Optimization of Nano-Topography Distribution by Compensation Grinding

Optical surfaces are required to have high form accuracy and smoothness. The form accuracy must be below 50 nm. Form accuracy is currently on the order of several tens of nanometers or less; however, further improvement is required. To improve form accuracy, compensation grinding is performed based on form measurement results. However, when the form error is small, a small periodical waviness occurs on the ground surface, which is known as nano-topography. This waviness cannot be compensated for using conventional compensation methods because the nano-topography distributions are not reproducible. A previous study showed that grinding conditions affect the spatial frequency of nano-topography. Therefore, in this study, optimum grinding conditions are estimated from the view point of nano-topography distributions, and the grinding conditions are compensated to optimize these distributions.

Կոմիտասը և «Հայկական ոճի» խնդիրը

Ներկայացվող աշխատանքն իր առջև նպատակ է դնում Կոմիտասին դիտարկել իր ապրած դարաշրջանի համատեքստում: Կոմիտասին ընկալելու համար որպես բանալի բառ է ընտրված «հայկական ոճ» հասկացությունը, որը փնտրելը, գտնելը և զարգացնելը եղել է Վարդապետի գերխնդիրը: Ընդ որում, «ոճ» ասելիս նկատի ունենք որևէ ժողովրդին բնորոշ մշակութային անփոփոխ (ինվարիանտ) այն առանձնահատկությունները, որոնք սահմանում են այդ տեսակի ինքնությունը: Հայ մտավորականների և մասնավորապես Կոմիտասի կողմից «հայկական ոճի» համար մղվող շարժումը դիտարկելի է XIX-XX դդ. սահմանի համաշխարհային զարգացումների միջավայրում: Այս շրջանը մարդկության պատմության մեջ բնորոշվում է արագ հաղորդակցական միջոցների առաջացմամբ, քաղաքային կյանքի աշխուժացմամբ, որի հետևանքով սկսում են քայքայվել գյուղը և ավանդական արժեքները: Այդ արժեքների վերացման վտանգները տեսանելի էին հատկապես հայերի նման ժողովուրդների շրջանակում, որոնք, զրկված լինելով պետականությունից, գոյության կռիվ էին մղում կայսրությունների սահմաններում: Այս տեսանկյունից «հայկական ոճի» գաղափարի արծարծումը Կոմիտասի և նրա ժամանակակիցների կողմից պատմական անհրաժեշտություն էր: Ցույց տալով, որ գոյություն ունի անկախ «հայկական ոճ», որն ունի ուրույն մշակութային արտահայտչաձևեր ու միավորում է հայկական ժամանակն ու տարածությունը, հոգևոր ու աշխարհիկ մշակույթը մի համակարգի մեջ, հայ գիտնականներն ու արվեստի գործիչները փորձում էին ոչ միայն արդարացնել անցյալը, այլև լեգիտիմացնել ներկան, և ամենակարևորը՝ ստեղծում էին ապագայի տեսլական: Առաջ է քաշվում տեսակետ, ըստ որի «հայկական ոճ» բուն հասկացությունը սկսվել է կիրառվել հայ մտավորականների կողմից կոլեկտիվ հիշողության վերականգնվող լանդշաֆտների, և մասնավորապես՝ Անիի համատեքստում, որի պեղումները վեր էին հանում ոչ միայն կործանված հայկական պետականության ավերակները, այլև այդ պետականությունը վերստեղծելու հույսը: The present contribution aims to view the image of Komitas in the context of his time. The concept of “Armenian style” is chosen as the key word to perceive Komitas, a concept the deciphering and developing of which is supposed to be the main purpose of the scientist. The culturally invariant features of the nation are considered by “style” that define the proper kind of its identity. The movement of Armenian intellectuals, particularly that of Komitas for definition of “Armenian style” can be observed in the context of global developments of the borderline of the 19th and 20th centuries. In the history of mankind this period is characterized by the emergence of rapid means of communication and the activation of urban life, as a result of which the rural and traditional values began to crumble. The dangers of the abolition of those values were especially visible among such peoples as the Armenians, who being deprived of statehood fought for their existence within the borders of empires. From this point of view, the introduction of the idea of “Armenian style” by Komitas and his contemporaries was of historical necessity. Demonstrating that there is an independent “Armenian style” that has unique cultural expressions and unites the Armenian times and spaces, its spiritual and secular cultural spheres in a system, Armenian scholars and artists sought not only to justify the past of their nation, but also to legitimize its present, and most importantly, to create a vision for the future. In this article a view point is developed, according to which the very concept of “Armenian style” has been used first by the Armenian intellectuals in context of the newly restored landscapes of memory such as Ani, the excavations of which uncovered not only the ruins of the past Armenian statehood but also the hope of its recreation.

Mechanism of the heat exchange promotion by superimposing the external sound wave in standing-wave thermoacoustic system

For improvement of energy conversion efficiency, sound wave is superimposed with a loudspeaker to the working fluid in the stack. By using this method the work-flow generation of the stack was enhanced. To analyze this enhancement mechanism, the thickness of the boundary layer and the heat exchange area in the stack are calculated from the view point of heat exchange circumstance. The effect of the heat exchange circumstance on the particle displacement and heat flow is investigated. As a result, it is confirmed that the superimposed sound wave improves the heat exchange circumstance and then the thermoacoustic phenomenon is enhanced.

Mutation of OsCAX1a Results in Panicle Degeneration in Rice

Background: Rice is one of the most common cereal crops in China. Increasing the yield of rice has always been a primary purpose of rice breeding. However, panicle degeneration in rice, a complex characteristic regulated by many genes and commonly encountered in rice production, seriously reduces the yield. Findings: In this study, we obtained a new apical panicle degeneration mutant named ym48, which exhibits a serious degeneration rate and reduced grain yield in rice. After fine mapping, the OsCAX1a gene responsible for Ca2+ selection and transportation was identified. In the ym48 mutant of the OsCAX1a gene, a A to G substitution was noted at the 190th nucleotide, and the corresponding 64th amino acid was changed from threonine to alanine. Also, the tolerance from Ca2+ stress was damaged due to the mutation. Phylogenetics, protein sequence alignment and motif identification of CAX family members in Arabidopsis and rice indicated that this mutation site was highly conserved and might play an essential role in Ca2+ transportation. Moreover, the OsCAX1a expression pattern was analyzed in rice. qRT-PCR and GUS (β-glucuronidase) staining experiments showed that OsCAX1a was highly expressed in roots, stems and panicles and that its expression increased with panicle development. Conclusions: These results demonstrated that OsCAX1a played an essential role in the regulation of panicle development for the first time and mutation of OsCAX1a would generate the panicle degeneration in rice. This study provided a new view point to explore the mechanism of panicle development and degeneration in rice.

Suppliers’ Perspectives on Authentic Souvenir Products: A case of Luang Prabang, Laos

<p>Research on authenticity of souvenirs has been approached from the tourists’ perspective given the fact that souvenirs are viewed as items functioning as a reminder or collection tool of destination experience. The heavily weighted view on authentic souvenirs from the user’s view point overlooked the suppliers’ role in producing and supplying authentic items, and this research aims to fill this research gap by identifying the meaning of authentic souvenirs, sources of souvenir supply/production, and the values and challenges of souvenir production from the souvenir suppliers' perspective. This research uses Laos as its case study, in particular, Luang Prabang (LPB) province which has had a rapid growth of tourists at its UNESCO World Heritage site and increased demand for authentic souvenirs accordingly. Qualitative research was employed to generate greater meanings by using interview and participant observation as instruments to collect data. The purposive and snowball sampling were used to seek potential and appropriate key souvenir suppliers. Twenty-four souvenir suppliers were selected from four different groups, namely: souvenir producers, souvenir vendors, souvenir retailers, and middlemen. The research was conducted between July and September 2017 in various tourist hotspots in LPB, Laos, such as LPB night market, Phanom Village (Phanom Handicraft Centre), Royal Palace Museum, Kuangsi waterfall and OCK POP TOK. These attractions were selected because they attracted both suppliers and tourists. The raw data was analysed through thematic analysis manually. Major themes derived from interview sections have been combined with participant observation data to certify/confirm the validity. In general, the key findings in this research indicate that LPB souvenir suppliers view authentic souvenir products as crucial because of their historical and cultural representation, including the significance of place identity. Major souvenir suppliers agree that authentic souvenirs should be related to the handicrafts and produced by local craftsmen. The products should represent LPB’s authenticity and Lao culture. Souvenir suppliers believe that a good authentic souvenir can establish a great image for the tourism industry in LPB as well as Laos. This research newly finds that attitudes toward, and willingness to sell, imported and mass-produced souvenirs are more typical of souvenir vendors as they have less resources including financial limitation. On one hand, this research identifies three key values perceived by the suppliers: economic, symbolic and artisan. On the other hand, one issue with which souvenir suppliers are confronted relate to lack of raw materials. This research presents important implications for both academia and practitioners. For academia, this research contributes to the tourism product research from the souvenir supplier’s view point where the literature in tourism research is not yet fully developed. Academic researchers can adopt the conceptual framework proposed in this thesis and refer to the findings as their reference for further studies. Practitioners and souvenir sectors in tourist destinations, including marketers and government agencies, should acknowledge and consider issues addressed by various suppliers. Further solutions should be implemented in collaboration with tourism stakeholders to sustain and improve souvenir businesses.</p>

Suppliers’ Perspectives on Authentic Souvenir Products: A case of Luang Prabang, Laos

<p>Research on authenticity of souvenirs has been approached from the tourists’ perspective given the fact that souvenirs are viewed as items functioning as a reminder or collection tool of destination experience. The heavily weighted view on authentic souvenirs from the user’s view point overlooked the suppliers’ role in producing and supplying authentic items, and this research aims to fill this research gap by identifying the meaning of authentic souvenirs, sources of souvenir supply/production, and the values and challenges of souvenir production from the souvenir suppliers' perspective. This research uses Laos as its case study, in particular, Luang Prabang (LPB) province which has had a rapid growth of tourists at its UNESCO World Heritage site and increased demand for authentic souvenirs accordingly. Qualitative research was employed to generate greater meanings by using interview and participant observation as instruments to collect data. The purposive and snowball sampling were used to seek potential and appropriate key souvenir suppliers. Twenty-four souvenir suppliers were selected from four different groups, namely: souvenir producers, souvenir vendors, souvenir retailers, and middlemen. The research was conducted between July and September 2017 in various tourist hotspots in LPB, Laos, such as LPB night market, Phanom Village (Phanom Handicraft Centre), Royal Palace Museum, Kuangsi waterfall and OCK POP TOK. These attractions were selected because they attracted both suppliers and tourists. The raw data was analysed through thematic analysis manually. Major themes derived from interview sections have been combined with participant observation data to certify/confirm the validity. In general, the key findings in this research indicate that LPB souvenir suppliers view authentic souvenir products as crucial because of their historical and cultural representation, including the significance of place identity. Major souvenir suppliers agree that authentic souvenirs should be related to the handicrafts and produced by local craftsmen. The products should represent LPB’s authenticity and Lao culture. Souvenir suppliers believe that a good authentic souvenir can establish a great image for the tourism industry in LPB as well as Laos. This research newly finds that attitudes toward, and willingness to sell, imported and mass-produced souvenirs are more typical of souvenir vendors as they have less resources including financial limitation. On one hand, this research identifies three key values perceived by the suppliers: economic, symbolic and artisan. On the other hand, one issue with which souvenir suppliers are confronted relate to lack of raw materials. This research presents important implications for both academia and practitioners. For academia, this research contributes to the tourism product research from the souvenir supplier’s view point where the literature in tourism research is not yet fully developed. Academic researchers can adopt the conceptual framework proposed in this thesis and refer to the findings as their reference for further studies. Practitioners and souvenir sectors in tourist destinations, including marketers and government agencies, should acknowledge and consider issues addressed by various suppliers. Further solutions should be implemented in collaboration with tourism stakeholders to sustain and improve souvenir businesses.</p>

A Prioritized Decision Making Method for Reliability Allocation: in Optimistic and Pessimistic View

Reliability allocation is a very important problem during early design and development phases of a system. There are several reliability allocation techniques which are used to achieve the target reliability. The feasibility of objectives (FOO) technique is one of them that is widely used to perform system reliability allocation. But this technique has two fundamental shortcomings. The first is the measurement scale and the second is that it does not consider the order weight of the reliability allocation factors. The prioritization of the factors is also an important topic in decision making. Practically, all factors in multi-criteria decision making (MCDM) are not in the same priority level. Hence, in decision making situation, it is usual for decision makers to consider different priority factors. So, considering the prioritization of the factors, a reliability allocation method is proposed here to overcome the shortcomings of the FOO technique. Also, a case study on reliability allocation in airborne radar system is considered here to verify the efficiency of the proposed approach. Finally, the results are calculated in different optimistic and pessimistic view point and compared with the FOO technique. This comparison exhibits the advantages and supremacy of the proposed approach.