Shop-floor scheduling at shipbuilding yards using the multiple intelligent agent system

The intelligent agent system has become a typical approach to research distributed artificial intelligence and distributed problem solving. However, despite its various technical advantages, the distribution and expansion of the intelligent agent system approach has been limited because existing methodologies rely on specialized applications and therefore require intensive investment to develop new systems. In an attempt to conquer these difficulties, a standardized methodology to construct intelligent agent systems is proposed. This approach deviates from current agent system approaches of repeatedly constructing new and customized expert systems. Specifically, it provides an economical method for developing intelligent agent systems by investigating the possibility of standardizing message communication protocols in linguistics speech-act theory and by supplementing traditional algorithmic systems with intelligent segments using, among others, expert system tools. To verify effectiveness, the shop-floor scheduling system of a large-scale shipbuilding yard has been redesigned, developed, and tested using this approach. This shop-floor scheduling system requires the scheduling of when and where to process block construction under various constraints. It is a difficult four-dimensional time and space allocation problem involving traditional NP-complete search spaces. The tested intelligent agent system proposes an innovative method for reducing the search space into three levels: the algorithm level, the agent intelligence level, and the level of cooperation among agents. It also provides methods for solving deadlock occurrence and non-uniformity problems resulting from parallel processing. Test results demonstrate applicability and economy, among other technical advantages.     

Performance improvement using time delays in multivariable controller design

A new controller for linear multivariable ordinary systems is suggested in which distributed delays are included in the feedback loop. A general design approach to obtain this type of controller is suggested. It is shown that the resulting closed-loop system is asymptotically stable under some sufficient conditions. Sufficient conditions are derived under which the disturbance attenuation, the robustness against parameter variations, and the time-delay stability margins are improved by the proposed controller. The state feedback tracking controller and the dual-state observer are obtained by modification of the proposed controller.     

Study of residual stresses in tailor rolled blanked Al5J32-T4 sheets

Several automotive parts such as door panels have been manufactured by using load-adapted blanks for crash optimization and weight minimization.Recently, Tailor Rolled Blanks (TRB) has been introduced to remove the disadvantages of a welding process which was used in joining panel components.TRB offers better structural design capabilities due to the seamless transitions on the panels with different thicknesses.In spite of the advantages of the process, TRB leaves internal stresses in the panel.This residual stresses lower the formability of Tailor Rolled Blanked (TRBed) parts and cause cracks near severe curvature during subsequent forming processes.In this research, the residual stresses of TRBed Al5J32-T4 sheets were studied by X-ray stress analysis, and also microstructure was observed along the rolling direction.In addition, heat treatment was done after TRB process in order to compare the residual stresses to that of the TRBed sheets before the heat treatment.     

Al-C-Ni组分的变化对Al-C-Ni与ITO层接触电阻的影响

为克服大尺寸显示面板中反应时间的延迟问题,采用低阻栅线是十分有益的,同样在小尺寸面板上也存在这种相互匹配的过程。然而,由于Al较高的氧化速度,铝合金和ITO材料接触性能并不太好。文章介绍了在室温ITO沉积过程中,通过增加ACX(Al-C-Ni)中Ni含量来减少ACX-ITO接触电阻。经室温ITO沉积后,接触电阻成功地减少到300Ω,而且没有ACX引起的问题出现。     

EXPERIMENTAL AND NUMERICAL STUDY FOR HYDRODYNAMIC CHARACTERISTICS OF AN OSCILLATING HYDROFOIL

The present article reports the experimental Particle Image Velocimetry （PIV） investigation and the corresponding numerical simulation results about the water flow over the oscillating hydrofoil and its unsteady dynamic characters. The experimental study focuses on the effect of mean angles of attack. The comparison between the PIV results and numerical prediction about the flow field using Fluent well demonstrates the capability of CFD on the simulation of the water flow around the pitching hydrofoil. The numerical results indicate that the forced oscillating frequencies have evident effects on the flow separation and vortex shedding. The simulations about the hydrodynamic drag and lift coefficients were also performed.     

A new type of ordering in Ba(Zn1/3 Ta2/3)O3 ceramics

Abstracts are not published in this journal This revised version was published online in November 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

微波辐射辅助柠檬酸络合法制备的Ho3+/Tm3+/Yb3+共掺杂CaWO4的白光性能（英文）

采用微波辐射辅助柠檬酸络合法制备Ho3+/Tm3+/Yb3+共掺杂CaWO4纳米晶升频转换荧光粉。将柠檬酸络合物前驱体在300~700°C热处理3 h。Ho3+/Tm3+/Yb3+共掺杂CaWO4C在400°C时开始结晶,在600°C时结晶完成。经600°C热处理的Ho3+/Tm3+/Yb3+共掺杂CaWO4主要呈球形,且形态均匀。在980 nm的激光激发下,Ho3+/Tm3+/Yb3+共掺杂CaWO4纳米晶出现肉眼可见的明亮的白色升频转换发射,这种现象来自Tm3+的475 nm蓝光发射以及Ho3+的543 nm绿光和651 nm红光发射。通过调整Tm3+和Ho3+的浓度可以控制Ho3+/Tm3+/Yb3+共掺杂CaWO4的CIE色度图从冷到暖白色之间变化。讨论了Tm3+和Ho3+浓度对升频转换光性能的影响以及与激光泵功率相关的影响机制。     

Entrapment of nutrients during cholesterol removal from cream by crosslinked β-cyclodextrin

This study was designed to elucidate the quantities of nutrients entrapped during cholesterol removal from cream by crosslinked β-cyclodextrin (β-CD, 4–12%, w/v) and to evaluate the amounts of the residual β-CD in cholesterol-removed cream treated by crosslinked β-CD. The content of lactose in the control cream (without the treatment by crosslinked β-CD) was 2.74%, and the amounts of lactose entrapped by crosslinked β-CD ranged from 0.00 to 0.03%. The total amounts of the entrapped short-chain free fatty acid (FFA) and free amino acid (FAA) ranged from 0.04 to 0.12 ppm and from 0.37 to 0.48 μmol/mL, respectively. The amounts of the entrapped water-soluble vitamins (L-ascorbic acid, niacin, thiamine and riboflavin) ranged from 0.01 to 0.05 ppm, from 0.01 to 0.05 ppm, from 0.00 to 0.04 ppm and from 0.02 to 0.05 ppm, respectively. The entrapped amounts of nutrients mentioned above were not remarkably affected by the concentrations of crosslinked β-CD (4–12%, w/v). The very small amounts of residual β-CD in the cholesterol-removed cream were measured (1.86–6.11 ppm). Based on the data obtained from the present study, it is concluded that the amounts of entrapped nutrients were negligible during cholesterol removal from cream by crosslinked β-CD, and the amounts of residual β-CD in cholesterol-removed cream were trace.