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This paper proposes an approach to save the energy consumed by a computer’s wireless network interface card (WNIC) due to the wireless communication activity in an IEEE 802.11 wireless local area network (WLAN). The energy efficiency design is considered at the MAC (Medium Access Control) layer, especially in its Distributed coordination Function (DCF), by reducing automatically the number of retransmissions due to collisions on the wireless channel.

This paper proposes an approach to save the energy consumed by a computer’s wireless network interface card (WNIC) due to the wireless communication activity in an IEEE 802.11 wireless local area network (WLAN). The energy efficiency design is considered at the MAC (Medium Access Control) layer, especially in its Distributed coordination Function (DCF), by reducing automatically the number of retransmissions due to collisions on the wireless channel.

Abstract It is mentioned in front part of the present paper that how to extract an extra-low head power is one of key-solutions for problems on exhaustion of fossil fuels and greenhouse gas emissions, after explaining the present situation of micro-hydropower utilization in Japan. Since extra-low head sites of rivers are available near urban-sides with high population, where there is a demand for electricity, an appearance of suitable turbine, which has high cost-effectiveness, maximum reliability, easy maintenance and little environmental impact, is required. In rear part of the present paper, a guiding principle of design parameters of a ducted Darrieus-type water turbine for high performance is shown, based on authors’ experimental results. Then the advantage and disadvantage of Darrieus turbine are reviewed and the key problems, which are settled as urgent works in future in order to diffuse the utilization of extra-low head hydropower, are finally suggested.

Abstract It is mentioned in front part of the present paper that how to extract an extra-low head power is one of key-solutions for problems on exhaustion of fossil fuels and greenhouse gas emissions, after explaining the present situation of micro-hydropower utilization in Japan. Since extra-low head sites of rivers are available near urban-sides with high population, where there is a demand for electricity, an appearance of suitable turbine, which has high cost-effectiveness, maximum reliability, easy maintenance and little environmental impact, is required. In rear part of the present paper, a guiding principle of design parameters of a ducted Darrieus-type water turbine for high performance is shown, based on authors’ experimental results. Then the advantage and disadvantage of Darrieus turbine are reviewed and the key problems, which are settled as urgent works in future in order to diffuse the utilization of extra-low head hydropower, are finally suggested.

For a recycling procedure for rare earths from spent hydrogen absorbing alloys by rare earths electrodeposition in a molten salt, the electrolytic bath and the cathode accessories have been optimized by evaluating the appropriate secondary current distribution using finite element method (FEM) computer simulation. The desirable cathode dish as an accessory was designed to prevent drops of less adherent electrodeposits, which improved the current density distribution compared with an a priori determined one. In the bath optimization, a reciprocal proportionality of the difference between the maximum and minimum current densities vs. the ratio of volume to surface area (or electrolyte volume) was found. It was found by FEM that if a resistive floating mass is assumed on the electrolyte surface, the observed necking in the electrodeposit near the electrolyte surface can be analyzed.

For a recycling procedure for rare earths from spent hydrogen absorbing alloys by rare earths electrodeposition in a molten salt, the electrolytic bath and the cathode accessories have been optimized by evaluating the appropriate secondary current distribution using finite element method (FEM) computer simulation. The desirable cathode dish as an accessory was designed to prevent drops of less adherent electrodeposits, which improved the current density distribution compared with an a priori determined one. In the bath optimization, a reciprocal proportionality of the difference between the maximum and minimum current densities vs. the ratio of volume to surface area (or electrolyte volume) was found. It was found by FEM that if a resistive floating mass is assumed on the electrolyte surface, the observed necking in the electrodeposit near the electrolyte surface can be analyzed.

The aim of this work is to define a simplified semi-analytical beam transportation code that can calculate the spatial distribution of projectile fragments which are widely distributed in a patient's body during heavy-ion beam radiotherapy. In this code, we employed an elemental pencil beam model where the spatial distribution of radiation quality for an elemental beam is calculated and superposed according to the emittance ellipse of the narrow heavy-ion beam determined at the entrance of the target. The radiation quality for an elemental beam was calculated using Goldhaber's model of fragment distribution. The calculation results were compared with the experimental observations for a mono-energetic narrow (12)C beam measured at the secondary beam line in HIMAC. Despite its simplicity, the developed code could reproduce the experimental results well.

The aim of this work is to define a simplified semi-analytical beam transportation code that can calculate the spatial distribution of projectile fragments which are widely distributed in a patient's body during heavy-ion beam radiotherapy. In this code, we employed an elemental pencil beam model where the spatial distribution of radiation quality for an elemental beam is calculated and superposed according to the emittance ellipse of the narrow heavy-ion beam determined at the entrance of the target. The radiation quality for an elemental beam was calculated using Goldhaber's model of fragment distribution. The calculation results were compared with the experimental observations for a mono-energetic narrow (12)C beam measured at the secondary beam line in HIMAC. Despite its simplicity, the developed code could reproduce the experimental results well.