In-line monitoring of the conversion in UV-cured printed layers by NIR spectroscopy in an offset printing press

In this study, it was demonstrated that the conversion in printed layers of UV-cured printing inks and varnishes can be determined in-line in a printing press by NIR reflection spectroscopy supported by chemometric methods. Layers were printed with a thickness of ∼1.2 g m⁻² for a printing ink and ∼2.8 g m⁻² for a printing varnish. Quantitative analysis of the spectral data was carried out with calibration models based on the partial least squares (PLS) algorithm. In-line monitoring tests were performed at a large-scale sheet-fed offset printing press in order to evaluate the predicting performance of the calibration models under process conditions. Different conversions in the layers were induced by variation of the irradiation dose. The predicting errors were 4.5% for the ink and 4.0% for the varnish. The printing speed was found to have no significant influence on the precision of the measurements.     

Testing for Poisson arrivals in INAR(1) processes

In the framework of integer-valued autoregressive processes of order 1 [INAR(1)], two new tests for the null hypothesis of Poisson-distributed innovations are developed. The tests focus on time reversibility, as this feature is shown to be satisfied exclusively by Poisson INAR(1) processes. The necessary asymptotic variances are explicitly calculated using the joint cumulants of these processes. The finite-sample behavior of the test statistics and the power of the tests are investigated in a simulation study. The results show that the newly developed tests perform better than existing ones in certain situations.     

Polyethylene wear particles induce TLR 2 upregulation in the synovial layer of mice

A cellular and receptor mediated response to ultra-high-molecular-weight-polyethylene (UHMWPE) wear particles results in a release of proinflammatory cytokines and induces an inflammatory reaction causing osteolysis in total joint replacement. This investigation offers insight into the toll-like receptor (TLR) mediated activation by polyethylene wear particles in the synovial layer of mice. We hypothesized that, similar to recent in vitro results, UHMWPE particles lead to an upregulation of TLR 1 and 2 and TLR 4 in vivo in the synovial tissue of mice as well. Therefore, UHMWPE particles were generated in a common knee simulator according to the ISO standard, separated by acid digestion and determined by scanning electron microscopy. Endotoxin was removed using a method based on ultracentrifugation. A particle suspension (50 μl; 0.1 vol./vol.%) was injected into the left knee joint of female Balb/c mice (n = 8). In a control group, phosphate-buffered saline was injected into the left knee of Balb/c mice (n = 8). The mice were sacrificed after 7 days. Immunohistochemical staining was performed with TLR 1, 2 and 4 polyclonal antibodies for Balb/c mice and evaluated by light microscopy. The particle-stimulated group showed a thickened synovial layer, an increased cellular infiltration and a TLR 2-upregulation in the synovial layer compared to the control group. An increased expression of TLR 1 and TLR 4 could not be demonstrated. These results indicate a mainly TLR 2-induced inflammation to polyethylene wear debris in the synovial layer of mice.     

An IT strategy development framework for small and medium enterprises

Information Systems and e-Business Management - We design and evaluate an IT strategy development framework for small and medium enterprises (SMEs). The framework’s objective is to provide a...