Transport properties in3He-4He mixtures near the superfluid transition

We report measurements of the temperature, density, and concentration gradients in³He-⁴He mixtures, induced by a vertical heat flux. The flat horizontal cell included two superposed capacitors and the density was determined by means of the dielectric constant method. The experiments were carried out on mixtures with mole fractionsX ₃=0.37, 0.15, and 0.05 at saturated vapor pressure, with special emphasis on the region near the superfluid transition. Our measurements under steady-state conditions give the conductivity , the thermal diffusion ratiok _T , and the coefficient of thermal expansion. We describe the singular behavior of these quantities in the neighborhood ofT (X). In the superfluid phase, we test with fair success a relation by Khalatnikov between gradX/ gradT and several static properties. From the relaxation times needed to attain steady-state conditions, and in combination with measured static and transport properties, we obtain in the normal phase the mass diffusionD, which diverges strongly asT is approached. In the superfluid phase, we test successfully a scaled relation that results from the solution of Khalatnikov's hydrodynamic equations. From our data the dispersion relations for scattered light are calculated: _o/q ² in both the normal and the superfluid phases and ₂/q ² in the normal phase.Research supported by NSF grant DMR 8024056.     

The influence of taking uterine biopsies on the concentration of some steroids in the blood and in the uterus, on the ovarian activity, and on the sexual behaviour of the mare

It has been shown that stimulation of the uterus of mares by the daily taking of biopsies can result in the occurrence of oestrous symptoms. This is accompanied by some follicular growth and a progesterone content in the blood often higher than 1 ng/ml. The following observations suggest that this progesterone originates in the uterus and not in the ovaries: (1) no active corpora lutea appeared to be present in the ovaries after ovariectomy, (2) ovariectomized mares showed the same oestrous symptoms in similar experiments and even mating took place, (3) in the uterine biopsies the concentration of the compound referred to as "5.4", which is assumed to be easily convertible into progesterone, had already increased considerably in the second biopsy, (4) administration of stilboestrol reduced the rise of the progesterone level in the uterine biopsies as well as in the blood. The absence of oestradiol-17 beta in the ovarian follicles and the fact that ovariectomized mares also come into heat suggest that oestrogens cannot be held responsible for the oestrous symptoms in these mares. Our experiments demonstrate that the uterus can be involved in sexual behaviour and the formation of steroids.     

Development of a Robot‐Based Sheet Metal Forming Process

This paper describes a new sheet metal forming process for the production of sheet components for prototypes and small lot sizes. The generation of the shape is based on kinematics and is implemented by means of a new forming machine consisting of two industrial robots. Compared to conventional sheet metal forming machines, this newly developed forming process offers a high geometrical form flexibility, and comparatively small deformation forces enable high deformation degrees. The principle of the procedure is based on flexible shaping by means of a freely programmable path‐synchronous movement of the two robots. The final shape is produced by the incremental infeed of the forming tool in depth direction and its movement along the contour in lateral direction at each level of the depth direction. The supporting tool with its simple geometry is used to support the sheet metal and follows the forming tool at the rear side of the sheet metal. The sheet metal components manufactured in first attempts are of simple geometry like frustum and frustum of pyramids as well as spherical cups. Among other things the forming results are improved by an adjustment of the movement strategy, a variation of individual process parameters and geometric modifications of the tools. In addition to a measurement of the form deviations of the sheet with a Coordinate Measurement Machine, screened and deformed sheets are used for deformation analyses. Furthermore, the incremental forming process is analysed with assistance of the finite element method. In total the results show that a robot‐based sheet metal forming with kinematic shape generation is possible and leads to acceptable forming results. In order to be able to use the potential of this process, a goal‐oriented process design is as necessary as specific process knowledge. In order to achieve process stability and safety, the essential process parameters and the process boundaries have to be determined.     

Stofftransport durch polymere und anorganische Schichten

Polymeric materials are to be found in an increasing number of applications. In many areas, however, their high permeability for substances such as gases or water vapour creates problems. Traditionally, additional barrier layers are deposited onto the polymeric substrates as a permeation barrier, i.e. as a barrier against the transport of substances. Typically, polymeric layers are deposited from solution in atmospheric pressure, inorganic layers in vacuum processes. Highest barrier properties can be achieved via multi layer systems from inorganic and organic layers. This article describes basic principles of the permeation of substances through layer systems, highlights the differences of the substance transport through polymeric materials and inorganic layers and gives consequences for the production of materials with high and ultra‐high barrier properties, on the basis of polymeric substrates     

A single chip multi-channel surface plasmon resonance imaging system

A single chip, multi-channel surface plasmon resonance (SPR) imaging system has been developed. The equipment has no moving parts and uses a single sensor chip on which multiple channels can be incorporated. A light emitting diode is used as a photon source while a CCD camera forms the detector. The optical configuration has been designed to achieve a uniform illumination of the sample over a fixed area with a range of incident angles. A calibration test using sucrose solutions shows that the sensitivity of the equipment is 4.3×10⁻⁴ refractive index units per pixel line-pair. The use of the system for simultaneous interrogation of different polyelectrolyte thin films, formed by the electrostatic layer-by-layer deposition method, is demonstrated. A reversible pH-dependent response for these organic layers is also reported.     

Building Large,Complex, Distributed Safety-Critical Operating Systems

Safety-critical systems typically operate in unpredictable environments. Requirements for safety and reliability are in conflict with those for real-time responsiveness. Due to unpredictable environmental needs there is no static trade-off between measures to accommodate the conflicting objectives. Instead every feature or operating system service has to be adaptive. Finally, for any design problem, there cannot be any closed-form (formal) approach taking care at the same time of (external) time constraints or deadlines, and synchronization requirements in distributed design. The reason is that these two aspects are causally independent. - In this situation we worked out a heuristic experimental, performance-driven and performance-based methodology that allows in an educated way to start with a coarse system model, with accurate logical expectations regarding its behavior. Through experiments these expectations are validated. If they are found to successfully stand the tests extended expectations and model features are generated for refining the previous design as well as its performance criteria. The refinement is done in such a way that the previous experimental configurations are extreme model cases or data profiles which both logically and experimentally are to reproduce the behavior of the previous modeling step. Thus the novel performance aspects or tendencies could then unambiguously be attributed to the influences of the refined model features. We termed this methodology Incremental Experimentation. As a general methodology it relies on a principle of comparative performance studies rather than on realistic data for narrow application ranges. The paper describes how we applied a 5-step design and refinement procedure for developing, analyzing, and evaluating our distributed operating system MELODY that exhibits novel services for supporting real-time and safety-critical applications in unpredictable environments. Experimental set-ups and theme-related findings are discussed in particular.     

Stress transmission through three-dimensional granular crystals with stacking faults

We explore the effect of stacking fault defects on the transmission of forces in three-dimensional face-centered-cubic granular crystals. An external force is applied to a small area at the top surface of a crystalline packing of granular beads containing one or two stacking faults at various depths. The response forces at the bottom surface are measured and found to correspond to predictions based on vector force balance within the geometry of the defects. We identify the elementary stacking fault as a boundary between two pure face-centered-cubic crystals with different stacking orders. Other stacking faults produce response force patterns that can be viewed as resulting from repetitions of this basic defect. As the number of stacking faults increases, the intensity pattern evolves toward that of an hexagonal-close-packed crystal. This leads to the conclusion that the force pattern of that crystal structure can be viewed as the extreme limit of a face-centered-cubic crystal with a stacking fault at every layer.This work was supported by NSF-CTS 0090490 and by the NSF MRSEC Program under DMR-0213745. MJS acknowledges support by the University of Chicago MRSEC Summer 2002 REU program.     

Modeling of Subsidence and Reservoir Compaction under Waterflood Operations

A full-field, three-dimensional (3D) computer model has been developed to numerically simulate reservoir compaction and surface subsidence for a weak, water-sensitive, hydrocarbon reservoir during field-wide water-injection operations. The developed model was used for modeling the compaction and subsidence processes under waterflood operations at the Ekofisk Field in the North Sea. The model was thoroughly validated through the comparison of model results to extensive field measurements with good agreement being achieved. The validated model has been successfully employed as a tool to forecast subsidence and to assist in the development of a subsidence risk assessment. For practical field applications, important quantitative information, that includes reservoir compaction, seafloor subsidence, and seafloor horizontal movement, may be generated from the full-field, 3D model and is presented in this paper.     

Semi‐Solid Processing of Metal Alloys

Semi‐solid metal casting is an innovative technology for the production of near‐net‐shape parts with demanding mechanical properties. The paper describes different processing routes and materials for semi‐solid‐metal casting (SSM), which have been investigated and also partially developed at the Foundry‐Institute of Aachen University. The standard thixocasting process for aluminium, highly reactive magnesium alloys and steel alloys with high melting points was investigated under variation of a wide range of process parameters. Specially adapted pre‐material production and reheating methods were developed for different materials and their application and future potential is pointed out. The thixocasting experiments were executed on a modified high pressure die‐casting machine with a specially designed “step‐die” providing wall thicknesses from 0.5 to 25 mm. The mechanical properties were tested in dependence of the wall thickness and the metal velocity. The results of these examination show high tensile strength values in combination with very good elongations. The rheocasting process is a new SSM‐forming method with liquid melt as feed‐stock and a high recycling potential. The research results of RCP‐technology (Rheo‐Container‐Process) invented at the Foundry‐Institute and of the Cooling‐Channel‐Process for aluminium and magnesium alloys are promising and are presented in this paper. Studies on semi‐solid processing of magnesium alloys and mixtures of them were conducted by Thixomolding^TM. To establish the most adequate process parameters, the temperature and the mixture relations were varied. Using a mould for tensile test specimens, the mechanical properties and the microstructure evolution could be evaluated. The chemical composition of the different phases was determined using SEM and EDX technologies. Evaluations of the flowing properties were conducted using a spiral mould with a total length of 2m and a cross section of 20mm x 1.5mm.     

RTS-MAC: A Relative Time Synchronization MAC Protocol for Low Duty Cycle Body Sensor Networks

Emerging applications in the medical field require body sensor networks to communicate in real-time in a very energy-efficient way. An example is the Artificial Accommodation System??a set of two small active medical implants aiming at restoring accommodation of the human eye??in which sensor data have to be exchanged continuously between both eyes. To achieve energy efficiency, it is essential to operate the radios with a very low duty cycle. Therefore, idle listening and general protocol overhead must be reduced as much as possible. In this paper, we present a relative time synchronization medium access control protocol (RTS-MAC), which keeps relative time synchronization between two or more sensor nodes in a very energy-efficient manner: RTS-MAC makes use of the periodic broadcast of regular data messages and exploits the inter-arrival times to predict future arrivals within tight boundaries. Thereby, no overhead is generated for synchronization purposes, and still, idle listening is reduced to a minimum, which solely depends on the short-term accuracy of the underlying clock systems. We implemented the proposed protocol using off-the-shelf components and employed the internal low-accuracy oscillators of the microcontrollers as clock sources. Thereby, we achieved very low duty cycles close to an ideal minimum. Further, our results indicate that through omitting external crystals in favor of a minimally larger battery, the battery life of a sensor node can be prolonged.