Bidirectional optimization of the melting spinning process

This is the author's accepted manuscript (under the provisional title "Bi-directional optimization of the melting spinning process with an immune-enhanced neural network"). The final published article is available from the link below. Copyright 2014 @ IEEE.A bidirectional optimizing approach for the melting spinning process based on an immune-enhanced neural network is proposed. The proposed bidirectional model can not only reveal the internal nonlinear relationship between the process configuration and the quality indices of the fibers as final product, but also provide a tool for engineers to develop new fiber products with expected quality specifications. A neural network is taken as the basis for the bidirectional model, and an immune component is introduced to enlarge the searching scope of the solution field so that the neural network has a larger possibility to find the appropriate and reasonable solution, and the error of prediction can therefore be eliminated. The proposed intelligent model can also help to determine what kind of process configuration should be made in order to produce satisfactory fiber products. To make the proposed model practical to the manufacturing, a software platform is developed. Simulation results show that the proposed model can eliminate the approximation error raised by the neural network-based optimizing model, which is due to the extension of focusing scope by the artificial immune mechanism. Meanwhile, the proposed model with the corresponding software can conduct optimization in two directions, namely, the process optimization and category development, and the corresponding results outperform those with an ordinary neural network-based intelligent model. It is also proved that the proposed model has the potential to act as a valuable tool from which the engineers and decision makers of the spinning process could benefit.National Nature Science Foundation of China, Ministry of Education of China, the Shanghai Committee of Science and Technology), and the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities

On the origin of multiple ordered phases in PrFe4P12

The nature of multiple electronic orders in skutterudite PrFe_4P_{12} is discussed on the basis of a model with antiferro-quadrupole (AFQ) interaction of \Gamma_3 symmetry. The high-field phase can be reproduced qualitatively provided (i) ferro-type interactions are introduced between the dipoles as well as between the octupoles of localized f-electrons, and (ii) separation is vanishingly small between the \Gamma_1-\Gamma_4^{(1)} crystalline electric field (CEF) levels. The high-field phase can have either the same ordering vector q=(1,0,0) as in the low-field phase, or a different one q=0 depending on the parameters. In the latter case, distortion of the crystal perpendicular to the (111) axis is predicted. The corresponding anomaly in elastic constants should also appear. The electrical resistivity is calculated with account of scattering within the CEF quasi-quartet. It is found that the resistivity as a function of the direction of magnetic field shows a sharp maximum around the (111) axis at low temperatures because of the level crossing.Comment: 16 pages, 5 figure

Effect of propionate on the production of natamycin with Streptomyces gilvosporeus XM-172

This study described the influence of feeding short-chain fatty acids and alcohols on natamycin production in the glucose basal medium, produced by Streptomyces gilvosporeus XM-172. The highest natamycin production was obtained with feeding propionate as compared to other precursors. The optimal propionate concentration and feeding time were 6 g L-1 and early log phase, respectively. This optimal propionate feeding strategy led to a natamycin production of 6.72 g L-1, which was nearly 85% higher than that of the control. It was firstly revealed that propionate could greatly promote natamycin biosynthesis by S. gilvosporeus.Key words: Precursor, propionate, natamycin production, Streptomyces gilvosporeus XM-172

Optimal Observer Synthesis for Microgrids With Adaptive Send-on-Delta Sampling Over IoT Communication Networks

State estimation is one of the main challenges in the microgrids, due to the complexity of the system dynamics and the limitations of the communication network. In this regard, a novel real-time event-based optimal state estimator is introduced in this paper, which uses the proposed adaptive send-on-delta (SoD) non-uniform sampling method over wireless sensors networks. The proposed estimator requires low communication bandwidth and incurs lower computational resource cost. The threshold for the SoD sampler is made adaptive based on the average communication link delay, which is computed in a distributed form using the event-based average consensus protocol. The SoD non-uniform signal sampling approach reduces the traffic over the wireless communication network due to the events transmitted only when there is a level crossing in the measurements. The state estimator structure is extended on top of the traditional Kalman filter with the additional stages for the fusion of the received events. The error correction stage is further improved by optimal reconstruction of the signals using projection onto convex sets (POCS) algorithm. Finally, an Internet of things (IoT) experimental platform based on LoRaWAN and IEEE 802.11 (WiFi) protocols is developed to analyse the performance of the state estimator for the IEEE 5 Bus case study microgrid

The electrorheology of suspensions consisting of Na-Fluorohectorite synthetic clay particles in silicon oil

Under application of an electric field greater than a triggering electric field $E_c \sim 0.4$ kV/mm, suspensions obtained by dispersing particles of the synthetic clay fluoro-hectorite in a silicon oil, aggregate into chain- and/or column-like structures parallel to the applied electric field. This micro-structuring results in a transition in the suspensions' rheological behavior, from a Newtonian-like behavior to a shear-thinning rheology with a significant yield stress. This behavior is studied as a function of particle volume fraction and strength of the applied electric field, $E$. The steady shear flow curves are observed to scale onto a master curve with respect to $E$, in a manner similar to what was recently found for suspensions of laponite clay [42]. In the case of Na-fluorohectorite, the corresponding dynamic yield stress is demonstrated to scale with respect to $E$ as a power law with an exponent $\alpha \sim 1.93$, while the static yield stress inferred from constant shear stress tests exhibits a similar behavior with $\alpha \sim 1.58$. The suspensions are also studied in the framework of thixotropic fluids: the bifurcation in the rheology behavior when letting the system flow and evolve under a constant applied shear stress is characterized, and a bifurcation yield stress, estimated as the applied shear stress at which viscosity bifurcation occurs, is measured to scale as $E^\alpha$ with $\alpha \sim 0.5$ to 0.6. All measured yield stresses increase with the particle fraction $\Phi$ of the suspension. For the static yield stress, a scaling law $\Phi^\beta$, with $\beta = 0.54$, is found. The results are found to be reasonably consistent with each other. Their similarities with-, and discrepancies to- results obtained on laponite-oil suspensions are discussed

Drastic change in transport of entropy with quadrupolar ordering in PrFe4_{4}P12_{12}

The antiferroquadrupolar ordering of PrFe$_{4}$P$_{12}$ is explored by probing thermal and thermoelectric transport. The lattice thermal conductivity drastically increases with the ordering, as a consequence of a large drop in carrier concentration and a strong electron-phonon coupling. The low level of carrier density in the ordered state is confirmed by the anomalously large values of the Seebeck and Nernst coefficients. The results are reminiscent of URu$_{2}$Si$_{2}$ and suggest that both belong to the same class of aborted metal-insulator transitions. The magnitude of the Nernst coefficient, larger than in any other metal, indicates a new route for Ettingshaussen cooling at Kelvin temperatures.Comment: final published versio

Toward Identification of Order Parameters in Skutterudites - a Wonderland of Strong Correlation Physics -

Current status is described toward identifying unconventional order parameters in filled skutterudites with unique ordering phenomena. The order parameters in PrFe$_4$P$_{12}$ and PrRu$_4$P$_{12}$ are discussed in relation to associated crystalline electric field (CEF) states and angular form factors. By phenomenological Landau analysis, it is shown that a scalar order model explains most properties in both PrFe$_4$P$_{12}$ and PrRu$_4$P$_{12}$ with very different magnetic properties. In particular, the highly anisotropic susceptibility induced by uniaxial pressure in PrFe$_4$P$_{12}$ is explained in terms of two types of couplings. In the case of SmRu$_4$P$_{12}$, the main order parameter at low field is identified as magnetic octupoles. A microscopic mechanism is proposed how the dipole and octupole degrees of freedom mix under the point group $T_h$ of skutterudites.Comment: To be published in Proc. International Conference on New Quantum Phenomena in Skutterudite and Related Systems (Suppl. J. Phys. Soc. Jpn 78, 2008

Conditioning of BPM pickup signals for operations of the Duke storage ring with a wide range of single-bunch current

The Duke storage ring is a dedicated driver for the storage ring based oscillator free-electron lasers (FELs), and the High Intensity Gamma-ray Source (HIGS). It is operated with a beam current ranging from about 1 mA to 100 mA per bunch for various operations and accelerator physics studies. High performance operations of the FEL and gamma-ray source require a stable electron beam orbit, which has been realized by the global orbit feedback system. As a critical part of the orbit feedback system, the electron beam position monitors (BPMs) are required to be able to precisely measure the electron beam orbit in a wide range of the single-bunch current. However, the high peak voltage of the BPM pickups associated with high single-bunch current degrades the performance of the BPM electronics, and can potentially damage the BPM electronics. A signal conditioning method using low pass filters is developed to reduce the peak voltage to protect the BPM electronics, and to make the BPMs capable of working with a wide range of single-bunch current. Simulations and electron beam based tests are performed. The results show that the Duke storage ring BPM system is capable of providing precise orbit measurements to ensure highly stable FEL and HIGS operations