CONTOUR Dust Shield Performance

The Comet Nucleus Tour (CONTOUR) is one of NASA's Discovery series missions in which a single spacecraft will be launched in July 2002 to journey to the coma of comets Encke and Schwassmann-Wachmann-3 at velocities of 28.2 and 14 km∕s, respectively. A multishock bumper dust shield with four ceramic fabric bumpers and a Kevlar-based rear wall, normally aligned to the dust velocity field vector, will provide the protection. Various configurations of the prototype shield were shot with surrogate nylon particles of various diameters at about 7 km∕s to determine empirical ballistic limit equations. The performance is scaled to flyby velocities and comet dust particles using laws of momentum and kinetic energy and is related to the expected comets' dust fluence to determine flyby distances from the nuclei for a desired level of reliability. Empirical damage models to predict the size of the holes and mass loss of each layer are developed from measurements of the damage on the prototype targets. For small dust particles, a shield erosion model is assumed to only affect the first bumper. The damage and erosion models are incorporated into a Monte Carlo probabilistic simulation that predicts the shield damage and the probability of no penetration of the shield. This paper describes the methodology to evaluate the shield performance.     

硼钢热冲压微观组织仿真及力学性能预测

基于Johnson-Mehl-Avrami相变动力学模型和Koistinen-Marburger方程,建立了硼钢22Mn B5车门防撞梁热冲压过程的热机械-相变耦合有限元模型,得到了车门防撞梁热冲压过程中板料温度、微观组织及维氏硬度的分布特征,研究了保压压力和保压时间对防撞梁热冲压零件的性能影响.仿真结果表明:车门防撞梁顶部冷却速度为137.3℃·s-1,侧壁冷却速度为69.8℃·s-1,冷却速度决定了防撞梁各个部位的微观组织和维氏硬度;随着保压压力的增大,获得95%以上马氏体的防撞梁的保压时间缩短,可加快生产节拍.进行了防撞梁热冲压试验,对微观组织及维氏显微硬度进行了检测.结果表明:车门防撞梁保压10 s后,顶部及侧壁均已转化为板条状马氏体组织,且顶部硬度为508 HV,侧壁硬度为474 HV.      

Biological dynamics and distribution of 3-hydroxy fatty acids in the yeast Dipodascopsis uninucleata as investigated by immunofluorescence microscopy. Evidence for a putative regulatory role in the sexual reproductive cycle

PURPOSE: This study investigated the pathologic characteristics and some related factors of cerebral damage associated with maxillofacial high-velocity missile wounds. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Sixty dogs, divided into two groups, were wounded randomly by steel spheres weighting 1.03 g at impact velocities of 1,400 m/s (46 dogs) and 800 m/s (14 dogs). Six dogs served as controls. The maxillofacial wounds and cerebral injuries were examined grossly. The distance between the center of wound and the base of skull and the largest diameter of the wound were measured, and the incidence of the brain injury in the two groups was compared. The cerebral specimens, dissected at 1 and 6 hours after trauma, were observed by light and electron microscopy. RESULTS: Cerebral hyperemia, contusion, spotty hemorrhage, and intracerebral hematoma were found in some of the dogs. In the 1,400 m/s velocity missile wound group, the incidence of the brain injury was 71.7% (33 of 46), and in the 800 m/s group it was 7.1% (1 of 14) on macroscopic examination. Microscopic observation showed intracerebral microhemotomas and degeneration and necrosis of the nervous cells. CONCLUSION: High-velocity projectile maxillofacial wounds can induce associated brain injury.     

国外900MPa级TWIP钢专利技术简述

本文根据安赛乐米塔尔和蒂森克虏伯世界著名钢铁公司2008年在世界知识产权组织（WIPO）申请公开的典型专利技术,概述了汽车用结构件、加强件或外挂件等用途的900MPa级孪晶诱发塑性钢,即TWIP钢的最新研发动态,特别是详细介绍了生产高强度、高塑性以及具有优良涂镀性的开发技术方案。开发钢可以以热轧板、冷轧板及镀层板形式交货。     

斜井轨道运输挡车帘安全度浅析

本文以望儿山金矿盲斜井轨道运输特点为例，运用运动学和的有关理论，分析了在不同跑车形式下的矿车运动状态，给出了斜井轨道运输时失控矿车冲击柔性挡车帘的平均冲击力，以及挡车帘捕获矿车所必须的最小反作用力的计算公式，并依此对望儿山金矿盲斜井挡车帘的安全度进行评价。     

防弹运钞车保险杠的设计与制造

介绍防弹运钞车保险杠的设计及防弹保险杠加工工艺，选用GK901防弹钢板作防弹材料，采用正确的焊接工艺，结果表明：防弹保险杠设计合理，制造工艺可行，能满足防弹性能及外观要求。     

Forming Nanocrystalline Structures in Metal Particle Impact

Grain refinement by plastic deformation is becoming increasingly popular as a way of producing metals with improved properties, such as higher mechanical strength. Surface treatment techniques in which a metallic substrate is bombarded with metallic particles can generate nanocrystalline layers in the impact zone. Understanding the physical mechanisms underlying this grain refinement is crucial for achieving an improvement of existing experimental processes. In this article, we propose a numerical framework combining finite element (FE) simulations with a dislocation-based material model to predict the evolution of the microstructure under particle impact. A single particle normally impacting on a metallic substrate was simulated at different initial velocities. The simulations were compared with previously reported numerical and experimental data. The results indicate that our model accurately captures the grain refinement in the impact zone for a broad range of velocities. This approach provides valuable information on the formation of nanocrystalline layers in both the substrate and the impacting particle. Its potential applications include processes involving surface treatment by high velocity particles, such as shot peening, surface mechanical attrition treatment, kinetic metallization, cold spray, etc.     

Broadband measurements of phase velocity in Albunex suspensions

The phase velocities in suspensions of Albunex, an ultrasound contrast agent, are determined using the technique of broadband phase spectroscopy. In these suspensions, phase velocities were measured as a function of Albunex concentration in Isoton II (buffered saline). The dispersion over the measurement bandwidth (1-15 MHz) grew with increasing Albunex concentration, exhibiting a 221-m/s change (17% increase) in phase velocity between 1.0 and 3.8 MHz at the highest concentration reported (32 microL Albunex/8 mL Isoton). The dispersion behavior of the Albunex suspensions is described using a model of encapsulated gas bubbles. The influence of the dispersion in Albunex on broadband pulses is discussed, as well as the potential impact this dispersion may have on the formation of ultrasonic images of the heart.     

Influence of chronic administration of L-DOPA on event-related desynchronization of mu rhythm preceding voluntary movement in Parkinson''s disease

Casein zymographic assays were performed to identify changes in mu-calpain and m-calpain activity in naive, sham-injured, and injured rat cortex at 15 minutes, 3 hours, 6 hours, and 24 hours after unilateral cortical impact brain injury. Cortical samples ipsilateral and contralateral to the site of injury were separated into cytosolic and total membrane fractions. Marked increases in mu-calpain activity in cytosolic fractions in the ipsilateral cortex occurred as early as 15 minutes, became maximal at 6 hours, and decreased at 24 hours to levels observed at 15 minutes after injury. A similar temporal profile of cytosolic mu-calpain activity in the contralateral cortex was observed, although the increases in the contralateral cortex were substantially lower than those in the ipsilateral cortex. Differences were also noted between cytosolic and total membrane fractions. The detection of a shift in mu-calpain activity to the total membrane fraction first occurred at 3 hours after traumatic brain injury and became maximal at 24 hours after traumatic brain injury. This shift in mu-calpain activity between the two fractions could be due to the redistribution of mu-calpain from the cytosol to the membrane. m-Calpain activity was detected only in cytosolic fractions. m-Calpain activity in cytosolic fractions did not differ significantly between ipsilateral and contralateral cortices, and increased in both cortices from 15 minutes to 6 hours after injury. Relative magnitudes of m-calpain versus mu-calpain activity in cytosolic fractions differed at different time points after injury. These studies suggest that traumatic brain injury can activate both calpain isoforms and that calpain activity is not restricted to sites of focal contusion and cell death at the site of impact injury but may represent a more global response to injury.     

Rapid eye movements in myasthenia gravis. II. Electro-oculographic analysis

Voluntary saccades were studied by electro-oculography in ten patients with myasthenia gravis (MG) and in eight patients with other types of ophthalmoplegia. Despite limited range of eye movements, maximum velocities of 20 degree and 40 degree saccades in patients with MG were not significantly different from those in normal individuals, whereas maximum velocities in patients with other types of ophthalmoplegia were significantly decreased. In some myasthenic patients, small amplitude saccades were hypermetric and had high velocities, appearing clinically as "quiver" movements characteristic of MG. In MG the preservation of saccades with high initial velocities, even in the presence of severe ophthalmoplegia, suggests that muscle fibers generating rapid movements during saccades (twitch fibers) can be relatively spared when muscle fibers responsible for maintenance of excentric gaze (tonic fibers) are severely affected.     

Papillary squamous cell carcinoma of the uterine cervix: diagnostic pitfalls

BACKGROUND: In 1989, a Boeing 737-400 aircraft crashed at Kegworth, near Nottingham, England. The survivors suffered a large number of pelvic and lower limb injuries, and approximately one-third of the passengers died. Subsequent research has suggested that the "brace-for-impact" position that passengers are advised to adopt prior to a crash landing might be modified in order to reduce the incidence of such injuries. The aim of this research was to evaluate biomechanically such a modified crash brace position. HYPOTHESIS: A modified brace position would help to prevent injuries to some passengers in the event of an impact aircraft accident. METHODS: Impact testing on forward-facing seats was performed at the Royal Air Force Institute of Aviation Medicine, Farnborough, England. Aircraft seats, mounted on a sled, were propelled down a track to impact at -16 Gx. A test dummy was used as the experimental model. Four dummy positions were investigated: a) upper torso braced forward and lower legs inclined slightly rearward of the vertical; b) upper torso braced forward and lower legs inclined forward; c) upper torso upright and lower legs inclined slightly rearward of the vertical; and d) upper torso upright and lower legs inclined forward. The impact pulses used were based on Federal Aviation Administration guidelines. Transducers located in the head, spine, and lower limbs of the dummy recorded the forces to which each body segment was exposed during the impact. These forces were compared for each brace position. RESULTS: Impact testing revealed that the risk of a head injury as defined by the head injury criterion was greater in the upright position than in the braced forward position. The risk of injury to the lower limbs was dependent in part on the flailing behavior of the limbs. Flailing did not occur when the dummy was placed in a braced, legs-back position. CONCLUSIONS: A modified brace position would involve passengers sitting with the upper torso inclined forward so that the passenger's head rested against the structure in front, if possible. The legs would be positioned with the feet resting on the floor in a position slightly behind the knee. The position differs from those previously recommended in that the feet are positioned behind the knee. This study suggests that such a position would reduce the potential for head and lower limb injury in some passengers, given that only a single seat type and single size of occupant have been evaluated. Standardization to such a position would improve passenger understanding and compliance. Such a recommendation should not obscure the fact that an occupant seated in a forward-facing aircraft seat, restrained only by a lap belt, is exposed to considerable forces during an impact accident. Such forces are capable of producing injuries in the femur, pelvis, and lumbar spine.     

Constitutive and barbital-induced expression of the Cyp6a2 allele of a high producer strain of CYP6A2 in the genetic background of a low producer strain

Expression of immediate early gene (IEG) mRNAs following traumatic brain injury in 3 different models-cryogenic injury, impact injury with craniotomy and impact injury without craniotomy-was investigated using in situ hybridization. Cryogenic brain injury resulted in c-fos and c-jun mRNA expression throughout the ipsilateral cortex, piriform cortex and dentate gyrus on the injured side, with peak at 30 min to 1 h post-injury. Impact injury with craniotomy was associated with hybridization signals in the same areas and also in the subcortical white matter or ependyma underlying the impact site at 30 min post-injury. The expression was rather more prolonged than with cryogenic injury. Impact injury without craniotomy induced the expression of both mRNAs throughout the ipsilateral cortex, piriform cortex and dentate gyrus at 30 min post-injury, but this was promptly attenuated by 1 h post-injury, except for bilateral elevation in the dentate gyrus. The present study, thus, demonstrated that regional and temporal expression of IEG mRNAs is influenced by the intensity, quality and manner of application of the insult. Differences in the expression of IEGs may alter the late response gene expression and affect the succeeding events.     

围压下混凝土动态损伤与能量耗散特征数值分析

为了研究围压对混凝土材料冲击破坏过程中损伤演化和能量耗散的影响,基于ANSYS/LS-DYNA有限元软件,模拟了不同冲击速度和围压级别下的混凝土SHPB实验. 结果表明:在不同的冲击速度下,峰值应力均随着围压的提高线性增大,最大可以达到混凝土静态抗压强度的3~4倍. 围压条件下混凝土的破坏形式为压剪破坏,试件的平均损伤度随围压的增大而非线性降低,相较于冲击速度,围压对损伤度的影响更弱. 随着围压的提高,混凝土对应力波的透射能力增强,反射波的能量非线性降低,而透射能随着围压的增大近似线性增加,混凝土的耗能随着围压的增大而近似线性降低;在不同的入射能下,反射系数、透射系数和试件耗能的变化趋势是一致的. 围压一定时,混凝土的损伤程度随入射能的增加线性增长;入射能一定时,试件损伤度随围压的增加而降低,变化幅度也降低.      

Effect of glucose administration on contusion volume after moderate cortical impact injury in rats

Previous studies had shown that pre- and postinjury glucose administration increased brain injury caused by a mild cortical impact injury only when the traumatic injury was complicated by a secondary ischemic insult. The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of pre- and postinjury glucose administration on a more severe cortical impact injury, where primary ischemia occurs at the site of the impact. Long Evans rats who were fasted overnight and anesthetized with isoflurane were subjected to a 5-m/sec, 2.5-mm impact injury. The animals were randomly assigned one of the following treatments: (1) 2.2 g/kg glucose in 4 ml of saline, 20 min prior to injury; (2) 2.0 g/kg glucose in 4 ml of saline, 20 min after injury; or (3) 4 ml of saline either 20 min before injury or 20 min after the injury. At 2 weeks, the animals were sacrificed and the brains were examined for contusion volume and for neuronal loss in CA1 and CA3 regions of the hippocampus. Contusion volume was increased from a median value of 23 mm3 in the saline-infused animals to 34 mm3 in the preimpact glucose infusion animals (p=0.005). Postimpact glucose infusion had no effect on contusion volume. Neuron density in CA1 and CA3 regions of the hippocampus was similar in all three treatment groups. These studies support the hypothesis that glucose administration adversely affects experimental traumatic brain injury in those circumstances where the trauma is complicated by primary cerebral ischemia, such as around cortical contusions.     

Interactive Failure of Two Impacting Beams

A complete analysis of an inelastic beam-to-beam impact is presented. Both beams are of solid, rectangular cross-sections. The problem is formulated based on the momentum conservation and the kinematic and dynamic continuity conditions at the moving wavefront. Closed-form solutions are obtained for transient transverse velocities, deflection profiles, and tensile strains based on the moderately large deflection theory of the beam. Three different regimes of the solution are distinguished, depending on relative values of mass ratios and wave speed ratios. Critical impact velocities to break either of the beams are determined for both the striking and struck beams by assuming both beams fail by tensile necking. However, location of the fracture point depends on relative values of various parameters. It can be right in the contact zone or away from it. It is also shown that after one beam breaks, the other beam will deform further without breaking.     

Comparison of regional myocardial velocities assessed by quantitative 2-dimensional and M-mode color Doppler tissue imaging: influence of the signal-to-noise ratio of color Doppler myocardial images on velocity estimators of the Doppler tissue imaging system

M-mode color Doppler imaging of the myocardium affords a greater sampling rate and signal-to-noise (S/N) ratio than 2-dimensional (2D) imaging. In this study, we compared myocardial velocities assessed by 2D and M-mode Doppler tissue imaging (DTI) at the same site and evaluated the influence of the S/N ratio on velocity estimates of the currently used DTI systems. In patients with and without impaired regional left ventricular function, myocardial velocities assessed by 2D DTI were lower than those obtained with M-mode DTI. The difference between regional velocities derived from both imaging techniques was positively correlated with the extent of the "black zone," which could be considered as indirectly reflecting the S/N ratio for each frame. Thus in the clinical setting and on currently used echocardiographs, 2D DTI may provide underestimated regional myocardial velocities when compared with M-mode, mainly because of the influence of the lower sampling rate and S/N ratio on velocity estimators of the imaging system.     

Follow up after root canal treatment of young permanent molars

While the majority of experimental cervical spine biomechanics research has been conducted using slowly applied forces and/or moments, or dynamically applied forces with contact, little research has been performed to delineate the biomechanics of the human neck under inertial "noncontact" type forces. This study was designed to develop a comprehensive methodology to induce these loads. A minisled pendulum experimental setup was designed to test specimens (such as human cadaver neck) at subfailure or failure levels under different loading modalities including flexion, extension, and lateral bending. The system allows acceleration/deceleration input with varying wave form shapes. The test setup dynamically records the input and output strength information such as forces, accelerations, moments, and angular velocities; it also has the flexibility to obtain the temporal overall and local kinematic data of the cervical spine components at every vertebral level. These data will permit a complete biomechanical structural analysis. In this paper, the feasibility of the methodology is demonstrated by subjecting a human cadaver head-neck complex with intact musculature and skin under inertial flexion and extension whiplash loading at two velocities.     

Altered astronaut lower limb and mass center kinematics in downward jumping following space flight

Astronauts exposed to the microgravity conditions encountered during space flight exhibit postural and gait instabilities upon return to earth that could impair critical postflight performance. The aim of the present study was to determine the effects of microgravity exposure on astronauts' performance of two-footed jump landings. Nine astronauts from several Space Shuttle missions were tested both preflight and postflight with a series of voluntary, two-footed downward hops from a 30-cm-high step. A video-based, three-dimensional motion-analysis system permitted calculation of body segment positions and joint angular displacements. Phase-plane plots of knee, hip, and ankle angular velocities compared with the corresponding joint angles were used to describe the lower limb kinematics during jump landings. The position of the whole-body center of mass (COM) was also estimated in the sagittal plane using an eight-segment body model. Four of nine subjects exhibited expanded phase-plane portraits postflight, with significant increases in peak joint flexion angles and flexion rates following space flight. In contrast, two subjects showed significant contractions of their phase-plane portraits postflight and three subjects showed insignificant overall changes after space flight. Analysis of the vertical COM motion generally supported the joint angle results. Subjects with expanded joint angle phase-plane portraits postflight exhibited larger downward deviations of the COM and longer times from impact to peak deflection, as well as lower upward recovery velocities. Subjects with postflight joint angle phase-plane contraction demonstrated opposite effects in the COM motion. The joint kinematics results indicated the existence of two contrasting response modes due to microgravity exposure. Most subjects exhibited "compliant" impact absorption postflight, consistent with decreased limb stiffness and damping, and a reduction in the bandwidth of the postural control system. Fewer subjects showed "stiff" behavior after space flight, where contractions in the phase-plane portraits pointed to an increase in control bandwidth. The changes appeared to result from adaptive modifications in the control of lower limb impedance. A simple 2nd-order model of the vertical COM motion indicated that changes in the effective vertical stiffness of the legs can predict key features of the postflight performance. Compliant responses may reflect inflight adaptation due to altered demands on the postural control system in microgravity, while stiff behavior may result from overcompensation postflight for the presumed reduction in limb stiffness inflight.