Optical sensing of parameters crucial for Japanese woodblock print making

Traditional Japanese woodblock printing is a centuries old art form. This time-honoured form of art is at risk of extinction as a consequence of the increasing lack of availability of wild cherry trees, which are a traditionally used woodblock material. Solutions for this material problem have been investigated for several years, but none of the tested materials has been sufficient when compared with the watercolour print quality imprinted by wild cherry woodblocks. To contribute to overcoming this material problem, we have investigated the physical properties of heat-treated woodblock materials made from different wood species. The International Commission on Illumination (CIE) tristimulus values, the CIELAB coordinates, the total reflectance, and the gloss, as well as, the water contact angle from the woodblock surface is observed to have a strong relation to the surface treatment of a woodblock. The surface treatment of a woodblock, in turn, relates to its water delivery, which is the basis for watercolour printing.     

On Accurate Linear Approximations for Chance-Constrained Programming

This paper introduces the CHAPS (chance-constrained programming system) algorithm, which uses linearization techniques but gives more accurate solutions than earlier, similar methods.     

Solid-state characterization of spray-dried ice cream mixes

The main physicochemical properties of spray-dried ice cream mixes (i.e. surface composition, wettability, flowability and microstructure) were analyzed. Emulsions contained 19-44% milk fat on a dry basis and included mixes with no added emulsifier and/or sucrose. The time necessary for complete wetting of the powders correlated with the amount of surface free-fat measured by means of solvent extraction. Non-micellar casein (sodium caseinate) showed to be a better co-encapsulant than micellar casein (skim milk) as demonstrated by surface fat coverage measured by electron spectroscopy for chemical analysis (ESCA). Emulsifiers influenced the fat surface composition of the powders by reducing the amount of surface protein due to their lower interfacial tension. Surface fat caused an initial overestimation of the particle size of the powders due to fat-related caking. Powders showed no flow before and after surface fat extraction which was attributed to fat-related caking and very small particle size (<80 microm), respectively.     

A chance-constrained programming algorithm

This paper describes a new algorithm solving the deterministic equivalents of chance-constrained problems where the random variables are normally distributed and independent of each other. In this method nonlinear chance-constraints are first replaced by uniformly tighter linear constraints. The resulting linear programming problem is solved by a standard simplex method. The linear programming problem is then revised using the solution data and solved again until the stopping rule of the algorithm terminates the process. It is proved that the algorithm converges and that the solution found is the -optimal solution of the chance-constrained programming problem.The computational experience of the algorithm is reported. The algorithm is efficient if the random variables are distributed independently of each other and if they number less than two hundred. The computing system is called CHAPS, i.e. Chance-ConstrainedProgrammingSystem.     

Translating statements of symbolic logic into zero-one linear programming

Symbolic logic can be used to translate verbal statements of the optimization problem into an exact mathematical form. There are then three stages in the problem formulation—the verbal stage, the logical stage and the mathematical stage. The purpose of this paper is to translate statements of symbolic logic into the language of zero-one linear programming. Concepts of symbolic logic and zero-one linear programming will be described with examples of translating verbal statements into symbolic logic, and of translating logical statements into a mathematically equivalent form.     

Coupling of discrete-element method and smoothed particle hydrodynamics for liquid-solid flows

Particle based methods can be used for both the simulations of solid and fluid phases in multiphase medium, such as the discrete-element method for solid phase and the smoothed particle hydrodynamics for fluid phase. This paper presents a computational method combining these two methods for solid-liquid medium. The two phases are coupled by using an improved model from a reported Lagrangian-Eulerian method. The technique is verified by simulating liquid-solid flows in a two-dimensional lid-driven cavity.     

A special method of deformational correction in N.M.R. of molecules dissolved in liquid crystals

Abstract

A simple method of deformational correction for the N.M.R. spectral parameters of molecules dissolved in liquid crystals is described. The method is applicable to the different isotopically substituted derivatives of the molecules belonging to the cubic point groups. Its validity is verified for the dipolar and quadrupolar couplings observed in the molecules CH₄, CD₄ and CH₃D dissolved in the liquid crystals Merck Phase IV, Merck ZLI 1167 and their mixtures.     

Dynamic MR imaging of brain tumors in low field using undersampled projection reconstruction

A new application of the projection reconstruction method was developed, enabling dynamic T(1)-weighted contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance image (MRI) of brain tumors in a low-field imager. Two undersampled projection reconstruction spin echo sequences were implemented in an open low-field (0.23-T) MR imager, one with 64 and another with 42 projections in [0,pi], repetition time 150 ms, echotime 15 ms, and six slices were used in both sequences. The possibility of using these sequences to image dynamic contrast enhancement of brain tumors was studied in laboratory experiments and in two patient cases, one with fibrotic and the other with meningothelial meningioma. The laboratory experiments showed a nearly linear response in signal intensity to the concentration of gadopentetate dimeglumine in purified water up to 1.25 mM. Increasing concentrations up to 5.0 mM did not significantly affect the signal intensity, though starting from 3.0 mM concentration T(2) shortening decreased intensities slightly. The patient cases showed results consistent with an earlier study performed in a high-field imager. The results show that the studied sequences can be used to follow dynamic contrast enhancement in a low-field imager.     

On optimization of the maintenance of a register

Data processing nowadays represents a considerable investment and it is important to use computers as efficiently as possible. Criteria separating the best alternative from other ones would be very useful.In this article we have tried to find some criteria for the optimization of register maintenance applying the simplest methods of operations research. In particular the use of a change register has been investigated.