Evaluation of two cooling systems under a firefighter coverall

Firemen often suffer from heat strain. This study investigated two chest cooling systems for use under a firefighting suit. In nine male subjects, a vest with water soaked cooling pads and a vest with water perfused tubes were compared to a control condition. Subjects performed 30 min walking and 10 min recovery in hot conditions, while physiological and perceptual parameters were measured. No differences were observed in heart rate and rectal temperature, but scapular skin temperature and fluid loss were lower using the perfused vest. Thermal sensation was cooler for the perfused vest than for the other conditions, while the cool pad vest felt initially cooler than control. However, comfort and RPE scores were similar. We conclude that the cooling effect of both tested systems, mainly providing a (temporally) cooler thermal sensation, was limited and did not meet the expectations.     

Application of SVR,Taguchi loss function,and the artificial bee colony algorithm to resolve multiresponse parameter design problems: a case study on optimizing the design of a TIR lens

Multiresponse parameter design problems have become increasingly important and have received considerable attention from both researchers and practitioners since there are usually several quality characteristics that must be optimized simultaneously in most modern products/processes. This study applies support vector regression (SVR), Taguchi loss function, and the artificial bee colony (ABC) algorithm to develop a six-staged procedure that resolves these common and complicated parameter design problems. SVR is used to model the mathematical relationship between input control factors and output responses, and the ABC algorithm is used to find the optimal control factor settings by searching the well-constructed SVR models in which the Taguchi loss function is applied to evaluate the overall performance of a product/process. The feasibility and effectiveness of the proposed approach are demonstrated via a case study in which the design of a total internal reflection (TIR) lens is optimized while fabricating an MR16 light-emitting diode lamp. Experimental results indicate that the proposed solution procedure can provide highly robust design parameter settings for TIR lenses that can be directly applied in real manufacturing processes. Comparisons with the Taguchi method reveal that the Taguchi method is an undesirable and inappropriate method for resolving multiple-response parameter design problems, while the ABC algorithm can search the solution spaces in continuous domains modeled via SVR instead of in the limited discrete experiment levels, thus finding a more robust design than that obtained by the traditional analysis of variance. Consequently, the proposed integrated approach in this study can be considered feasible and effective and can be popularized as a useful tool for resolving general multiresponse parameter design problems in the real world.     

羟基磷灰石/β-磷酸三钙/海藻酸钠复合多孔支架的制备与研究

本文讨论了羟基磷灰石/β-磷酸三钙/海藻酸钠(HAP/β-TCP/AG)多孔支架的制备,并通过电子显微镜观察了其微观结构、研究其干细胞亲和性和生物相容性。研究表明:该多孔支架具有三维连通网状结构,干细胞在支架上黏附、生长良好,具有良好的干细胞亲和性和生物相容性。     

Effect of La/K A-site Substitutions on the Ordering of Ba(Zn1/3Ta2/3)O3

The 1/3 <111>-type ordering of Ba(Zn_1/3Ta_2/3)O₃ (BZT) can be transformed to 1/2 <111>–type ordering by substituting the La³⁺ cation into the A site. The 1/3 <111> ordering in BZT is shown to be reduced, discontinued, and then replaced by 1/2 <111> ordering, using X–ray diffraction, electron microscopy, and Raman spectroscopy. On the other hand, potassium–substituted BZT only displays a reduction in the degree of ordering.     

An integrated portfolio optimisation procedure based on data envelopment analysis,artificial bee colony algorithm and genetic programming

Portfolio optimisation is an important issue in the field of investment/financial decision-making and has received considerable attention from both researchers and practitioners. However, besides portfolio optimisation, a complete investment procedure should also include the selection of profitable investment targets and determine the optimal timing for buying/selling the investment targets. In this study, an integrated procedure using data envelopment analysis (DEA), artificial bee colony (ABC) and genetic programming (GP) is proposed to resolve a portfolio optimisation problem. The proposed procedure is evaluated through a case study on investing in stocks in the semiconductor sub-section of the Taiwan stock market for 4 years. The potential average 6-month return on investment of 9.31% from 1 November 2007 to 31 October 2011 indicates that the proposed procedure can be considered a feasible and effective tool for making outstanding investment plans, and thus making profits in the Taiwan stock market. Moreover, it is a strategy that can help investors to make profits even when the overall stock market suffers a loss.     

Damage Development and Moduli Reductions in Nicalon—Calcium Aluminosilicate Composites under Static Fatigue and Cyclic Fatigue

Unidirectional and cross-ply Nicalon fiber-reinforced calcium aluminosilicate (CAS) glass-ceramic composite specimens were subjected to tension–tension cyclic fatigue and static fatigue loadings. Microcrack densities, longitudinal Young's modulus, and major Poisson's ratio were measured at regular intervals of load cycles and load time. The matrix crack (0° plies) density and transverse crack (90° plies) density increased gradually with fatigue cycles and load time. The crack growth is environmentally driven and depends on the maximum load and time. Young's modulus and Poisson's ratio decreased gradually with fatigue cycles and load time. The saturation crack densities under fatigue loadings were found to be comparable to those under monotonic loading. A matrix crack growth limit strain exists, below which matrix cracks do not grow significantly under fatigue loading. This limit coincides with the matrix crack initiation strain. Linear correlations between crack density and moduli reductions obtained from quasi-static data can predict the moduli reductions under cyclic loading, using experimentally measured crack densities. A logarithmic correlation can predict the Young's modulus reduction in a limited stress range. A fatigue crack growth model is proposed to explain the presence of two distinct regimes of crack growth and Young's modulus reduction.     

Plastic deformation of ZnO thin films through edge and screw dislocation movements

Columnar wurtzite grains were formed in sputtered ZnO thin films deposited on a plastic polyethylene terephthalate substrate. Selected-area diffraction patterns reveal that the columnar grains in the sputtered films present two preferred growth planes, namely, the basal (0002) and prismatic (100) growth planes. The diffraction patterns obtained also confirm that the microstructure of sputtered indium tin oxide thin films is amorphous in nature. Tensile tests indicate that the fracture strain of the ZnO thin film occurs between 1.73% and 2.14%, while the fracture strain of the indium tin oxide thin film occurs between 0.24% and 0.67%. Thus, the fracture toughness of the sputtered ZnO thin film is greater than that of the sputtered indium tin oxide thin film. High-resolution transmission electron microscopic images demonstrate that edge and screw dislocations could be identified in the sputtered ZnO thin films. Moreover, edge and screw dislocation movements may, respectively, be observed in the basal- and prismatic-oriented ZnO columnar grains of the sputtered ZnO thin films. Our results indicate that movements of the edge and screw dislocations in the basal- and prismatic-oriented ZnO columnar grains account for the plastic deformation of the investigated ZnO thin films under tensile stress.     

A new model for evaluating the electrical conductivity of nonferrous slag

Electrical conductivity of molten slag is an important physicochemical property for designing the refining process in electric smelting furnaces.Though conductivities of many slag systems have been measured,the quantitative relationships of conductivity with slag composition and temperature are still very limited.In this article,the Arrhenius law was used to describe the experimental data of conductivities for CaO-MgO-Al2O3-SiO2,CaO-Al2O3-SiO2,CaO-MnO-Al2O3-SiO2,as well as CaO-MgO-MnO-Al2O3-SiO2 systems,and...     

Cation interdiffusion between thick film of YBa2Cu3O7-δ and ceramic substrate

Thick films of superconducting oxides, YBa₂Cu₃O_7-, were successfully made by conventional screen-printing technology on Al₂O₃, MgO, and ZrO₂ substrates. Interdiffusion between the superconductive film and substrate was investigated using analytical electron microscopy. The results indicate that MgO and ZrO₂ are superior to Al₂O₃ for substrate materials.     

A STUDY OF THE STRESS CORROSION CRACKING OF SENSITIZED 1Cr18Ni9Ti STAINLESS STEEL IN HIGH TEMPERATURE HIGH PRESSURE WATER

从环境角度研究了敏化1Cr18Ni9Ti不锈钢在高温水中的腐蚀行为.研究指出,在一定浓度Cl~-和(或)O_2存在情况下,在酸性和中性高温高压水中都会出现应力腐蚀破裂.断口电子金相表明,在氯离子为主的环境中,破裂系晶间型;在氧为主的环境中,破裂系以解理为主的混合型.给出了1Cr18Ni9Ti在高温水中腐蚀的表观和真实动力学曲线,表明腐蚀包含溶解和湿氧化两部分,而以湿氧化为主.借Mossbauer内转换电子谱研究了氧化膜结构与腐蚀的关系,指出在一般腐蚀条件下,膜的主要组分为Fe_3O_4,而在应力腐蚀条件下,膜的主要组分为Fe_2O_3,并且系Fe_2O_3和Fe_3O_4多层重叠结构.当水中添加了一定量的硼,在氧化膜中会局部出现FeBO_3相,既不会引起也不会抑制应力腐蚀.硼的这种“惰性”作用和膜结构中Fe_3O_4相的非化学计量比,膜具有阴离子选择性有关.根据腐蚀电化学,认为应力腐蚀系发生在钝化/过钝化区域,增高Cl~-或O_2含量,从不同角度都会使合金的电位接近过钝化区.Cl~-的作用在于改变阳极极化曲线,O_2的作用在于改变阴极极化曲线.在含Cl~-水中,晶界TiC的迅速溶解是应力腐蚀的主要原因,而在含氧水中,晶粒Fe-Cr-Ni中Cr的选择性溶解是应力腐蚀的主要原因.在分析应力腐蚀的特征后,指出应力既是某些严重腐蚀点形