On stochastic comparisons of finite mixtures for some semiparametric families of distributions

In this paper, we consider the classical finite mixture model, which is an effective tool for modeling lifetime distributions for random samples from heterogeneous populations. We discuss new results on stochastic comparison for two finite mixtures when each of them is drawn from one of the following semiparametric families, i.e., proportional hazards, accelerated lifetime and proportional reversed hazards.     

An overlapping domain decomposition dual reciprocity method

We present a domain decomposition boundary integral equation method for two-dimensional partial differential equations. The overlapping Schwarz method is employed to improve the dual reciprocity boundary element method. The resulting algorithm turns out to be more accurate than a non-overlapping approach previously proposed. Some numerical results showing the improved accuracy and efficiency of the methods are given.     

Ice-slurry production using direct contact heat transfer

An ice slurry generation system was developed using direct contact heat transfer between water and the coolant, Fluroinert FC-84. The location of the coolant nozzle is an important design consideration to avoid clogging due to freezing of water. An ice fraction of up to about 40 percent was obtained with the nozzle located at the bottom of the ice slurry tank and the jet directed upwards into the water. Two simplified model were developed to extract the heat transfer coefficient between the coolant drops and the water. The first model requires as input the average drop diameter and the residence time while the second model uses the measured drop diameter distribution. The estimated heat transfer coefficients are much smaller than those computed using single-sphere correlations.     

A generalized equation for the prediction of melting temperatures of homopolymers and copolymers

A generalized equation was derived to calculate the melting temperatures of homopolymers and copolymers. The Gibbs‐Thomson equation for homopolymers and a modified application to copolymers were derived using the proposed equation. The melting temperature T_m⁰ in the Flory equation corresponds to the melting temperature T_m^C,∞ of copolymer crystals with stems of infinite length. Also, T_m^C,n*, the melting temperature for copolymer crystals with stems containing the maximum possible number of structural units, n*, should be used instead of T_m⁰ as the basis of supercooling in crystallization. The proposed equation shows good agreement with experimental data for α‐alkene‐ethylene homogeneous copolymers.     

On the kinetics of the autoxidation of fats: influence of pro‐oxidants,antioxidants and synergists

The influence of minor amounts of pro‐ and anti‐oxidants on the kinetics of the autoxidation of fat has been evaluated. The reaction rates of oxygen with the substrates were found to follow the same basic equation, hitherto established for pure substrates. There is evidence that the surface of the reaction vessel also acts as a reaction catalyst and its effect is proportional to the area of glass in contact with lipids. Oxidation is enhanced by trace metal ions as well as by surface‐active compounds (e.g. hydroperoxides and sterols). Antioxidants such as α‐tocopherol and butylated hydroxyanisole inhibit the oxidation by delaying the start of oxygen consumption (the induction period) while retarders like amino acids only decrease the rate of oxidation. Thus pro‐ and anti‐ oxidants affect either the start or the rate of oxygen consumption. The empirical formula dx/dt = k [O₂] (1‐x/n) f′(t) was found applicable to the different stages of oxidation.     

Evaluation of simple dynamic models and controllers for hydraulic and nozzle pressure in injection molding

Simple pseudo-steady state relations between the hydraulic and nozzle pressures of an injection molding machine were presented and verified experimentally. A simulation study was performed to evaluate the performance of simple controllers using dynamic models developed for the hydraulic and nozzle pressures. The controllers chosen were the discrete proportional, proportional-integral (PI), and proportional-integral-derivative (PID) types, tuned according to the ITAE criterion. The control of hydraulic pressure simulation showed that the PI controller had the best overall performance, whereas the result of nozzle pressure control loop simulation showed that the PID controller performance was better than that of the PI controller. All the controllers, in both loops, gave responses that were about an order of magnitude more rapid than the open loop response.     

Planning collision-free trajectories in time-varying environments: a two-level hierarchy

We propose a two-level hierarchy for planning collision-free trajectories in time varying environments. Global geometric algorithms for trajectory planning are used in conjunction with a local avoidance strategy. Simulations have been developed for a mobile robot in the plane among stationary and moving obstacles. Essentially, the robot has a global geometric planner that provides a coarse global trajectory (the path and velocity along it), which may be locally modified by the low-level local avoidance module if local sensors detect any obstacles in the vicinity of the robot. This hierarchy makes effective use of the complementary aspects of the global trajectory planning approaches and the local obstacle avoidance approaches.     

Coupled effect of time and temperature on variations of yield value of highly flowable mortar

In order to enhance the performance of self-consolidating concrete, it is important to have a better understanding of the rheological behavior of the material. The initial rheological parameters and their variations with time are closely affected by material temperature, type and dosage of high range water-reducing admixture (HRWRA), and elapsed time. This paper presents the results of an investigation aimed at evaluating the coupled influence of time and temperature on the variations of yield value with time of mortars made with two types of HRWRA: polynaphtalene sulfonate and polycarboxylate polymer. Four mortars extracted from self-consolidating concrete mixtures proportioned with various binder types and with water-to-binder ratios of 0.42 and 0.53 were prepared at 10 to 30 °C.Test results show that the yield value varies linearly with the coupled effect of time and temperature during the dormant period for mixtures made with polynaphtalene sulfonate-based HRWRA. However, such changes are found to depend on the mixture temperature for mixtures made with polycarboxylate-based HRWRA, which can influence the dispersion efficiency of the polycarboxylate polymer. The threshold temperature of mixtures made with PCP-HRWRA is shown to vary with mixture composition. Below a given threshold temperature, the mortar exhibits a considerable degree of retention or even reduction in yield value over 30% of the dormant period. A sharp increase in yield value is observed beyond 30% of the dormant period. Above this threshold temperature, the yield value is shown to increase linearly with time.     

Modulation resonance enhancement in SCH quantum-well lasers with anexternal Bragg reflector

The modulation response of a semiconductor laser can be enhanced by coupling it to an external cavity with frequency-selective feedback. This creates a comb of transmission bands where the modulation response is high, at the cavity round-trip frequency and its harmonics. In a previous publication, we related the bandwidths of these bands to the material and structural parameters of a bulk laser. We showed that a nonzero linewidth enhancement factor together with a nonzero intermediate facet reflectivity lead to deep nulls close to the peaks of these transmission bands. This suggests that quantum-well (QW) lasers, which have a low linewidth enhancement factor, may give a better performance than bulk lasers. To test this hypothesis, we have extended our analysis to model QW lasers coupled to a fiber grating. Carrier transport, carrier heating, intraband carrier fluctuations, and nonparabolic band structures are considered. We show that electron carrier transport and amplitude-phase coupling in the separate-confinment-heterostructure (SCH) layer contribute to the nulls in the modulation response. Therefore, the apparent advantage of having a reduced linewidth enhancement factor that we found in our previous analysis cannot be fully realized by using QW lasers