159 research outputs found
Training of the Ni-Mn-Fe-Ga ferromagnetic shape-memory alloys by cycling in a high magnetic field
The temperature and magnetic field dependencies of Ni-Mn-Ga polycrystals
deformation are investigated. Ingots were prepared by arc-melting in argon
atmosphere and further annealing. A training procedure (cycling across the
martensitic transition point) for the two-way shape-memory effect was performed
with NiFeMnGa samples. Changes in sample
deformations were noticed with changing the magnetic field at a constant
temperature. The first cycle deformation increment as compared with the initial
value (in the austenitic state at zero field) in the course of the martensitic
transition was 0.29%, and 0.41% and 0.48% for the second and third cycles,
respectively.Comment: Presented at the Second Moscow International Symposium on Magnetism
(Moscow-2002
Research on Intelligent Fuzzy Optimal Active and Hybrid Control Systems of Building Structures - Verification of Optimization Method on Switching Rules of Control Forces
Recently, many reseraches on active control systems of building structures are preformed based on modern control theory and are installed real buildings. The authors have already proposed intelligent fuzzy optimal active control (IFOAC) systems. IFOAC systems imitate intelligent activities of human brains such as prediction, adaptation, decision-kaking and so on. In IFOAC systems, objective and subjective judgements on the active control can be taken into account. However, IFOAC systems are considered to be suitable for far-field erathquake and control effect becomes small in case of near-field earthqaukes which include a few velosity pules with large amplitudes. To improve control effect in case of near-souece earthquakes, the authors have also proposed hybrid control (HC) systems, in which IFOAC systems and fuzzy control system are combined. In HC systems, the fuzzy control systems are introduced as a reflective fuzzy active control (RFAC) system and imitates spinal reflection of human. In HC systems, active control forces are activated to buildings in accordance with switching rules on active control forces. In this paper, optimizations on fuzzy control rules in RFAC system and switching rules of active control forces in HC system are performed by Parameter-Free Genetic Algorithms (PfGAs). Here, the optimization is performed by using different earthquake inputs. The results of digital simulations show that the HC system can reduce maximal response displacements under restrictions on strokes of the actuator effectively in case of a near-source earthquake and the effectiveness of the proposed HC system is discussed and clarified
Combined effects of eating alone and living alone on unhealthy dietary behaviors, obesity and underweight in older Japanese adults: Results of the JAGES
AbstractWe examined whether eating alone is associated with dietary behaviors and body weight status, and assessed the modifying effects of cohabitation status in older Japanese people. Data from the 2010 Japan Gerontological Evaluation Study, with a self-reported questionnaire for 38,690 men and 43,674 women aged ≥65 years, were used. Eating status was classified as eating with others, sometimes eating alone, or exclusively eating alone. We calculated adjusted prevalence ratios (APRs) of unhealthy dietary behaviors, obesity, and underweight, adjusting for age, education, income, disease, and dental status using Poisson regression. Overall, 16% of men and 28% of women sometimes or exclusively ate alone. Among those who exclusively ate alone, 56% of men and 68% of women lived alone. Men who exclusively ate alone were 3.74 times more likely to skip meals than men who ate with others. Among men who exclusively ate alone, those who lived alone had a higher APR than men who lived with others. Compared with subjects who ate and lived with others, the APRs of being obese (BMI ≥ 30.0 kg/m2) among men who exclusively ate alone were 1.34 (1.01–1.78) in those who lived alone and 1.17 (0.84–1.64) in those who lived with others. These combined effects of eating and living alone were weaker in women, with a potential increase in the APRs among those who ate alone despite living with others. Men who exclusively ate alone were more likely to be underweight (BMI < 18.5 kg/m2) than men who ate with others in both cohabitation statuses. Eating alone and living alone may be jointly associated with higher prevalence of obesity, underweight and unhealthy eating behaviors in men
A novel modified hanging maneuver in laparoscopic left hemihepatectomy
Introduction
The liver hanging maneuver is an essential technique for controlling bleeding in hepatectomy, however it is often difficult in laparoscopic major hepatectomy. The present study describes a novel modified hanging maneuver in laparoscopic left hemihepatectomy.
Presentation of case
A 29-year-old female underwent laparoscopic left hemihepatectomy for mucinous cystic neoplasm. After mobilizing the left lobe, the liver parenchyma was dissected along the demarcation line. For the hanging technique, the upper edge of the hanging tape was placed on the lateral side of the left hepatic vein, and fixed with the Falciform ligament. The lower edge of the tape was extracted outside the abdomen. Accordingly the hanging tape can be controlled extraperitoneally during the liver parenchyma dissection.
Discussion
This technique includes several advantages including no need of assistance using forceps, easy control of the hanging tape extraperitoneally, outflow control, better exposure of surgical field, and helpful guide of the liver dissection line toward the root of the left hepatic vein.
Conclusion
Our novel modified hanging maneuver is easy and reproducible to use in laparoscopic left hemihepatectomy. Moreover, this technique can be applied to other laparoscopic hepatectomy
Premartensitic Transition in Ni2+xMn1-xGa Heusler Alloys
The temperature dependencies of the resistivity and magnetization of a series
of Ni2+XMn1-XGa (X = 0 - 0.09) alloys were investigated. Along with the
anomalies associated with ferromagnetic and martensitic transitions,
well-defined anomalies were observed at the temperature of premartensitic
transformation. The premartensitic phase existing in a temperature range 200 -
260 K in the stoichiometric Ni2MnGa is suppressed by the martensitic phase with
increasing Ni content and vanishes in Ni2.09Mn0.91Ga composition
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