In-situ measurement of higher-order strain derivatives for advanced analysis of forming processes using spatio-temporal optical flow

In-situ full-field measurements became one of the drivers for process understanding, model creation, validation and inverse analysis. Therefore, a novel spatio-temporal optical flow method for the robust measurement of higher-order strain derivatives is proposed. This computer vision approach overcomes inherent restrictions of established DIC methods. For advanced process analysis of shear cutting processes, the deformation curvature (2nd-order displacement derivative) and the respective rate (3rd-order displacement derivative) are of high interest. For the first time, it is possible to quantify experimentally these higher-order derivatives in sufficient quality with the proposed spatio-temporal optical flow approach. In addition, interesting correlations between the microstructure of the material and macroscopic process results are determined. This demonstrates the potential of the novel in-situ measurement approach for the advanced process analysis of metal forming processes in general.     

Differences between Human and Mouse IgM Fc Receptor (FcµR)

Both non-immune “natural” and antigen-induced “immune” IgM are important for protection against pathogens and for regulation of immune responses to self-antigens. Since the bona fide IgM Fc receptor (FcµR) was identified in humans by a functional cloning strategy in 2009, the roles of FcµR in these IgM effector functions have begun to be explored. In this short essay, we describe the differences between human and mouse FcµRs in terms of their identification processes, cellular distributions and ligand binding activities with emphasis on our recent findings from the mutational analysis of human FcµR. We have identified at least three sites of human FcµR, i.e., Asn66 in the CDR2, Lys79 to Arg83 in the DE loop and Asn109 in the CDR3, responsible for its constitutive IgM-ligand binding. Results of computational structural modeling analysis are consistent with these mutational data and a model of the ligand binding, Ig-like domain of human FcµR is proposed. Serendipitously, substitution of Glu41 and Met42 in the CDR1 of human FcµR with mouse equivalents Gln and Leu, either single or more prominently in combination, enhances both the receptor expression and IgM binding. These findings would help in the future development of preventive and therapeutic interventions targeting FcµR.     

Reverse ray-tracing model for the performance evaluation of stationary solar concentrators

The yearly energy collection efficiency of stationary solar concentrators can be evaluated using reverse ray-tracing, and a solar radiation model. In reverse ray-tracing, rays originating at the receiver of the concentrator are traced towards the surrounding hemisphere. The method allows for the evaluation of the absolute energy collection: new concentrators may be optimized for location and tilt, requiring one-time ray-tracing. The tilt of existing concentrators is optimized. Only possible solar incidence is considered by our model. The method is fast and realistic; it can be modified for concentrators in tilt operation.     

Energetic Improvements by N-Oxidation: Insensitive Amino-Hydroximoyl-Tetrazole-2N-Oxides

5-Aminohydroximoyl-2-hydroxytetrazole (3) was synthesized in a three-step synthesis from inexpensive starting materials. This novel tetrazole derivative contains two energetic moieties: an N-oxide as well as an aminohydroximoyl group. Various energetic nitrogen-rich salts such as hydroxylammonium (4), guanidinium (5), aminoguanidinium (6), ammonium (7), and triaminoguanidinium (8) were synthesized. Moreover, zwitterionic 5-amidrazonyl-tetrazole-2-oxide monohydrate (9) was synthesized. Compounds 4, 5, 8, 9, and 10 were structurally characterized using single-crystal X-ray diffraction. Additionally, all new compounds were characterized using nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and vibrational (infrared [IR], Raman) spectroscopy as well as mass spectrometry and elemental analysis. The thermal behavior was studied using differential thermal analysis (DTA) measurements and the sensitivities of the compounds toward shock, friction, and electrostatic discharge were determined. Finally, the enthalpies of formation were calculated (atomization method, CBS-4 M enthalpies) and several detonation/propulsion parameters computed with the EXPLO5 code.     

Innovative Methoden zum Geschiebemonitoring am Beispiel der Donau

In this article, new and innovative methods for bedload transport monitoring and their application in the context of a restoration project on the Danube River are described. Using an adapted basket sampler, a first comprehensive monitoring campaign for measuring bedload transport on the Danube was conducted and the temporal and spatial variability was shown. The development of a methodology for tracing artificial pebbles made it possible to track 40 pebble tracers of three different sizes on the Danube over the course of an entire year. Combining the two methods it could be determined that bedload already moves at low flow conditions and that bedload transport only increases slightly or even remains constant after reaching bank-full discharge. The tracer study identified size-selective transport ?C larger sizes were moving less often and over shorter distances than smaller sizes ?C with a mean transport distance of 3?km per year for the current bed material at Bad Deutsch-Altenburg. Detailed bathymetry and the analysis of the layer succession of the riverbed using the Freeze Core methodology complemented the other insights into the processes of sediment transport on the Danube River. These methods successfully characterized gravel sheets and allowed us to make predictive statements about bed armoring. We were also able to confirm a mean bed degradation of 2?cm per year using a combination of methods.     

Metamer density estimated color correction

Color correction is the transformation of response values of scanners or digital cameras into a device- independent color space. In general, the transformation is not unique due to different acquisition and viewing illuminants and non-satisfaction of the Luther–Ives condition by a majority of devices. In this paper we propose a method that approximates the optimal color correction in the sense of a minimal mean error. The method is based on a representative set of reflectance spectra that is used to calculate a special basic collection of device metameric blacks and an appropriate fundamental metamer for each sensor response. Combining the fundamental metamer and the basic collection results in a set of reflectances that follows the density distribution of metameric reflectances if calculated by Bayesian inference. Transforming only positive and bounded spectra of the set into an observer’s perceptually uniform color space results in a point cloud that follows the density distribution of device metamers within the metamer mismatch space of acqcuisition system and human observer. The mean value of this set is selected for color correction, since this is the point with a minimal mean color distance to all other points in the cloud. We present the results of various simulation experiments considering different acquisition and viewing illuminants, sensor types, noise levels, and existing methods for comparison.