Changes in the Laser-Induced Fluorescence Spectrum of Myocardium Tissue with Decrease in Its Viability

We investigated the laser-induced fluorescence spectra (LIF) of porcine cardiac tissues with different degrees of viability. The data obtained are compared with the results of routine histological investigations and also with the experiments performed with the use of fluorescent probes. It has been found with a high degree of reliability that the loss of the viability of the myocardium tissue leads to the alteration of its LIF spectra. This can be used for low-invasive rapid control of transplant viability in the process of its preparation and during surgery.     

Effective nonchain HF laser excited by a self-sustained discharge

Lasing and discharge in mixtures of SF₆ with hydrogen and hydrocarbons are investigated. If the chemical reaction is initiated by a self-sustained discharge (a generator with both an inductive and capacitive energy storage can be used), the maximum lasing efficiency is attained at high values of the ratio E/p (where E is the electric field intensity and p is the pressure in the mixture) if shaped electrodes and preionization of the discharge gap are employed. For the first time, the lasing efficiency obtained in a nonchain HF laser is as high as 10% of the energy deposit and 4.5% of the stored energy for a specific radiation energy of ≈140 J/(l atm). At high efficiencies, the emission spectrum of the nonchain HF laser significantly broadens and cascade lasing at P(3-2) → P(2-1) → P(1-0) vibrational transitions for several rotational lines is realized.     

The stable forking conjecture and generic structures

 We prove that for any simple theory which is constructed via Fr?issé-Hrushovski method, if the forking independence is the same as the d-independence then the stable forking property holds. Received: 22 January 2001 / Published online: 19 December 2002 This article is part of the author's D-Phil thesis, written at the University of Oxford and supported by the Ministry of Higher Education of Iran. The author would like to thank the Institute for Studies in Theoretical Physics and Mathematics (IPM), Tehran, Iran, for its financial support whilst working on this article. Mathematics Subject Classification (2000): 03C45 Key words or phrases: Generic structures – Fr?issé-Hrushovski method – Predimension – Simple theories – Stable theories – Stable forking conjecture     

An EOQ model with process reliability considerations

The classical economic order quantity (EOQ) model assumes that items produced are of perfect quality and that the unit cost of production is independent of demand. However, in realistic situations, product quality is never perfect, but is directly affected by the reliability of the production process. In this paper, we consider an EOQ model with imperfect production process and the unit production cost is directly related to process reliability and inversely related to the demand rate. In addition, a numerical example is given to illustrate the developed model. Sensitivity analysis is also performed and discussed.     

Phase Diagrams of Polytype Transformations in Close-Packed Crystals Including Metastable States

The paper offers a method for calculating phase diagrams of polytype transformations in close-packed crystals based on the generalized axial Ising's model of finite dimensions at non-zero temperatures. Using the Metropolis algorithm, the behavior of systems with polytype transitions is studied under the conditions of changing external shear stress and temperature. The longest polytype period considered here is taken to be 30 close-packed planes.     

Automotive disc brake squeal

Disc brake squeal remains an elusive problem in the automotive industry. Since the early 20th century, many investigators have examined the problem with experimental, analytical, and computational techniques, but there is as yet no method to completely suppress disc brake squeal. This paper provides a comprehensive review and bibliography of works on disc brake squeal. In an effort to make this review accessible to a large audience, background sections on vibrations, contact and disc brake systems are also included.     

Approaches to sharing knowledge in group problem structuring

Problem-structuring techniques are an integral aspect of ‘Soft-OR’. SSM, SAST, Strategic Choice, and JOURNEY Making, all depend for their success on a group developing a shared view of a problem through some form of explicit modelling. The negotiated problem structure becomes the basis for problem resolution. Implicit to this process is an assumption that members of the group share and build their knowledge about the problem domain. This paper explores the extent to which this assumption is reasonable. The research is based on detailed records from the use of JOURNEY Making, where it has used special purpose Group Support software to aid the group problem structuring. This software continuously tracks the contributions of each member of the group and thus the extent to which they appear to be ‘connecting’ and augmenting their own knowledge with that of other members of the group. Software records of problem resolution in real organisational settings are used to explore the sharing of knowledge among senior managers. These explorations suggest a typology of knowledge sharing. The implications of this typology for problem structuring and an agenda for future research are considered.     

Investigation and modelling of damping in a plate with a bonded porous layer

Behavior of a poro-elastic material bonded onto a vibrating plate is investigated in the low-frequency range. From the analysis of dissipation mechanisms, a model accounting for damping added by the porous layer on the plate is derived. This analysis is based on a 3-D finite element formulation including poro-elastic elements based on Biot displacement theory. First, dissipated powers related to thermal, viscous and viscoelastic dissipation are explicited. Then a generic configuration (simply-supported aluminium plate with a bonded porous layer and mechanical excitation) is studied. Thermal dissipation is found negligible. Viscous dissipation can be optimized as a function of airflow resistivity. It can be the major phenomenon within soft materials, but for most foams viscoelastic dissipation is dominant. Consequently an equivalent plate model is proposed. It includes shear in the porous layer and only viscoelasticity of the skeleton. Excellent agreement is found with the full numerical model.