Development of a distributed sensing technique using Brillouinscattering

This paper reviews the developments of a distributed strain and temperature sensing technique that uses Brillouin scattering in single-mode optical fibers. This technique is based on strain- and temperature-induced changes in the Brillouin frequency shift. Several approaches for measuring the weak Brillouin line are compared     

Analysis and design-optimization of LCC resonant inverter forhigh-frequency AC distributed power system

The analysis and design of an LCC resonant inverter for a 20 kHz AC distributed power system are presented. Several resonant converter topologies are assessed to determine their suitability for high efficiency power conversion, under resistive and reactive loads. Two LCC-resonant inverter designs were implemented. One with all switches operating with zero voltage switching (ZVS), and another with two switches operating with ZVS and two switches with zero current switching (ZCS). The experimental results are presented along with a performance comparison of the two versions     

A bench-scale study on biodegradation and volatilization of ethylbenzoate in aquifers

Experiments were conducted to investigate the fate of ethylbenzoate and soil microorganisms in shallow aquifers. Biodegradation and volatilization have been identified as the major mechanisms in attenuating ethylbenzoate in contaminated soils. The rate of volatilization was experimentally found to be limited by gas-phase diffusion. The parameters of an available model, i.e., the maximum specific growth rate and the saturation constant, have been estimated by fitting the model to the experimental data obtained with ethylbenzoate as the carbon source; the former was 0.49 h⁻¹, and the latter was 62 mg L⁻¹. Various facets of biodegradation, including the effects of mass-transfer resistance and initial distribution of microorganisms, have been numerically analyzed on the basis of the model.     

Compact design waveguide grating routers

A novel generic design for waveguide grating routers is demonstrated in the InP-InGaAsP material system that reduces the chip size by 50%, while still maintaining relaxed processing tolerances. Experimental results confirm no degradation in device performance for the compact design when compared to conventional devices     

MODELING the VIBRATIONAL RESPONSE of PLANTAIN FRUITS

Plantain fruits of the plantain subgroup ( Musa AAB Group) were obtained at a green stage and used in this study. the fruits were labelled for identification, and stored in a chamber maintained at a temperature of 20C and relative humidity of 90 ± 4%. On daily basis, for a period of 14 days, the fruits were removed from the storage chamber and each was weighed to record the mass. They were vibrated vertically on a vibration exciter through a range of frequencies from 10 to 2000 Hz. the frequency response was modeled by a single-degree-of-freedom Kelvin model. the mass of the fruit, the stiffness, the natural frequency and the critical damping all decreased significantly (p < 0.01) with storage time. There was no significant change (p > 0.05) in the damping coefficient of the fruit. the damping ratio decreased significantly (p < 0.01) with storage time. the models that described the changes in these parameters with storage time were obtained by stepwise regression, and are also presented. It was concluded that a single degree-of-freedom model provides satisfactory results of the vibrational characteristics of intact plantain fruit.     

An image analyzing system using an artificial neural network forevaluating the parenchymal echo pattern of cirrhotic liver and chronichepatitis

To objectively evaluate the parenchymal echo pattern of cirrhotic liver and chronic hepatitis, the authors applied an image analyzing system (IAS) using a neural network. Autopsy specimens in a water tank (n=13) were used to examine the relationship between the diameter of the regenerative nodule and the coarse score (CS) calculated by IAS. CS was significantly correlated with the diameter of the regenerative nodule (p<0.0001, r=0.966). CS is considered to be useful for evaluating the coarseness of the parenchymal echo pattern     

Development of a new advanced process for manufacturing polyacetal resins. Part III. End-capping during polymerization for manufacturing acetal homopolymer and copolymer

Conventionally, acetal homopolymer or copolymer is obtained by the polymerization of formaldehyde or trioxane, following the end-capping using acetic anhydride or unzipping of the unstable polymer end fraction. First, Asahi Chemical developed a new process to obtain an end-capped polymer during polymerization of highly purified formaldehyde using acetic anhydride as the chain-transfer agent. Use of highly purified formaldehyde and endcapping during polymerization using acetic anhydride as a chain-transfer agent or an endcapping agent will provide a simple process for manufacturing acetal homopolymer. The polymerization mechanism was confirmed by infrared spectroscopy analysis and proton NMR analysis of the polymer obtained. Second, for the acetal copolymer, purified trioxane was copolymerized with ethylene oxide in the presence of methylal, which gave an endcapped polymer with high thermal stability. Two new intermediates from the initiation reaction of the copolymerization, 1,3,5,7-tetraoxacyclononane (TOCN) and 1,3,5,7,10-pentaoxacyclododecane (POCD), were isolated and a new initiation mechanism was proposed. © 1993 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Evaluation of intraductal ultrasonography in the diagnosis of pancreatic cancer

An intraductal ultrasound (IDUS) probe which is inserted via the papilla into the main pancreatic duct (MPD) was evaluated in the diagnosis of 20 patients with pancreatic cancer. The examination was successfully performed with the probe in 17 of the patients (85%). Due to its high frequency (30 MHz) the probe only allowed visualization of the ductal wall and the immediate periductal vicinity (up to about 10 mm). In 15 of the 20 patients the tumors were surgically resected and IDUS scanning was also performed in vitro on the resection specimens, the results being compared to those of histopathological examination. Of these 15 patients, 13 were found to have ductal adenocarcinomas and all but one had been unequivocally diagnosed as having such by ultrasonography (US), computed tomography (CT), endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) and endoscopic ultrasonography (EUS). IDUS showed an echorich area (corresponding to cancerous canaliculi on histopathological examination), surrounded by an echopoor area (abundant stroma). This pattern was classified as type I. In two patients with intraductal papillary carcinomas in whom a conclusive diagnosis was not established on US, CT, EUS or ERCP, IDUS showed tumorous tissue with an inhomogeneous echopattern outside (type II) or within (type III) the duct. These results show that IDUS offers valuable diagnostic information complementary to ERCP especially in cases of intraductal papillary tumors. Whether the high resolution imaging of the duct and the paraductal tissue can be used to differentiate between the different forms of pancreatic lesions (inflammation, neoplasms) has to be investigated further.