Influence of external magnetic field on permanent magnet by EDM

REMORA aims at offering an agile robotic solution for manufacturing tasks done on very large parts (e.g., very long and slender parts found in aeronautic industries). For such tasks, classical machine tools are designed at several tens of meters. Both their construction and operation require huge infrastructure supports. REMORA is a novel lightweight concept and flexible robotic solution that combines the ability of walking and manufacturing. The robot is a mobile manufacturing system which can effectuate operations with good payload capacity and good precisions for large workspace applications. This new concept combines parallel kinematics to ensure high stiffness but low inertia and mobile robotics to operate in very large workspaces. This results in a machining center of new generation: (1) agile manufacturing system for large workspace applications, (2) heavy load and good precisions, (3) 5-axis machining and 5-axis locomotion/clamping, (4) self-reconfigurable for specific tasks (workspace and force), and (5) flexible and multifunctional.     

THERMO-ELASTO-PLASTIC STRESSES OF FUNCTIONALLY GRADED MATERIAL PLATE WITH A SUBSTRATE AND A COATING

Functionally graded material (FGM) has an excellent ability to reduce thermal stresses, especially in high-temperature applications such as the international thermo-nuclear experimental reactor (ITER). In the present study, the thermo-elasto-plastic behaviors of a particle-reinforced FGM plate (FGP) with substrate and coating layers are presented in the fabrication process. The thermo-elasto-plastic constitutive equation of a particle-reinforced composite taking temperature change and damage process into consideration is used to calculate the thermo-elasto-plastic stresses. The macroscopic stress components as well as the microscopic stress components are obtained using the temperature-dependent properties of the constituent materials. The FGP consists of the coating layer, the FGM layer, and the substrate layer. The FGM layer is divided into three regions. First, the region near the metal substrate is metal rich; and the metal is considered a matrix, while the ceramic is considered particles. Second, the region near the ceramic coating is ceramic rich, so the materials of the matrix and the particle are opposite those of the first region. Third, the middle region between the previous two regions is metal and ceramic that are perfectly mixed. In the third region the macroscopic analysis is made because the difference between the volume fractions of the ceramic and the metal is so small that it is difficult to consider one of them as a matrix or particles. The substrate and coating effects on the thermo-elasto-plastic stresses and optimal profile of the volume fraction of the ceramic are presented using the finite element method.     

TRANSIENT THERMOELASTIC PROBLEM FOR AN INFINITE PLATE CONTAINING A PENNY-SHAPED CRACK AT AN ARBITRARY POSITION

This article deals with the transient thermoelastic problem for an infinite plate containing a penny-shaped crack that is parallel to the surfaces of the plate but at an arbitrary position of the plate. The transient thermal stresses are set up by the heat generation on the surfaces and the sudden heat exchange on the surfaces. By using the finite difference method for the time variable, the analytical solution for spatial variables can be obtained. The numerical results for the temperature and stress intensity factor are obtained, and results are shown in graphs.     

A parallel link end effector for scanning electrical discharge machining process

Because a parallel mechanism has a high-frequency response, multiple degrees of freedom (DOF), and high stiffness, it can be applied to an end effector for electrical discharge machining (EDM) with a scanning motion. A prototype has 3 DOF: two tilting angles around the x- and y-axes, and the movement in the z-direction. It consists of, a base plate, a stage, a constraint link, and three inchworm devices that act as links. The inchworm devices are connected with the stage and the base plate. The z-position and inclination of the stage are changed by adjusting the length of the inchworm devices. The electrode feeding is controlled by the combination of the steplike movement with the inchworm devices and continuous extension of piezos. The frequency response of the stage by the continuous extension of the piezos is up to 200 Hz. The positioning accuracy of the end effector is less than 30 μm in height and 0.04° in inclination. Some examples of EDM by the scanning motion are demonstrated.     

Multiple degrees-of-freedom arm with passive joints for on-the-machine measurement system by calibrating with geometric solids

To fabricate three-dimensional profiles with high accuracy, on-the-machine measurement is useful. Methods for the on-the-machine measurement by calibration with geometric solids used for references have been developed. In this paper, an arm with passive joints for on-the-machine measurement is proposed. As a prototype, the arm has 4 degrees of freedom (DOF) including two passive joints. The probing system has 7 DOF, including the DOF of the machine tool, in total. Angles of the passive joints are changed by driving the numerically controlled (NC) table and the main spindle of the machine tool, where the arm is mounted. To calculate the optimal posture of the arm for the shape to be measured, a numerical method of the inverse kinematics is also proposed. The arm has enough positioning accuracy to calibrate its posture. Shapes can be automatically measured with the accuracy of micrometer order by the on-the-machine measurement method as well as a commercial three-dimensional (3-D) coordinate measuring machine and a profilometer.     

Cholecystokinin-B/gastrin receptor: a novel molecular probe for human small cell lung cancer

The brain-gut hormones, gastrin and cholecystokinin, have a trophic effect on the gastrointestinal mucosa in vivo and promote the growth of several neoplastic cell lines. In this study, cholecystokinin-B/gastrin receptor has been demonstrated to provide a novel molecular marker for the diagnosis of small cell lung cancer by using biopsy specimens. Physiological expression of the receptor mRNA is detectable in particular areas of the human brain, stomach, and pancreas but not in the lung. The receptor mRNA was detected selectively in all small cell lung cancer (10 cases) with a RT-PCR assay. By contrast, it was detectable in only 1 of 13 squamous cell carcinomas or 21 adenocarcinomas of the lung. Thus, the cholecystokinin-B/gastrin receptor could be an attractive therapeutic target for small cell lung cancer.     

Hydrogenation of carboxylic acids by rhenium-osmium bimetallic catalyst

Hydrogenation of carboxylic acids to alcohols at low temperature and under low pressure was achieved by using a new catalyst system, a rhenium-osmium bimetallic catalyst. The most active catalyst was prepared by the reductionof the corresponding metal oxides with hydrogen in the presence of succinic acid. Decanoic acid was hydrogenated to decanol in high conversions at 25∼100 atm and 100∼120°C. Decane was formed as a by-product by overreduction of the alcohol. The selectivity of alcohol was improved by the addition of thiophene as a modifier of the catalyst.     

Rho and Rab small G proteins coordinately reorganize stress fibers and focal adhesions in MDCK cells

The Rho subfamily of the Rho small G protein family (Rho) regulates formation of stress fibers and focal adhesions in many types of cultured cells. In moving cells, dynamic and coordinate disassembly and reassembly of stress fibers and focal adhesions are observed, but the precise mechanisms in the regulation of these processes are poorly understood. We previously showed that 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA) first induced disassembly of stress fibers and focal adhesions followed by their reassembly in MDCK cells. The reassembled stress fibers showed radial-like morphology that was apparently different from the original. We analyzed here the mechanisms of these TPA-induced processes. Rho inactivation and activation were necessary for the TPA-induced disassembly and reassembly, respectively, of stress fibers and focal adhesions. Both inactivation and activation of the Rac subfamily of the Rho family (Rac) inhibited the TPA-induced reassembly of stress fibers and focal adhesions but not their TPA-induced disassembly. Moreover, microinjection or transient expression of Rab GDI, a regulator of all the Rab small G protein family members, inhibited the TPA-induced reassembly of stress fibers and focal adhesions but not their TPA-induced disassembly, indicating that, furthermore, activation of some Rab family members is necessary for their TPA-induced reassembly. Of the Rab family members, at least Rab5 activation was necessary for the TPA-induced reassembly of stress fibers and focal adhesions. The TPA-induced, small G protein-mediated reorganization of stress fibers and focal adhesions was closely related to the TPA-induced cell motility. These results indicate that the Rho and Rab family members coordinately regulate the TPA-induced reorganization of stress fibers and focal adhesions that may cause cell motility.     

Three-dimensional transient thermal stresses of reactor graphite subjected to internal heat generation and asymmetric surface heating

The present paper is concerned with three-dimensional transient thermal stresses of graphite in a nuclear reactor. In analyzing this problem, reactor graphite may be approximated by a transversely isotropic finite circular cylinder subjected to internal heat generation and asymmetric heating on an end surface. Thermal stresses are analyzed by means of the transversely isotropic potential functions method proposed by Takeuti and Noda. Numerical calculations were carried out for a special type of heating conditions, and time variations of temperature and thermal stresses of graphite are shown in figures.     

Defect-Tolerance in Cellular Nanocomputers

For the manufacturing of computers built by nanotechnology, defects are expected to be a major problem. This paper explores this issue for nanocomputers based on cellular automata. Known for their regular structure, such architectures promise cost-effective manufacturing based on molecular self-organization. We show how a cellular automaton can detect defects in a self-contained way, and how it configures circuits on its cells while avoiding the defects. The employed cellular automaton is asynchronous, i.e., it does not require a central clock to synchronize the updates of its cells. This mode of timing is especially suitable for the high integration densities of nanotechnology implementations, since it potentially causes less heat dissipation.