To solve the technical, economic and environmental problems in the remanufacturing process of decommissioned machine tools, this study proposes a module partition method for remanufacturing retired machine tools. Through an analysis of the economic, accuracy, environment-friendly, and functional and physical interactivity principles, this study applies the fuzzy cluster method (FCM) to analyse the modularity of the components to be assembled. It establishes the correlation matrix between the parts, from which a module division scheme is obtained. Finally, a case study is presented to verify the feasibility of the module division method.

Om die tegniese, ekonomiese en omgewingsprobleme in die hervervaardigingsproses van masjiengereedskap wat buite gebruik geraak het, op te los, stel hierdie studie 'n moduleverdelingsmetode voor vir die hervervaardiging van sulke masjiengereedskap. Deur 'n ontleding van die ekonomiese, akkuraatheid, omgewingsvriendelike en funksionele en fisiese interaktiwiteitsbeginsels, pas hierdie studie die "fuzzy cluster" metode (FCM) toe om die modulariteit van die komponente wat saamgestel moet word, te analiseer. Dit bepaal die korrelasiematriks tussen die dele, waaruit 'n module-verdelingskema verkry word. Ten slotte word 'n gevallestudie aangebied om die uitvoerbaarheid van die module-indelingsmetode te verifieer.

ABSTRACT There is increasing evidence that bone morphogenetic protein 6 (BMP6) plays critical roles in regulating various stages of ovarian follicle development in mammals. However, the mechanisms of regulation of BMP6 in the chicken ovary remain unclear. In this study, mRNA and protein expression level of BMP6 in chicken ovarian follicles at different development stages were determined by qRT-PCR and western blot separately. Different concentrations of BMP6 protein and FSH were added to the culture medium, and the effects to proliferation of granulose cells were detected, further effect on expression pattern of progesterone synthesis associated genes were also analyzed by qRT-PCR and Western blotting and the secretion of progesterone was detected by ELISA. The results showed that mRNA and protein expression level of BMP6 increased significantly in the follicle with the development of follicle (p<0.05) and reached a peak at F1 follicle. Adding concentration of 50ng/ml and 100ng/ml of BMP6 protein promoted significantly the proliferation of granulosa cells (p<0.05), as well as up-regulated the expression of Steroid hormone synthesis acute regulatory protein (StAR) and 3β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (3β-HSD) genes in mRNA and protein level. Meanwhile, the secretion of progesterone was significantly higher in the group that added BMP6 and FSH separately than blank control group (p<0.05) and reached a peak in the group that both added BMP6 and FSH. Collectively, these findings highlight that BMP6 is associated with proliferation of follicular cells and the synthesis of progesterone, which indicated that it took an important role in the follicular development of chicken.

The effects of oolitic haematite ore additions on the compressive strength of iron ore pellets were investigated in a preliminary study. It was found that additions of oolitic haematite at levels of up to 15% by mass decreased the compressive strength from about 3250 N to 1729.1 N, which is below the minimum requirement of 2500 N for use in a blast furnace. As the oolitic haematite content increases, the Fe2O3 recrystallizes, forming frangible, unevenly distributed crystallites that are incompletely interlinked, thus reducing the compressive strength of the pellets. At the same time, as the oolitic haematite content is increased from zero to 15%, the porosity of the pellets increases from 13.11% to 19.85%, again resulting in a decrease in strength. It was found that the maximum amount of oolitic haematite should be 10% in order for the pellets to be suitable for blast furnace feed.

ABSTRACT This study has the objective of investigating the effects of traditional Chinese medicine prescriptions (TCM) on serum lipid, abdominal and hepatic fat percentage, cholesterol content in eggs, and mRNA expression of genes apoA I and apoB100. One hundred and thirty five healthy (300-day-old) layers were randomly assigned to three treatments. The hens in control group were fed with the basal diet. The hens in the experimental groups (TCM 1 and TCM 2) were fed with the basal diet supplemented with 1% TCM 1 and 1% TCM 2 respectively over a period of 60 days. Laying performance and the serum parameters relevant to fat metabolism were measured. The results showed that no significant differences were found in average daily feed intake and egg weight among three treatments. Average daily laying rate in TCM treatments was increased, and the cholesterol content in eggs was decreased. The serum triglyceride (TG), total cholesterol (TC) and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) levels in experimental treatments were decreased (p<0.05), while the serum high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) level was increased (p<0.05) compared to the control group. Additionally, abdominal fat percentage decreased in TCM 1 treatment (p<0.05), and hepatic fat percentage decreased in both TCM treatments (p<0.05). The expression of apolipoproteinA I (apoA I) and apolipoproteinB100 (apoB100) mRNA in the liver increased in both TCM treatments (p<0.05). These results suggest that the diet supplemented with TCM could increase the expression of apoA I and apoB100 mRNA in the liver, and decrease lipid content in the serum, and reduce egg cholesterol in layers.

In this investigation, the phosphorus distribution ratios in the CaF2 system and B2O3 system dephosphorization slags for high-phosphorus hot metal pretreatment were measured by an indirect method under laboratory conditions. Firstly, the phosphorus distribution ratio between liquid slag and solid iron was measured, and then the phosphorus distribution ratio between liquid slag and hot metal was calculated. Phosphorus capacity was calculated in terms of the composition and optical basicity of the slag. Dephosphorization slag was also studied by scanning electron microscopy, energy dispersive analysis, and X-ray diffraction analysis. The experimental results show that the phosphorus capacity of the B2O3 slag system is much greater than that of the CaF2 system. It is demonstrated thatB2O3 can completely replace CaF2 as fluxing agent for high-phosphorus hot metal pretreatment. With CaF2 as fluxing agent, the phosphorus capacity increases with increasing CaO content in the slag, but the phosphorus distribution ratio decreases. B2O3, when used as fluxing agent, can react with high melting point phases such as 2CaOSiO2 and 3CaOP2O5 in the slag to form new phases with low melting points such as 11CaO-B2O3.4SiO2, 2CaO^O3.SiO2, and Ca9.93(P5.84Bo16O24) (B0.67 O1.79), thereby acting as a fluxing agent. When the ratio of w(B2O3)/w(CaO) is 0.16, the phosphorus distribution ratio reaches its maximum value, that is, the dephosphorization ability of the slag is at its maximum.

En este trabajo se presenta un análisis tiempo-frecuencia de la vibración del transformador bajo polarización de corriente continua (CC) a través de transformación Hilbert-Huang (HHT). En primer lugar, se analizó la teoría de la DC de polarización para el transformador. A continuación, el proceso de descomposición de modo empírico (EMD), que es la clave en HHT, se introdujo. Los resultados de EMD, a saber, las funciones del modo intrínsecas (IMFS), se calcularon y se suman por transformada de Hilbert (HT) para obtener series dependientes de tiempo en un dominio de tiempo-frecuencia 2D. Por último, un sistema de prueba de medición de vibraciones para el transformador se creó. Se midieron tres componentes de dirección de vibración del núcleo (ejes x, y, y z). La descomposición de los espectros EMD y HHT mostró que la fuerza de la vibración aumentó, y los armónicos impares se produjeron con polarización CC. Los resultados indicaron que la HHT es una herramienta de procesamiento de señales viable para la vigilancia de la salud del transformador.

This paper presents a time-frequency analysis of the vibration of transformer under direct current (DC) bias through Hilbert-Huang transform (HHT). First, the theory of DC bias for the transformer was analyzed. Next, the empirical mode decomposition (EMD) process, which is the key in HHT, was introduced. The results of EMD, namely, intrinsic mode functions (IMFs), were calculated and summed by Hilbert transform(HT) to obtain time-dependent series in a 2D time-frequency domain. Lastly, a test system of vibration measurement for the transformer was set up. Three direction (x, y, and z axes) components of core vibration were measured. Decomposition of EMD and HHT spectra showed that vibration strength increased, and odd harmonics were produced with DC bias. Results indicated that HHT is a viable signal processing tool for transformer health monitoring.

The use of conceptual scheme evaluation is a key step in the development of new products. In this paper, a multi-dimensional evaluation method that involves subjective evaluation, eye-tracking, and product image evaluation is established. In this study, subjective evaluation is used to test customers' initial reactions to conceptual schemes, and eye-tracking is used to highlight the features of conceptual schemes that are most attractive to customers. With the help of Kansei engineering, the most attractive features of a particular product are described and clarified from the product image evaluation. This multidimensional method can be applied not only in screening conceptual schemes, but also in exploring the reasons and suggestions for product improvement. The method was assessed in this study through a case study evaluation of conceptual design schemes for a mobile phone.

Die gebruik van konseptuele skema beoordeling is ‘n sleutel stap in die ontwikkel van nuwe produkte. ‘n Multidimensionele beoordelingsmetode, wat subjektiewe beoordeling, die volg van oog beweging en produk beeld beoordeling behels, is ontwikkel. Subjektiewe beoordeling word gebruik om kliënte se aanvanklike reaksies op konseptuele skemas te toets. Die volg van oog beweging word gebruik om die mees aantreklike eienskappe van konseptuele skemas uit te lig. Met die hulp van Kansei ingenieurswese word die mees aantreklike eienskappe van ‘n spesifieke produk beskryf en duidelik gemaak vanuit die produk beeld beoordeling. Hierdie multidimensionele metode kan ook toegepas word in die motiverings en aanbevelings vir produk verbetering. Dié metode is beoordeel deur ‘n gevallestudie van konseptuele ontwerpskemas van ‘n selfoon.