency and a velocity amplitude of USM are changed largely according to operating temperature due to frictional drive, load disturbance torque, and applied voltage levels. Therefore, it is necessary to develop a new control system which solves these items and always supplies the required power with high efficiency and high performance in the practical applications. This paper proposes mainly a new sensorless high-performance control scheme of an inverter-fed ultrasonic motor, which is based on a control system technology with two feedbacks incorporating automatic resonant frequency tracking and constant velocity amplitude control strategies. This control system is realized in terms of a high-frequency chopper and a two-phase series/parallel resonant inverter. The experimental results are demonstrated and discussed compared with the theoretical ones.     

In-situ-Messung der Stickoxidkonzentration in turbulenten Diffusionsflammen

Zusammenfassung Die laserspektroskopischen Me?methoden laserinduzierte Fluoreszenz und spontane Ramanspektroskopie werden eingesetzt zur Messung der Konzentrationen von Stickoxid, Hydroxyl sowie der chemischen Hauptkomponenten und der Temperatur. Betrachtet wird die thermische Umsetzung von Wasserstoff mit Luftsauerstoff. Es wird die experimentelle Vorgehensweise und Problematik dargestellt. Ebenso wird der Weg der Modellierung und Berechnung turbulenter Verbrennungsvorg?nge am konkreten Beispiel skizziert. Die Annahme chemischen Gleichgewichts stellt sich als ungenügend in der Berechnung der Stickoxid- und Hydroxylkonzentrationen heraus. Eine deutlich bessere Vorhersage wird durch Einführen einer Reaktionsfortschrittsvariablen für das chemische Modell erreicht.     

Temperature and modulation characteristics of resonant-cavitylight-emitting diodes

Resonant-cavity light-emitting diodes (RCLED) are novel, high-efficiency light-emitting diodes which employ optical microcavities. These diodes have higher intensities and higher spectral purity as compared to conventional LEDs. Analytical formulas are derived for the enhancement of the spontaneous emission along the optical axis of the cavity. The design rules for high-efficiency operation of RCLEDs are established. The temperature dependence of the emission intensity is analyzed in the range 20-80° and it is described by an exponential dependence with a characteristic temperature of 112 K. The modulation characteristics of RCLEDs exhibit 3 dB frequencies of 580 MHz. Eye diagrams at transmission rates of 622 Mb/s are wide open indicating the suitability of RCLEDs for high-speed data transmission