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Summary A 95-day experiment was conducted to evaluate the performance of a visible implant elastomer tag (VIE) versus a coded wire tag (CWT) implanted in juvenile Tibet fish Oxygymnocypris stewartii (Lloyd, 1908; total length 5~7 cm) under laboratory conditions. Mortality, tag retention and growth in three groups of juvenile O. stewartii (VIE-tagged, CWT-tagged and control) in duplicate were determined in six indoor tanks (300-L/tank volume, 100 fish/tank) at 15.6 ± 0.5°C water temperature. Results showed that neither tagging method had a significant difference on the mortality of the experimental fish, but that the growth rate in the VIE group was significantly lower than in the CWT and control groups. Mean tag retention in the VIE group was 95.2%, and 98.9% in the CWT group, with no significant differences in tag retention in the two methods. The study indicates that both VIE and CWT are suitable short-term tagging methods for hatchery O. stewartii juveniles.

In this paper, we briefly review our recent progress on development of core technologies for 2G HTS NMR/MRI magnets at Korea University. To outperform the current state-of-art NMR/MRI magnet systems, we have developed the following technologies: 1) a REBCO-REBCO superconducting joint for operation of persistent current mode; 2) partial and grease-insulation winding techniques for self-protection of the HTS magnets; 3) pre-shimming to reduce the screening-current-induced-field; and 4) optimization of multi-width winding to minimize conductor consumption and volume of the HTS magnets. The test results demonstrated the feasibility of employing the developed techniques to achieve ultra-high-field and LHe-free 2G NMR/MRI magnets possessing self-protecting feature.

This paper reports the optimization procedure for a no-insulation (NI) multi-width (MW) REBCO magnet, which enables the fabrication of a highly compact and competitively priced superconducting magnet. In order to identify the design considerations for the NI-MW magnet, the electromagnetic performances of 3 different magnets were investigated using the finite element method (FEM). Based on the comparison results, it was verified that the critical current distribution-factor (CCD-factor), which is the ratio of the highest pancake critical current (Ic) to the lowest pancake Ic within the magnet, should be close to 1.00 for the MW configuration to be most effective. In the optimized MW magnet, the center Bz (7.54 T) remarkably exhibited an ∼ 51% increase compared to the 4-mm single width magnet (5.00 T). Furthermore, the CCD-factor of the optimized MW magnet was 1.04, which is quite close to 1.00, sufficiently demonstrating the validity of the optimization process and result.

In this study, sudden discharge tests were performed on partially-insulated (PI) GdBCO coated conductor single-pancake coils to investigate the effects of a PI winding scheme on the discharge characteristics. Three sets of PI coils were constructed with insulation at 3 different intervals: every 2nd, 4th, and 8th turn. Each set included coils with 4 different insulation-angles: 90°, 180°, 270°, and 360°. Discharge delay of the PI coils was alleviated by increasing the insulation-interval or insulation-angle due to increased insulated area, which partially hinders radial current flow. The results of the sudden discharge test were in fairly good agreement with simulations of the PI coils using an equivalent circuit model consisting of a single RL circuit in parallel. The characteristic resistance of the PI coils was reasonably estimated through the numerical approach with contact surface resistance and compensation for the current-bottleneck effect, which enables the PI coils to be utilized in practical superconducting magnet applications.

Summary Eight hydroacoustic surveys were conducted between 2007 and 2010 to determine the spatial distribution and habitat choice of adult Chinese sturgeon (Acipenser sinensis) within 85 km immediately downstream of Gezhouba Dam, which is the lower-most dam blocking upstream sturgeon migration in the Yangtze River. A potential 32 A. sinensis were identified; depth, velocity, etc., characteristics were determined at the sturgeon site with an Acoustic Doppler Current Profiler. Most targets (26 individuals, 81.3%) were in water >12 m deep, and most (29 individuals, 90.6%) targets were near the river bottom. All targets stayed in or were close to the river channel (distance to the thalweg about one tenth of the river width). Fish were primarily distributed among four separate and deep areas. Variations in the water level played no significant role in fish distribution. Large, deep areas attracted the most fish. A preliminary analysis of environmental factors including water depth, flow velocity, Froude number and Reynolds number indicated that the bedform morphology (deep areas) was probably the key factor determining the A. sinensis habitat preference. Future conservation of the sturgeon will be more effective when special attention is given to the four refuges.

Summary The food preferences of paddlefish (Polyodon spathula) in polyculture with bighead carp (Aristichthys nobilis) are unknown. Three consecutive analyses of gastrointestinal contents of paddlefish and bighead carp were conducted at 3d, 11d and 19d after introduction into the non-fed ponds. The objectives of this study were to test for competitive interactions between bighead carp and paddlefish, and to document their preferred prey when the two species have a limited food resource. The results showed that paddlefish and bighead carp are basically competitive in their diets. When they were cultured in one pond at the same density, paddlefish fed more quickly and efficiently, depleting the food resources for bighead carp; however, bighead carp were able to switch and trap small food items with the decrease in available food resources. Moreover, larger zooplankton abundance declined in ponds after fish were introduced.

Inflammation and activation of the neuroendocrine systems comprise important aspects of stroke pathophysiology. The present study investigated whether baseline plasma brain natriuretic peptide (BNP), N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP), cortisol and copeptin levels on admission can predict short-term outcomes and mortality after acute ischaemic stroke. The study group consisted of 189 patients who had their first acute ischaemic stroke. Plasma levels of BNP, NT-proBNP, cortisol and copeptin were evaluated to determine their value with respect to predicting functional outcome and mortality within 3 months. As a result of cardiovascular and neurological investigations (including imaging techniques), lesion size, stroke subtype classification and clinical outcome after 3 months were determined. Plasma levels of BNP, NT-proBNP, cortisol and copeptin were associated with stroke severity, as well as short-term functional outcomes. After adjusting for all other significant outcome predictors, NT-proBNP, cortisol and copeptin remained as independent outcome predictors. In the receiver operating characteristic curve analysis, the biomarker panel (including BNP, NT-proBNP, cortisol and copeptin) predicted functional outcome and death within 90 days significantly more efficiently than the National Institute of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) or the biomarker alone. Copeptin showed a significantly greater discriminatory ability as a single biomarker compared to BNP, NT-proBNP, cortisol and NIHSS score. These results suggest that a biomarker panel may add valuable and time-sensitive prognostic information in the early evaluation of acute ischaemic stroke. This may provide a channel for interventional therapy in acute stroke.

Based on the organic ligand 2,4-diamine-6-phenyl-1,3,5-triazine (Phdat), two Ag(I) compounds, Ag(Phdat)2(NO3) (I) and Ag(Phdat)2(OAc) (II), have been synthesized and characterized by single crystal X-ray diffractions, elemental analyses, and IR spectra. Compounds I and II are mononuclear and binuclear structures, respectively, and with the help of N-H…O and N-H…N hydrogen bonds and π…π packing interactions, the 3D supramolecular networks are built up.

This paper presents our recent progress on core technology development for a megawatt-class superconducting wind turbine generator supported by the international collaborative RD program of the Korea Institute of Energy Technology Evaluation and Planning. To outperform the current high-temperature-superconducting (HTS) magnet technology in the wind turbine industry, a novel no-insulation winding technique was first proposed to develop the second-generation HTS racetrack coil for rotating applications. Here, we briefly report our recent studies on no-insulation (NI) winding technique for GdBCO coated conductor racetrack coils in the following areas: (1) Charging-discharging characteristics of no-insulation GdBCO racetrack coils with respect to external pressures applied to straight sections; (2) thermal and electrical stabilities of no-insulation GdBCO racetrack coils encapsulated with various impregnating materials; (3) quench behaviors of no-insulation racetrack coils wound with GdBCO conductor possessing various lamination layers; (4) electromagnetic characteristics of no-insulation GdBCO racetrack coils under time-varying field conditions. Test results confirmed that this novel NI winding technique was highly promising. It could provide development of a compact, mechanically dense, and self-protecting GdBCO magnet for use in real-world superconducting wind turbine generators.

This paper presents results, experimental and analytical, of the electrical characteristics of GdBCO single-pancake coils co-wound with a brass tape as metallic insulation (MI coil). The GdBCO pancakes were subjected to sudden discharge, charge-discharge, and over-current tests. The sudden discharge and charge-discharge test results of the MI coil demonstrated that MI coils can be charged and discharged significantly faster than non-insulated coils that are wound only with GdBCO tape. In over-current tests at 150 A (1.25I(c)), the MI coil exhibited better electrical behavior, i.e., self-protecting features, than its counterpart co-wound with Kapton tape, an insulator. Moreover, the experimental and analytical results are in agreement, validating the use of a concise equivalent parallel-RL circuit model for the MI coil to characterize its electrical behavior. Overall, the MI winding technique is highly promising to help build compact, mechanically robust, and self-protecting magnets composed of REBCO pancake coils. With no organic material in the winding, MI REBCO pancakes will be immune to neutron radiation damage, making the MI winding technique a viable option for fusion reactors, such as for toroidal field, poroidal field magnets, and central solenoid.

An HTS racetrack-type coil without turn-to-turn insulation was characterized by critical current, sudden discharge, and over-current tests with respect to external pressures applied to the straight sections of the coil. The thermal stability of the non-insulated HTS racetrack-type coil was remarkably enhanced with increasing external pressure applied to the straight sections of racetrack-type coil. Furthermore, over-current test results confirmed that the non-insulated HTS racetrack-type coil with increased turn-to-turn thermal contact has the potential to be manufactured into field coils of HTS wind turbine generators with highly enhanced thermal and electrical stabilities.

A new cryogen, a mixture of solid argon and a small amount of liquid nitrogen, was studied to improve thermal contact between the solid cryogen and high-temperature superconducting tapes. A feasibility study of the reference design codes and the thermal requirements was conducted to optimize the design of the mixed cryogen cooling system. Experimental results showed that thermal and electrical stabilities of YBCO coated conductor tapes were significantly improved when they were impregnated with the mixed cryogen. Dry-out problems were overcome by the mixed cryogen because the small amount of liquid nitrogen improved thermal contact between the solid cryogen and superconducting tape.

Quench tests of a GdBCO racetrack pancake coil were conducted in liquid nitrogen at 77 K. Minimum quench energy and two-dimensional normal zone propagation velocities of the coil are discussed. Longitudinal normal zone propagation velocities in the curved section were almost twice those in the straight portion due to stress effects, showing that protection of the straight portion is of greater importance than protection of the curved portion when using racetrack-type, GdBCO pancake coils in large-scale rotating machines.

The stability issue of high temperature superconducting (HTS) racetrack coils is one of the most important factors for the development of large-scale rotating machines, such as ship propulsion motors and power generators. However, The stability and normal zone propagation characteristics of HTS racetrack pancake (RP) coils are not sufficient yet. In this study, quench tests for a GdBCO racetrack pancake coil were carried out under the condition of at 77 K. Minimum quench energy and two-dimensional normal zone propagation velocities of the coil are also discussed. Normal zone propagation velocity in the coil`s curved section is faster than in its straight section due to stress effects. The test results show that the protection of the straight section is of greater importance than that of the curved section when GdBCO racetrack pancake coils are applied to large-scale rotating machines.

Electrical system is changing to smart grid which includes the distributed generations with reusable energy sources in these days. The distributed generations are environmentally friendly and have no concern with depletion problem. But dispatching distributed generations can cause an increase of the fault current. Resistive type super conducting fault current limiter is one of the candidates of solution for the large fault problem in smart grid. In this paper, a design method for the wire length of fault current limiter and the result of short circuit test for small scale modules considering system resistance are introduced.

Quench protection is one of the most important issues for magnet applications using 2 G HTS tapes because of their non-self-protecting properties. Although many researchers have examined the quench/recovery characteristics of HTS magnets to establish the required stability, new information on the quench/recovery characteristics of the recently commercialized HTS magnet with GdBCO CC is needed. In this study, the quench/recovery characteristics of Zr-doped (Gd,Y)BCO CC pancake coils that were insulated with various materials, such as copper and Kapton tapes, were examined in a liquid nitrogen (LN2) bath. The minimum quench energy (MQE) and normal zone propagation (NZP) velocity of the Zr-doped (Gd,Y)BCO CC pancake coils are discussed in terms of the quench/recovery test results.

Summary The effects of stocking density (15, 30, 45, and 60 fish m−2) on the production economics, growth, food utilization, and body composition of Amur sturgeon reared in cages were investigated. The weight of the fish at the start of trial was 48.7–51.6 g. After 75 days of rearing, the mean weights were 110.3 ± 11.2, 90.3 ± 10.2, 79.9 ± 8.5, 78.7 ± 7.2 g in the aforementioned densities, respectively. The results show that the growth performances in the various treatments differed significantly (P

Summary This study was performed to determine the spatial structure and bottom characteristics of the only remaining spawning area of Chinese sturgeon (Acipenser sinensis) located just downstream of the Gezhouba Dam. During the period 1996–2003, three methods were employed, including (i) the examination of the stomachs of opportunistic predatory fishes that feed on sturgeon eggs, (ii) tracking the mature sturgeons by ultrasonic tags and (iii) capturing eggs and yolk-sac larvae (ELS) at and near the river bottom by D-shaped bottom drift nets to monitor the spawning activities of A. sinensis. It was found that A. sinensis selected permanent locations to mate. There were two mating locations: an upstream mating area (UMA), in the tailrace of the Dajiang Hydroelectric Station and about 870 m far from the Gezhouba Dam (area, 0.1 km2), and a downstream mating area (DMA), about 2500 m from Gezhouba Dam (area, 0.3 km2). The DMA was the chief mating area and was used every year. The incubation area (for dispersal of fertilized eggs to incubate) was range from 870 m to 7 km from the dam. Generally, the total length of the spawning area was 5–7 km length (area 2.0–2.7 km2) with the range slightly varied in different spawning activities. A relief map of the riverbed and a bottom hydroacoustic survey of the DMA found a deep depression and rocky substrate. These may be important characteristics of geomorphology for the spawning area of A. sinensis.

P>A sampling system for capturing sturgeon eggs using a D-shaped bottom anchored drift net was used to capture early life stages (ELS) of Chinese sturgeon, Acipenser sinensis, and monitor annual spawning success at Yichang on the Yangtze River, 1996-2004, before and just after the Three Gorges Dam began operation. Captured were 96 875 ELS (early life stages: eggs, yolk-sac larvae = eleuthero embryos, and larvae); most were eggs and only 2477 were yolk-sac larvae. Most ELS were captured in the main river channel and inside the bend at the Yichang spawning reach. Yolk-sac larvae were captured for a maximum of 3 days after hatching began, indicating quick dispersal downstream. The back-calculated day of egg fertilization over the eight years indicated a maximum spawning window of 23 days (20 October-10 November). Spawning in all years was restricted temporally, occurred mostly at night and during one or two spawning periods, each lasting several days. The brief temporal spawning window may reduce egg predation by opportunistic predators by flooding the river bottom with millions of eggs. During 1996-2002, the percentage of fertilized eggs in an annual 20-egg sample was between 63.5 to 94.1%; however, in 2003 the percentage fertilized was only 23.8%. This sudden decline may be related to the altered environmental conditions at Yichang caused by operation of the Three Gorges Dam. Further studies are needed to monitor spawning and changes in egg fertilization in this threatened population.

The effects of goal-directed fluid therapy, with lactated Ringer's (LR) and 6% hydroxyethyl starch (HES) solution, on hemorrhagic shock dogs are unknown. We aimed to determine the optimal LR: HES ratio for the resuscitation of hemorrhagic shock dogs. Hemorrhagic shock was induced in 40 ventilated dogs by drawing an estimated 60% blood volume. The animals were randomly divided into five groups (N = 8) according to the LR: HES ratio of the resuscitation fluid (3:1, 2:1, 1:1, 1:2, and 1:3), and were then resuscitated for 24 h to reach the stroke volume variation (SVV) and hemoglobin (Hb) goals by fluid infusion and autologous blood perfusion. The extravascular lung water index (EVLWI), pH, partial pressure of oxygen (PaO2), base excess (BE), sodium, chloride, Hb and creatinine clearance (Clearcrea) were checked after 24 h (R24). The EVLWI of the 3:1 group at R24 were higher than that of the 1:3 group and the baseline value (P0.05), whereas the PaO2 was lower (P0.05). In contrast to the 3:1 group at R24 and baseline, plasma chloride and sodium in the 1:3 and 1:2 groups increased; however, pH, BE, and Clearcrea decreased (P0.05). No significant differences were found in the 1:1 and 2:1 groups at R24 compared with baseline (P0.05). Resuscitation with LR and HES at 2:1 and 1:1 ratios are superior in maintaining the acid-base, electrolyte, and lung water balances as well as renal function in hemorrhagic shock dogs than at ratios of 3:l, 1:2, and1:3.

The authors reviewed the aquacultural history of Acipenseriformes in China, related the legal status and examined the current status of the cultured species or hybrids, origins of seedlings, quantities of production, geographic distribution in farming, and the sustainability for both restocking programmes and human consumption. The census shows that since 2000, the production of cultured sturgeons in China appears to have become the largest in the world. As of 2000, the rapid growth of sturgeon farming in China mainly for commercial purposes has shifted harvests in the Amur River from caviar production to the artificial culture of sturgeon seedlings. This dramatic development has also caused a series of extant and potential problems, including insufficient market availability and the impact of exotic sturgeons on indigenous sturgeon species. Annual preservation of sufficient higher-age sturgeons should be a national priority in order to establish a sustainable sturgeon-culture industry and to preserve a gene pool of critically endangered sturgeon species to prevent their extinction.

Summary This study provides the first report of length–weight relationships (LWRs) for Pseudogyrinocheilus prochilus (Sauvage & Dabry de Thiersant, 1874) and Jinshaia sinensis (Sauvage & Dabry de Thiersant, 1874) collected from the middle reaches of the Jinsha River, southwest China. Samples were obtained between June 2005 and November 2006. A total of 491 specimens belonging to two fish species were analyzed. LWRs were W = 0.0170L2.970 (r2 = 0.980) for P. prochilus and W = 0.0194L2.849 (r2 = 0.977) for J. sinensis. Prior to this study, the LWRs for P. prochilus were unknown. In addition, new maximum size for J. sinensis was provided.

Porcine epidemic diarrhea virus (PEDV) is an infectious, highly contagious virus, and is an etiological agent of acute entero-pathogenic diarrhea in swine.Evaluation of the antibody response of two types of PEDV vaccines is to be carried out.Sows were vaccinated with either live or killed commercial PEDV SM98 (GenBank: GU937797.1) vaccines. Four different groups of sows with five sows in each group were used in this study: the unvaccinated negative control group, the killed virus vaccination group with killed virus boosting (K/K), the live virus vaccinated group with live virus boosting (L/L), and the combination group vaccinated with live virus and subsequently boosted with killed vaccine (L/K). Sows were vaccinated intramuscularly twice at four and two weeks prior to farrowing with 2ml/head vaccine dose. Antibody titers in sow and piglet serum one week after farrowing and that in colostrum were compared by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and serum neutralization test.Vaccination with K/K vaccine induced the highest level of IgG and IgA in sow serum, colostrum, and especially in piglet serum, with the lowest levels found in the L/L group. The major neutralizing activity was also found in the K/K group, particularly in colostrum, with piglets bearing higher neutralizing activity compared to sow sera. Among recombinant spike S1, S2, S3, and nucleocapsid N protein of PEDV, S3 protein presented the highest antibody level in the K/K group.Killed PEDV SM98 vaccine induced higher antibody levels.This study clearly confirms that killed vaccine has induced higher antibody levels and may contribute to the design of future research and vaccine programs.

1. IntroductionA complete Riemannian manifold with nonnegative sectional curvature is neces-sarily of nite topological type. This follows from the celebrated Cheeger-Gromollsoul theorem [4]. However, complete Riemannian manifolds with nonnegative orpositive Ricci curvature and bounded sectional curvature may have in nitely gen-erated homology group as demonstrated by the examples of J.P. Sha and the thirdauthor in [8]. Thus the topological type of these manifolds may be in nite. Thisleads to the interesting problem: Under what additional conditions are the mani-folds of nite topological type? The rst result in this direction is due to Abreschand Gromoll in [1] where they assumed an additional condition on the diametergrowth of the manifolds. Z.M. Shen and G.F. Wei [7] also have some results inthis direction. Recently, Z.M. Shen has shown an interesting nite topological typetheorem in [6] for manifolds with large volume growth and the complement of thecone of rays from a xed base point has linear volume growth.The aim of this note is to prove the following nite topological type result.Theorem 1.

Summary This study provides the first report of length–weight relationships (LWRs) for six endemic fish species collected from the Zengqu River and the Ouqu River, two of the tributaries to the upper reaches of the Jinsha River, southwest China. Samples were obtained in May 2013 and September 2013 using various types of fishing gear. A total of 413 specimens belonging to six fish species were analyzed; their LWRs were W = 0.0069L3.086 (r2 = 0.987) for Schizothorax wangchiachii (Fang, 1936), W = 0.0076L3.029 (r2 = 0.980) for Schizothorax dolichonema (Herzenstein, 1889), W = 0.0029L3.315 (r2 = 0.961) for Schizopygopsis malacanthus (Herzenstein, 1891), W = 0.0082L 2.970 (r2 = 0.950) for Ptychobarbus kaznakovi (Nikolsky, 1903), W = 0.0017L3.464 (r2 = 0.957) for Triplophysa stolioczkae (Steindachner, 1866), and W = 0.0037L 3.190 (r2 = 0.956) for Triplophysa orientalis (Herzenstein, 1888). Prior to this study, the LWRs for S. dolichonema, P. kaznakovi and T. orientalis were unknown. In addition, new maximum sizes for four of the species are provided.

This paper investigates the quench initiation and propagation characteristics of a metallic insulation (MI) coil by conducting thermal quench tests for a GdBCO single-pancake coil co-wound with a stainless steel tape as the turn-to-turn MI. The test results confirmed that the MI coil exhibited superior thermal and electrical stabilities compared to the conventional coils co-wound with organic insulation material because the operating current could flow along the radial direction due to the existence of a turn-to-turn contact when a local hot spot was generated. The results of the quench test at a heater current (Ih) of 12, 13, and 14 A indicate that the MI coil possesses a self-protecting characteristic resulting from the “current bypass” through the turn-to-turn contact. However, the test coil was not self-protecting at Ih = 15 A because the Joule heat energy generated by the radial current flow was not completely dissipated due to the characteristic resistance of the metallic insulation tape and the non...

Here we report the effect of an external magnetic ripple field on the electromagnetic characteristics of GdBCO racetrack coils being operated with a constant DC current. Two types of GdBCO racetrack coils, one wound without turn-to-turn insulation (NI) and the other wound with Kapton tape (INS), were examined under external ripple fields generated by a permanent magnet mounted on a rotor, which was driven by a separate AC motor. The voltage fluctuations and magnetic field variations were measured with respect to the external ripple field intensity (B ERF), rotating speed, and the operating condition. When the INS and NI coils were exposed to an external ripple field (herein, I op = 80 A, B ERF = 2 mT, and 5 rpm), a voltage fluctuation occurred because a time-varying magnetic field interacted with an electric circuit creating an electromotive force. The peak-to-peak voltage (V pp = 0.29 mV) of the NI coil was ~1.86 times lower than that (0.54 mV) of the INS coil, because the voltage response of the NI coil lagged behind dB/dt due to the existence of turn-to-turn contact. Furthermore, the V pp of the INS coil increased with increasing B ERF and rotating speed, while those of the NI coil were barely affected due to the delay of electromagnetic induction. In excessive current and ripple field conditions (I op = 1.125 I c, B ERF = 8 mT, and 50 rpm) the INS coil eventually quenched while the NI coil did not, implying that the electromagnetic stability of the NI coil in excessive time-varying field conditions was superior to that of the INS coil.

This paper presents the details of a recent study on the removal of the screening-current-induced field (SCIF) in a pancake-type non-insulated high-temperature superconductor coil (NI coil). To determine the SCIF in the NI coil, the magnetic flux density (B z ) was calculated using the equivalent circuit model of the coil and compared to the B z obtained empirically. The experimental results indicate that the SCIF elimination in the NI coil was enhanced upon increasing the amplitude and frequency of the AC current being supplied to the background coil. Moreover, the SCIF in the NI coil was successfully removed by applying the appropriate external AC magnetic field intensity. This is because the magnetization direction of the SCIF changed completely from radial to spiral, a phenomenon termed the 'vortex shaking effect.' Overall, this study confirmed that the SCIF in a pancake-type NI coil can be effectively removed by exposing the coil to an external AC magnetic field.

Equivalent moisture distibution calaculation for fast moisture sensitivity level analysis (MSLA) is disccused in this paper. Moisture diffusion time can be speed up to 1.7 to 3.2 times according to the simulation. Moisture diffusion properties are also disccused in this paper and this method can be used for fast moisture sensitivity level analysis.

Decapsulation is the process of removing mold compound from the die surface of a plastic encapsulated device. Typically, the mold compound is removed only in the area above the die and bond wires for failure site isolation and analysis. Hot fuming sulfuric and nitric acids are the most commonly used decapsulating agent. Jet etching system employing these acids or mixture of these acids have become the dominant method for decapsulation. However, due to the increase of the gold price, the IC industry has already begun to switch from gold wire bonding to copper wire bonding. However, the use of copper wire bonding also introduces a problem in failure analysis. The traditional encapuslation techniques of acid results in corrosion. Therefore, many improvements for wet chemical etching and dry etching methods are found such as laser and plasma methods. In this paper, these methods are summerised and further analysis of these methods are discussed, such as comparisons, advantages and disadvantages of these methods. It is a guide for choosing the decapsulation methods and preform accurate IC package analysis.

Changes in the health care delivery system have profoundly affected medical dermatology in the United States. Although a significant number of patients are still being admitted for skin and skin-related disorders, only a minority are now admitted by dermatologists. An analysis of the mechanics of such a change and a national perspective is presented.

This paper reports the transient characteristics of two types of magnetically coupled GdBCO racetrack pancake coils: (1)?a pair of insulated coils (INS?INS coils) and (2)?a pair of non-insulated coils (NI?NI coils). In order to investigate the electromagnetic behavior of the INS?INS and NI?NI coils, charging/sudden discharging tests were performed with respect to the distance between primary and secondary coils of the coil pairs. The charging/sudden discharging test results show that the amount of induced current and measured axial magnetic field decreased with increasing distance between the primary and secondary coils. Additionally, charge and discharge delays were clearly observed in the NI?NI coils. The simulated results show good agreement with the experimental results, which validates the proposed approach involving an equivalent circuit model.

In this study, empirical and numerical analyses on the screening current-induced field (SCIF) characteristics of a non-insulated (NI) GdBCO-coated conductor single-pancake coil were conducted. Charge and discharge tests were carried out to induce an SCIF in the NI test coil. The SCIF in the NI coil was identified by comparison between the measured and calculated magnetic fields. The experimental results exhibit an increase of the SCIF with increasing an operating current, as well as a logarithmic decay of the SCIF as a function of time. Moreover, the SCIF was not affected by the slow discharge of the NI coil. The estimation of the SCIF based on the critical-state model in a thin film using the finite element method was in fairly good agreement with the experimental results.

This paper reports experimental and analytical studies on the capture efficiency of a superconducting high-gradient magnetic separation (HGMS) system, employing ferromagnetic filters with various wire diameters and packing fractions. The magnetization force was inversely proportional to wire diameter because the magnetic field gradient increased with decreasing wire diameter. In addition, the capture efficiency of the HGMS system was increased with decreasing wire diameter and increasing packing fraction. The experimental results from the filtration tests via the superconducting HGMS system were in reasonably good agreement with the capture efficiency using the magnetization force obtained by magnetic field analysis.

This paper presents recent progress in the fabrication and test of a 3 T/60 mm room temperature bore high- Tc superconducting high gradient magnetic separator (HGMS) using a solid nitrogen (SN2) cooling system. The aim of the study was to develop an inexpensive, compact, and stable superconducting HGMS for the purification of chemical-mechanical-planarization wastewater in the semiconductor industry. The HGMS's magnet, which was cooled by SN2, was comprised of an assembly of 18 GdBCO double pancake coils, each of which was wound without turn-to-turn insulation. Cooling test results showed that the thermal stability of the high-Tc superconducting-HGMS magnet with SN2 was enhanced due to the large heat capacity of SN2. Moreover, in the filtration tests, the suspended solids value of filtrated wastewater at 2 T in a flow rate of 400 ml/min decreased to 1.6 mg/L, resulting in a 99.6% reduction in SS value compared to raw wastewater.

The electrical and thermal properties of a mixed cryogen-cooled 2G HTS coil with respect to liquid cryogen amount were examined to investigate the influence of the solid/liquid ratio on the thermal/electrical stabilities of the GdBCO coil. Thermal contact between the GdBCO coil and solid nitrogen was considerably improved as the amount of liquid neon (LNe) increased. Minimum quench energy values of the GdBCO coil were saturated as the amount of liquid neon increased, which suggested that the excessive LNe was not effective for enhancing the thermal stability of the GdBCO coil. The temperature traces of the GdBCO coil during the quench/recovery tests confirmed that the thermal stability of the coil was enhanced with the aid of the LNe.

This study examined the effects of external pressures on the thermal and electrical stabilities of stacked GdBCO CCs through quench tests. The minimum quench energies and two-dimensional normal zone propagation velocities of stacked GdBCO CCs connected electrically in series under various external pressures were examined. The quench test results showed that the minimum quench energy increased with increasing the external pressure. Longitudinal normal zone propagation velocities were greater than transverse normal zone propagation velocities. Moreover, normal zone propagation velocities increased with increasing applied pressure implying that applied pressure resulted in increased layer-to-layer thermal contact that allowed hot spots to dissipate more easily.

This paper presents quench test results, of both experiment and simulation, of a racetrack pancake coil wound with a GdBCO-coated conductor tape in a solid nitrogen (SN2) cooling system at 58 K. The longitudinal normal zone propagation velocities in the curved section were 2 times faster than those in the straight section. Therefore, the straight section should be protected more than the curved section when using racetrack-type, GdBCO pancake coils in large-scale rotating machines. The simulated results showed good agreement with the experimentally observed normal zone initiation times.

No report has been found on comparison of pre- and post-treatmental liver biopsies for chronic active hepatitis (CAH) caused liver fibrosis. The aim of this paper was to study the effects of a heavy dosage of Radix Paeoniae rubra to the reabsorptive action of liver collagen fibres. The patients were suffering from CAH or CAH with liver cirrhosis confirmed by liver biopsies. By the end of 3 months, the second liver biopsy was carried out. The results showed that among 4 patients with liver cirrhosis, the false lobules disappeared; and that 6 patients with CAH only, the interlobular collagen fibres of 4 patients were completely reabsorbed. The effective rate reached 77.8%. It was concluded that a heavy dosage of Paeonia rubra was effective in arresting the development of liver fibrosis, and in promoting the reabsorption of collagen fibres.