Volume data mining using 3D field topology analysis

This article proposes a novel approach to automating the settings of visualization parameter values for volume data mining. To this end, we extended the conventional Reeb graph-based approach to topological modeling of 3D surfaces to capture the topological skeleton of a volumetric field. The analyzed results take the form of hyper Reeb graphs which give the basic reference structure for designing comprehensible volume visualization     

Effect of microstructure on fracture characteristics of Ti-6Al-2Sn-2Zr-2Mo-2Cr-Si

The effects of intermetallic compounds of Ti₃Al (α ₂) and silicide separately on fracture characteristics of Ti-6Al-2Sn-4Zr-2Mo-0.1Si (Ti-62222S) alloy were investigated in this study. The alloys with only Ti₃Al and only silicide precipitated were established by aging treatments at temperatures of 913 K followed by air cooling and 1088 K followed by water quenching, respectively. X-ray diffraction analysis results showed that the volume fraction of either Ti₃Al or silicide increases with increasing aging time. Tensile properties, namely, yield stress (0.2 pct proof stress), ultimate tensile strenght, and elongation of as-received alloy are much better than those of the aged alloys. The strength of the alloy with only Ti₃Al is better than that of the alloy with only silicide, while elongation of the alloy with only silicide is better than that of the alloy with only Ti₃Al. Fracture toughness, J _IC, of the alloy with only silicide is better than that of the alloy with only Ti₃Al. The intergranular fracture appears in the alloy with only Ti₃Al. Coarsening of Widmanstätten α structure and increasing ductility of β phase during aging are considered to be effective for increasing fracture toughness.     

Reproductive biology of the yellow-spotted longicorn beetle,Psacothea hilaris (pascoe) (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae). III. Identification of contact sex pheromone on female body surface

A major component of female contact sex pheromone of the yellow-spotted longicorn beetle,Psacothea hilaris (Pascoe), was isolated from the elytra and identified as (Z)-21-methyl-8-pentatriacontene. The synthetic compound released the typical mating behavior including holding, mounting, and abdominal bending in males, although its activity was considerably lower than the extract of female elytra when treated on a gelatin capsule as an artificial female model.To whom correspondence should be addressed. Midori Fukaya is a postdoctoral fellow of the Research Development Corporation of Japan.     

High Selective deNO x Electrochemical Cell with Self-Assembled Electro-Catalytic Electrode

A new family of electrochemical cells for decomposition of NO gas in the presence of excess O₂, in which the cathode was covered with mixed oxide layer of NiO and YSZ (electro-catalytic electrode) were designed and investigated. The deNO_x properties were increased by microstructural and compositional control of the electro-catalytic electrode. Nano-size Ni grains were self-assembled at NiO/YSZ interfaces by oxidation-reduction reaction of the NiO during the cell operation. In order to use the reduced Ni for NO decomposition reaction effectively, the authors investigated multilayering of the electro-catalytic electrode. Through this process, the adsorption of coexisting O₂ was prevented and the deNO_x properties of the electrochemical cell were improved.     

Radiation effect on the thermal conductivity and diffusivity of ramie fibers in a range of low temperatures by γ rays

To understand the influence on the thermal conductivity by the length of the molecular chain in the polymer fiber, the thermal conductivity and thermal diffusivity of ramie fibers and those irradiated by γ rays, which induced molecular chain scission of cellulose, were investigated in a range of low temperatures. The degrees of polymerization, crystallinities, and orientation angles of ramie fibers and those irradiated by γ rays (γ‐ray treatment) were measured by the solution viscosity method, solid‐state NMR, and X‐ray diffraction. Only the degree of polymerization decreased with the γ‐ray treatment, and the crystallinities and orientation angles were almost independent of the γ‐ray treatment. The thermal conductivities of the ramie fibers with and without γ‐ray treatments decreased with decreasing temperature. The thermal diffusivities of the ramie fibers and those irradiated by γ rays were almost constant from 250 to 100 K, increased slightly with the temperature decreasing from 100 to 50 K, and increased rapidly with the temperature decreasing below 50 K. The thermal conductivity and thermal diffusivity of the ramie fibers decreased with the γ‐ray treatment. The mean free path of the phonon in the ramie fibers was reduced by the γ‐ray treatment. This decrease of the thermal diffusivity and thermal conductivity was explained by the reduction of the mean free path of the phonon by molecular chain scission with γ rays. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 100: 5007–5018, 2006     

Culture and egocentric perceptions of fairness in conflict and negotiation.

In this article, the authors advanced a cultural view of judgment biases in conflict and negotiation. The authors predicted that disputants' self-serving biases of fairness would be more prevalent in individualistic cultures, such as the United States, in which the self is served by focusing on one's positive attributes to "stand out" and be better than others, yet would be attenuated in collectivistic cultures, such as Japan, where the self is served by focusing on one's negative characteristics to "blend in" (S. J. Heine, D. R. Lehman, H. R. Markus, & S. Kitayama. 1999). Four studies that used different methodologies (free recall, scenarios, and a laboratory experiment) supported this notion. Implications for the science and practice of negotiation are discussed. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Effects gap heat transfer on LWR fuel behavior during an RIA transient: In-pile experimental results with helium and xenon fillet rods

Gap heat transfer characteristics and their effects on LWR fuel behavior during an RIA have been studied through the in-pile experiment with UO₂ pellet fuel rods. The report describes the experimental results obtained in the NSRR tests in which PWR type test fuel rods of helium and xenon filled as the gap gas have been irradiated in the pulse reactor, NSRR, to simulate the prompt heat up of RIAs. The relation between the cladding temperature history and the gap heat transfer conditions, and the effects of gap gas composition on fuel behavior and on the fuel failure threshold are discussed based on the in-pile experimental data.     

Proton conductivities and structures of BaO–ZnO–P2O5 glasses in the ultraphosphate region for intermediate temperature fuel cells

Phosphate glasses are promising materials for electrolytes of intermediate temperature fuel cells, because they have good proton conductivity at 150–250 °C. However, the effects of the glass composition and melting condition on proton conductivities are unclear yet. In this work, the structures of BaO–ZnO–P₂O₅ glasses were investigated by magic angle spinning-nuclear magnetic resonance (MAS-NMR) and Raman spectroscopy, and the proton conductivities were measured by an AC impedance method. The proton conductivity of 30 mol%ZnO-70 mol%P₂O₅ glass melted at 800 °C reached 1 × 10⁻³ S/cm at 250 °C for. The proton transportation number of the ZnO–P₂O₅ glass was almost unity, confirmed by a hydrogen concentration cell. The power density of 0.4 mW/cm² was obtained for a fuel cell using the ZnO–P₂O₅ glass electrolyte at 250 °C. A branching phosphate structure was transformed into a middle phosphate structure by substituting BaO with ZnO, which caused an improvement in proton mobility.