A flow simulation for the epoxy casting process using a 3D finite‐element method

A three‐dimensional flow simulation for epoxy casting has been developed. A control‐volume‐based finite‐element method is employed, containing a conservative upwind formulation for the advection terms and equal order interpolations for all variables. This simulation predicts the non‐isothermal and reactive flow behavior under the gravity. The viscosity and reaction‐rate parameters were estimated by using a dynamic rheometer and a differential scanning calorimeter. The predicted flow front advancement and temperature profiles in the calculation domain similar to the mold cavity were in close agreement with the corresponding experimental results. The variation of epoxy surface configuration with flow rate also showed the same tendency between the prediction and the experiment. This simulation seems to be applicable not only to the epoxy casting, but also to other molding processes of various thermoset resins. POLYM. ENG. SCI. 45:364–374, 2005. © 2005 Society of Plastics Engineers.     

Quantitative evaluation of generator power control effect of FACTS controllers for power system stabilization

The advancement of power electronics technologies has significantly developed the power system stabilizing controllers. Quantitative as well as qualitative evaluation of their effectiveness in power systems is a matter of great importance for the feasibility investigation of these apparatus. In this paper, the possible control region of FACTS controllers with series and/or shunt configuration in a single machine to infinite bus system is formulated in the powerangle curve with a set of algebraic equations. The effectiveness of TCPST (Thyristor‐Controlled Phase Shifting Transformer), SSSC (Static Synchronous Series Compensator), and TCSC (Thyristor‐Controlled Series Compensator) for the improvement of the transient stability is evaluated quantitatively as a numerical example. The correctness of the proposed method has been confirmed by analysis based on the electromagnetic transients simulation with a detailed system model. © 2001 Scripta Technica, Electr Eng Jpn, 138(3): 43–51, 2002     

Planar AlGaAs/GaAs heterojunction bipolar transistors fabricatedusing selective W-CVD

The authors describe a planar process for the AlGaAs/GaAs HBTs in which collector vias are buried selectively, even to the base layers, with chemical vapor deposited tungsten (CVD-W) films. By using WF₆ /SiH₄ chemistry, W could be deposited on Pt films, which were overlapped 50 nm thick on the AuGe-based collector electrodes, without depositing W on the surrounding SiO₂ layers. Current gains of planar HBTs with 3.5-μm×3.5-μm emitters were up to 150, for a collector current density of about 2.5×10⁴ A/cm²     

Middle ear mucosa pathophysiology and healing processes in children with otitis media with effusion (OME)

Most otitis media with effusion (OME) in children heals spontaneously, but it is sometimes persistent and intractable. The major factors determining these different courses of OME are unknown. Identifying such factors would be clinically helpful. Factors affecting on the outcome of OME were studied experimentally and clinically. In animal experiment OME was induced in rabbit by occluding the Eustachian tube. Clinical study was conducted by investigating a histology of the middle ear mucosa, sampled from 64 children with OME (87 ears) who underwent middle ear tube ventilation. Furthermore, these cases studied how the degree of mastoid pneumatization before and after treatment, changes in the volume of the middle ear air cavity and the course after removal of the middle ear ventilation tube affected lesions in the middle ear mucosa. In animals, histology of the middle ear mucosa showed that in the early stages, the subepithelial layer of the middle ear mucosa was characterized by edematous hypertrophy and enlarged blood vessels. In later stages, it became fibrous as a result of chronic inflammation. These results suggest that lesions of the subepithelial layer are unlikely to recover. In clinical cases, histological changes in mucosal samples were rated on a two-point scale: changes in the epithelium and changes in the subepithelial layer. Re-pneumatization, a sign of healing of middle ear mucosal inflammation, was seen 12 months to 18 months after surgery. Among patients in whom the tube was left inserted for more than 18 months, only 11% had unfavorable outcomes and the recurrence rate was low. All patients who had recurrence of disease despite more than 18 months of tube insertion had prolonged inflammation in the middle ear mucosa. There results indicate that the air cavity returns to approximately normal degree of pneumatization more than 18 months after surgery, and that the extent of lesions in the middle ear mucosa, especially the subepithelial layer, is closely related to the healing of OME.     

Determination of horseradish peroxidase concentration using the chemiluminescence of Cypridina luciferin analogue, 2-methyl-6-(p-methoxyphenyl)-3,7-dihydroimidazo[1,2-a]pyrazin-3-one

The chemiluminescence of the Cypridina luciferin analogue, 2-methyl-6-(p-methoxyphenyl)-3,7-dihydroimidazo[1,2-a]pyrazin++ +-3-one (MCLA) was observed at 462 nm in the presence of horseradish peroxidase (HRP) and the total spectrum of light emitted was found to depend linearly on HRP concentration. Methods for the determination of HRP concentration using the chemiluminescence was investigated. HRP could be detected in the range from 100 pmol/L to 100 nmol/L under the optimum condition, H2O2 (10 mmol/L) and MCLA (10 mumol/L) at pH 5.8.     

Single display gamut size metric

To measure the relative gamut sizes of wide‐gamut displays, it is herein proposed that the CIE 1931 xy chromaticity diagram be used rather than the nominally perceptually uniform CIE 1976 u′v′ chromaticity diagram. High correlations were found between the area‐coverage ratios in the xy diagram and the volume‐coverage ratios in the CIE 1976 L^*a^*b^* color space for major standard wide‐gamut color spaces. It is also demonstrated herein that performing planimetry in the uniform u′v′ diagram does not yield accurate relative display gamut sizes, even though the large sizes obtained using the u′v′ diagram are often reported regardless of the fact that its uniformity is valid only when the luminance factor is constant. The single display gamut size metric using the xy diagram will facilitate the unbiased development of wide‐gamut displays.     

Analysis of standard chromaticity gamut area metrics

It is herein proposed to measure display gamut sizes by employing the International Telecommunication Union—Radiocommunication Sector Recommendation BT.2020 (Rec. 2020) area‐coverage ratios in the xy chromaticity diagram rather than the standard gamut area metrics that use the horseshoe‐shaped spectrum chromaticity area as the target in the u′v′ chromaticity diagram. It is more reasonable to use the Rec. 2020 gamut than the spectrum gamut as the target because the Rec. 2020 area‐coverage ratios in the xy diagram are better correlated than the spectrum area‐coverage ratios with the volume‐coverage ratios of object color gamuts that are visually significant in displaying natural scenes.     

Computational design of iris folding patterns

Computational Visual Media - Iris folding is an art-form consisting of layered strips of paper, forming a spiral pattern behind an aperture, which can be used to make cards and gift tags. This...     

Active sensing control improving SLAM accuracy for a vehicle robot

Artificial Life and Robotics - This study considers an autonomous mobile vehicle using SLAM technology in an unknown environment. The focused problem is the decrease of trajectory following...