Comparative analysis of adrenomedullin-like immunoreactivity in the hypothalamus of amphibians.

Adrenomedullin (AM) is a novel neuropeptide with special significance in the mammalian hypothalamo-hypophysial axis. By using an antiserum specific for human AM, we have studied the localization of AM-like immunoreactive (AMi) cell bodies and fibers in the hypothalamus and hypophysis of the amphibians Rana perezi (anuran), Pleurodeles waltl (urodele), and Dermophis mexicanus (gymnophionan). Distinct AMi cell groups were found for each species. In the anuran, six cell groups were localized in the preoptic and infundibular regions, whereas only three and one were found in the urodele and gymnophionan, respectively. A comparative analysis of AMi cells and cells expressing arginine vasotocin (AVT), neuropeptide Y (NPY), and tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) revealed strong differences between species. Thus, colocalization of AVT/AM is most likely to occur in the preoptic magnocellular nucleus of urodeles and it is reflected by the intense AM immunoreactivity in the neural lobe of the hypophysis. Colocalization of NPY/AM seems to be possible in the suprachiasmatic nucleus of anurans. In the gymnophionan, cells containing AVT and NPY are distinct from AMi cells. Only in anurans, the ventral aspect of the suprachiasmatic nucleus possesses a small population of AMi cells that express also TH immunoreactivity and most likely also express NPY. The results strongly suggest that AM in amphibians plays an important regulatory role in the hypothalamo-hypophysial system, as has been demonstrated in mammals. On the other hand, substantial differences have been found between species with respect to the degree of colocalization with other chemical substances.     

Research on thin film lubrication: state of the art

Thin film lubrication (TFL) has been well studied as a new lubrication regime since 1990s. TFL is a transition lubrication regime between elastohydrodynamic lubrication (EHL) and boundary lubrication (BL), which has specific lubrication features. Present paper summarizes the advancements of researches on TFL, which involves the origin of the TFL concept, advancement of measuring techniques, TFL film-forming features, investigation on its mechanism, and computation theories.     

敏捷虚拟企业建模:现状、趋势与问题

首先，本文简单综述了国内外企业建模和敏捷虚拟企业建模的研究现状；然后，本文提出了一种五元素敏捷虚拟企业建模分类方法，使用该分类方法可以较全面的描述和分类各种企业建模和敏捷虚拟企业建模方法和理论最后，本文讨论了敏捷虚拟企业建模的趋势以及存在的问题。     

Friction behaviors in the metal cutting process: state of the art and future perspectives

Material removal in the cutting process is regarded as a friction system with multiple input and output variables. The complexity of the cutting friction system is caused by the extreme conditions existing on the tool–chip and tool–workpiece interfaces. The critical issue is significant to use knowledge of cutting friction behaviors to guide researchers and industrial manufacturing engineers in designing rational cutting processes to reduce tool wear and improve surface quality. This review focu...     

Obsolescence management for long-life contracts: state of the art and future trends

This paper provides a comprehensive literature review on the problem of obsolescence in “sustainment-dominated systems” that require support for many decades. Research on this topic continues to grow as a result of the high impact of obsolescence on the in-service phase of long-term projects. Research on obsolescence also seeks to understand how it can be managed, mitigated and resolved. The paper aims to clarify and classify the different activities that may be included in an obsolescence management planning, taking into account not only electronic components but also other aspects of the system such as mechanical components, software, materials, skills and tooling. The literature review shows that although there are many commercial tools available that support the obsolescence management during the in-service phase of the life cycle of a system, little research has been done to forecast the costs incurred.     

Coriolis mass flowmeters: Overview of the current state of the art and latest research

This paper is an update of the overview given by Baker RC [Coriolis flowmeters: Industrial practice and published information. Flow Meas Instrum 1994;5(4):229–46]. Overviews about mass flowmetering are also given in Baker RC [Flow measurement handbook. Cambridge University Press; 2000]. Furthermore, Drahm W and Linnartz H [Coriolis-massflowmeters: State of the art review and innovations. In: Proceedings FLUCOME 2003. 2003] reported about latest innovations in Coriolis technology.

The published information of the last decade is reviewed and the conclusions of the different papers are briefly described.     

Analysis of the use of industrial control systems in simulators: state of the art and basic guidelines

The use of industrial control systems in simulators facilitates the execution of engineering activities related with the installation and the optimization of the control systems in real plants. "Industrial control system" intends to be a valid term that would represent all the control systems which can be installed in an industrial plant, ranging from complex distributed control systems and SCADA packages to small single control devices. This paper summarizes the current alternatives for the development of simulators of industrial plants and presents an analysis of the process of integrating an industrial control system into a simulator, with the aim of helping in the installation of real control systems in simulators.     

已有产品功能创新设计过程模型及应用*

针对已有产品功能创新设计过程不能及时、动态地反应用户需求的问题,应用需求进化定律将不同的用户需求进行预测并规划明确产品的需求目标。通过建立需求目标与功能进化的相互关系,针对不同的需求目标选取对应的功能进化改进定律对已有产品从功能层面进行系统设计。功能改进后满足的需求又可以重新作为产品的调查需求,发现用户的新需求或已有需求的发展,进而再次驱动功能创新设计来满足用户需求,实现功能进化随需求的进化而进化,从而为功能创新设计提供一种新方法。在此基础上提出了已有产品的功能创新过程模型,并以TTSJ900架桥机创新设计为例验证了该模型的合理性。     

汽车等速万向节的现状与发展

对汽车等速万向节的结构性能进行了比较,分析了汽车等速万向节噪音、振动产生的原因同时论述了汽车等速万向节的发展方向,为等速万向节开发设计提供了一定的参考。     

Magnetic fluids in sealing and lubrication – a state of the art review

The paper is a review of the properties and functions of magnetic fluids and their potential use in tribological applications, such as seals and bearings. They offer new possibilities for achieving low friction, low wear, and no leak- age. Magnetic fluids or ferrofluids consist of magnetic particles suspended in a carrier fluid and a coating on the particles. The coating prevents the agglomeration of the particles through magnetic and molecular attraction by keeping the distance between them sufficiently large. The magnetic fluids have the basic properties of liquids and they act like ferromagnetic materials in the presence of an external magnetic field. Shaft sealing is the most promising potential application for ferrofluids. Magnetic seals have zero-leakage and low friction, they are non-stick and they have high-performance properties. Lubrication is another important application of ferrofluids. The advantage over conventional lubricants is the possibility of keeping the lubricant exactly and only where it is needed. They provide the possibility of increasing the life of components. Furthermore, because they do not contaminate, ferrofluids are also used as lubricants in clean environments.     

现代设计理论与方法在起重运输机械中的应用和展望

介绍了可靠性、优化设计、有限元法和ＣＡＤ技术在起重运输机械中的应用情况，探索了存在的主要问题并展望了其发展前景。     

Intelligent measurement — A view of the state of the art and current trends

The paper examines briefly the state of the art of intelligent measurement on the basis of the proceedings of the IMEKO 1986 Symposium on the subject. It identifies advances in computer-assisted measurement, data conditioning, measurement process control, measurement result output, and measurement data processing as well as application of machine intelligence to measurement interpretation and use in decision support. It identifies the latter as a significant area of future progress. Applications of intelligent measurement in laboratory automation, electrical measurement, mechanical manufacture and associated inspection and clinical medicine are highlighted.     

Observations on fretting damage transition to cracking; state of the art and preliminary observations

Interrupted fretting fatigue experiments were performed on 7075-T6 aluminum alloy and fretting damage characterized by confocal and scanning electron microscopy. Strain, induced by specimen fatigue, produces a small amplitude oscillatory motion between the fatigue specimen and the fretting pad. A fretting fatigue damage threshold exists in this material. Hundred percent fretting fatigue was defined as the average total cycles to fracture based on specimens 1–5 (both axial and normal forces were applied). Specimens had fretting damage induced at 100%, 80%, 60%, 40%, and 20% of the maximum fretting fatigue cycles to fracture. A positive correlation was not found between the depth of fretting damage and crack formation, but there appeared to be a stronger relationship between the fretting damaged surface areas, proximity of pits and crack nucleation sites.     

Coriolis flowmeters: a review of developments over the past 20 years,and an assessment of the state of the art and likely future directions

This paper starts from a brief revisit of key early published work so that an overview of modern Coriolis flowmeters can be provided based on a historical background. The paper, then, focuses on providing an updated review of Coriolis flow measurement technology over the past 20 years. Published research work and industrial Coriolis flowmeter design are both reviewed in details. It is the intention of this paper to provide a comprehensive review study of all important topics in the subject, which include interesting theoretical and experimental studies and innovative industrial developments and applications. The advances in fundamental understanding and technology development are clearly identified. Future directions in various areas together with some open questions are also outlined.     

基因表达谱芯片用于小鼠膝关节炎组织的检测与分析

通过副韧带及半月板切除方法(MLI-OA)建立小鼠KOA模型,补肾活血方灌胃给药、常规抽提和纯化RNA,采用Agilent SurePrint G3 Mouse GE V2.0基因表达谱芯片检测小鼠膝OA关节组织的基因表达变化。检测结果显示补肾活血方对KOA组织基因表达具有明显调控作用补肾活血方有明显上调作用的基因中,中药组比模型组上调2倍以上的有56个;明显下调作用的基因中,中药组比模型组下调2倍以上的有119个。研究结果表明补肾活血方可能通过调控目前在KOA病变过程中作用尚不明确的基因,促进关节炎性因子代谢,延缓软骨退变,治疗骨关节炎的作用。     

Non-radioactive in situ detection of mRNA in ES cell-derived cardiomyocytes and in the developing heart

Non-radioactive in situ hybridisation is an excellent method to visualise mRNA molecules within their topographical context. Recently we have reported a new non-radioactive in situ hybridisation procedure on tissue sections that is essentially based on the whole mount in situ hybridisation procedure. This method is superior in spatial resolution and sensitivity compared to the radioactive in situ hybridisation procedure. Generally, low levels of gene expression, such as found with the developmental onset of gene expression and in differentiating embryonic stem cells, are difficult to detect by in situ hybridisation. Here an application of the protocol is presented which is based on tyramide signal amplification, which enables the detection of very low abundant mRNAs. The significance of this method is two-fold: (1) the molecular phenotype of embryonic stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes can be examined at the cellular level with high sensitivity, and (2) the number of cells that express the gene of interest can be assessed.     

Radiation damage of proteins in the solid state: changes of amino acid composition in catalase.

Catalase has been irradiated with 100 keV electrons under conditions simulating the hazards of electron microscopic imaging. Amino acid analysis reveals a definite pattern of amino acid destruction which is well correlated with the particular chemical structures of amino acid side chains. This pattern appears to be distinctly different from the sensitivity pattern for monoamino acid systems, which fact is ascribed to intramolecular energy transfer and selective attack of liberated radicals.     

Water level sensing: State of the art review and performance evaluation of a low-cost measurement system

Nowadays, the management of water is of paramount importance for modern societies due to the high water-availability requirements. The application of water management schemes requires the installation of water level data-acquisition systems in multiple, geographically isolated large-scale storage tanks of water distribution networks. Existing techniques for liquid level sensing have either been applied over a relatively small measurement range, or require special scientific equipment of high cost, or they are not convenient for transportation, installation and long-term maintenance in multiple large-scale water storage tanks of water distribution networks in cities, communities, etc. In this paper, a review of prior art on liquid level sensing is initially presented. Then, the operational characteristics and performance of a novel capacitive-type water level measurement system are investigated through simulations and experimental tests conducted in two water storage tanks of a city-scale water distribution network. It is demonstrated that the proposed capacitive water level measurement system achieves equivalent performance with that of a commercially-available ultrasound water-level sensing device and simultaneously exhibits a much lower manufacturing cost.     

A review and comparison of fault detection and diagnosis methods for squirrel-cage induction motors: State of the art

Preventing induction motors (IMs) from failure and shutdown is important to maintain functionality of many critical loads in industry and commerce. This paper provides a comprehensive review of fault detection and diagnosis (FDD) methods targeting all the four major types of faults in IMs. Popular FDD methods published up to 2010 are briefly introduced, while the focus of the review is laid on the state-of-the-art FDD techniques after 2010, i.e. in 2011–2015 and some in 2016. Different FDD methods are introduced and classified into four categories depending on their application domains, instead of on fault types like in many other reviews, to better reveal hidden connections and similarities of different FDD methods. Detailed comparisons of the reviewed papers after 2010 are given in tables for fast referring. Finally, a dedicated discussion session is provided, which presents recent developments, trends and remaining difficulties regarding to FDD of IMs, to inspire novel research ideas and new research possibilities.