Analysis of 7 Models for the 2-Dissimilar-Unit, Warm Standby, Redundant System

The paper is in 2 parts. In all models the failure rates are constant, but repair rates need not be constant. The method of supplementary variables is used for solving the models. Part I considers the effect of priorities on reliability and availability for 4 basic models; 1) priority in both repair and operation; 2) priority in repair; 3) priority in operation; 4) no priority. Models 1 and 2 treat 2 repair disciplines: a) preemptive-repeat, b) preemptive-resume. We obtain 1) Laplace transforms of availability and reliability and 2) explicit expressions for steady state availability and for mean time to system failure. The effect of priority assignment to maximize steady state availability is discussed. Part II considers the effect of having different repair rates, depending on whether the failure was from standby or from operation. We obtain 1) Laplace transforms of availability and reliability and 2) explicit expressions for mean time to system failure.     

Representation for knot-tying tasks

The learning from observation (LFO) paradigm has been widely applied in various types of robot systems. It helps reduce the work of the programmer. However, the applications of available systems are limited to manipulation of rigid objects. Manipulation of deformable objects is rarely considered, because it is difficult to design a method for representing states of deformable objects and operations against them. Furthermore, too many operations are possible on them. In this paper, we choose knot tying as a case study for manipulating deformable objects, because the knot theory is available and the types of operations possible in knot tying are limited. We propose a knot planning from observation (KPO) paradigm, a KPO theory, and a KPO system.     

Synthesis and properties of polycyclic quinones condensed with 1,6-methano[10]annulene

Two types of polycyclic quinones condensed with 1,6-methano[10]annulenes as type A: 1,6-methanonaphtho[2,3-c][10]annulene-7,12-dione 5a, and type B: 1,6-methanonaphtho[2,3-c][10]annulene-5,14-dione 18, bis(1,6-methano[10]annuleno[3,4-b; 3,4-g])anthracene-10,21-dione 20, 1,6-methanoanthraceno[2,3-c][10]annulene-5,16-dione 22, 1,6-methanotetraceno[2,3-c][10]annulene-6,17-dione 23, and 1,6-methano phenanthreno[2,3-c][10]annulene-5,6-dione 24 have been synthesized. The acene derivative 6 corresponding to that of 5a was synthesized by the reduction of quinone 5a. The physical, spectral, and chemical properties of these new compounds have been investigated.     

Changes in electrical and structural properties of indium oxide thin films through post-deposition annealing

The annealing effects on the electrical properties and microstructures of indium oxide (In₂O₃) thin films were investigated. The In₂O₃ thin films with the thickness of about 150 nm were annealed at various temperatures ranging from 100 to 600 °C in air after the sputtering deposition. It was found that the carrier density of the In₂O₃ thin films decreased with increasing in the annealing temperature and then started to increase at a certain temperature. This indicated that the reduction of the In₂O₃ thin films was promoted at high annealing temperature. The Hall mobility of the In₂O₃ thin films increased through the reduction; furthermore, the d-spacing of the In₂O₃ crystal lattice plane tended toward ideal value. It can be believed from these results that one of the principal electron scattering in the In₂O₃ thin films is attributed to excess oxygen atoms that expand the d-spacing.     

Optimum structure of metal oxide under-layer used in Ag-based multilayer

The effects of a metal oxide under-layer on the resistivity of a Ag layer were investigated. Ag-based multilayers, which have a layer construction of glass/ZnO under-layer/Ag/ZAO (Al-doped ZnO) blocker/ZnO top layer, were deposited by DC magnetron sputtering with changing the sputter gas pressure during the under-layer deposition and it was confirmed that the Ag layer showed low resistivity when the smooth crystallized ZnO under-layer was employed. On the other hand, in the case of the Ag-based multilayer using the smooth amorphous-SnO₂ under-layer, it was found that the Ag layer was poorly crystallized and showed higher resistivity than the Ag layer using the ZnO under-layer. This comparative study indicated that the ZnO under-layer promoted the preferred crystal growth of the Ag layer.     

Production of catalase by fungi growing at low pH and high temperature

More than 100 fungi were isolated from cultures at pH 1.0 or 2.5 and 42-45 degrees C, and the production of catalases was investigated. Four strains produced a catalase with high stability at pH 2.0, and three of them produced two extracellular catalases and four intracellular catalases. In these four intracellular catalases, two catalases were similar to extracellular catalases in enzymatic properties and pI. These strains belonged to Aspergillus niger.     

Mechanical Properties of White Salted Noodles from Near‐isogenic Wheat Lines with Different wx Protein‐Deficiency

Flour with a low amylose content produces a desirable texture in white salted noodles (WSN). In order to understand the impact of amylose content on noodle texture, flours of similar quality but different starch characteristics must be compared and analyzed because the characteristics of the protein contained in the flour also affect the mechanical properties of WSN. In this study, eight genotypes of near‐isogenic wheat with different compositions of the Wx‐proteins involved in amylose synthesis were used to study the relationship between the mechanical properties of WSN and their amylose content in starch. Results of the study indicated that the breaking force/breaking deformation value of WSN made from the eight lines decreased and that softer noodles were obtained when the amylose content was lower. The gels made from flours and starches of the eight lines decreased in maximum compression stress, in line with the lowering of amylose content. These results show that the mechanical properties of WSN are determined primarily by the amylose content of the flour and the properties of the starch gel. Sensory evaluations of the WSN indicated that the noodles from the flours of single‐null types, which lack either the Wx‐B1 or Wx‐D1 proteins, and doublenull types, which lack the Wx‐A1 and Wx‐D1 proteins, especially the latter, had desirable textures.