Numerical simulation of the axial collapse of thin-walled polygonal section tubes

This paper deals with the post-buckling deformation characteristics of aluminum alloy extruded polygonal section tubes subjected to dynamic axial impacts. The explicit finite element code LS-DYNA is the primary analytical tool used in this investigation. The study focuses on investigating a post-buckling deformation phenomenon that is primarily manifested by an axial crumpling action that generates material folds as the impact energy is dissipated. The research is conducted in two phases. The first phase consists of validating the LS-DYNA model parameters and numerical results pertaining to thin-walled aluminum extruded square tubes with actual published experimental data. The post-buckling deformation characteristics of the specimens such as the overall final configuration and the various folding deformation modes (extensional, symmetric and asymmetric) resulting from the axial collapse of the member is also investigated in a subsequent phase. Based on the numerical simulation results, it is apparent that the increase in the number of walls (flanges) has a direct impact on the mean axial crushing force and permanent displacement parameters. In particular, the adoption of a hexagonal tube section as an axially loaded energy absorbing column yields an average increase of 11% in the mean axial crushing force and an average decrease of 10% in the permanent displacement. The greatest benefits are obtained in the specimens with the thinnest nominal wall thickness, where the upper bound results show an average increase of 27% in the mean axial crushing force and average decrease of 20% in the permanent displacement.     

Model based real time monitoring for collision detection of an industrial robot

This paper deals with a model based real-time virtual simulator of industrial robot in order to detect eventual external collision. The implemented method concerns a model based Fault Detection and Isolation used to determine any lock of motion from an actuated robot joint after contact with static obstacles. Online implementation has been done in order to validate the proposed approach.     

Service level agreement in optical networks

This article proposes a Service Level Agreement applied to the optical domain (O-sla), which is expected to be the near and long term network technology thanks, among other things, to the great bandwidth capacity offered by optical devices. After an exposition of the rationale behind an optical sla, parameters which could enter in thisO-sla, as well as their values for four classes of services, are proposed. Different client (wavelength or sub-wavelength) and services types (from leased wavelength to bandwidth on demand) are distinguished when necessary.     

Preparation and studying properties of polybutene‐1/thermoplastic starch blends

Starch as an inexpensive and renewable source has been used as a filler for environmental friendly plastics for about two decades. In this study, glycerol was used as a plasticizer for starch to enhance the dispersion and the interfacial affinity in thermoplastic starch (TPS)/polybutene‐1(PB‐1) blend. PB‐1 was melt blended with TPS using a single screw extrusion process and molded using injection molding process to investigate the rheological and mechanical properties of these blends. Rheological properties were studied using a capillary rheometer, and the Bagley's correction was performed. Mechanical analysis (stress–strain curves) was performed using Testometric M350‐10 kN. The rheological properties showed that the melt viscosity of the blend is less than that of PB‐1, and the flow activation energy at a constant shear stress of the blend increases with increasing glycerol content in the blend. The mechanical experiments showed that both stress and strain at break of the blends are less than that of PB‐1, whereas the Young's modulus of the most blends is higher than that of PB‐1 which confirms the filling role of TPS in the blend. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2012     

Venetoclax Induces Cardiotoxicity through Modulation of Oxidative-Stress-Mediated Cardiac Inflammation and Apoptosis via NF-κB and BCL-2 Pathway

Cardiovascular damage induced by anticancer therapy has become the main health problem after tumor elimination. Venetoclax (VTX) is a promising novel agent that has been proven to have a high efficacy in multiple hematological diseases, especially acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL). Considering its mechanism of action, the possibility that VTX may cause cardiotoxicity cannot be ruled out. Therefore, this study was designed to investigate the toxic effect of VTX on the heart. Male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into three groups: control, low-dose VTX (50 mg/kg via oral gavage), and high-dose VTX (100 mg/kg via oral gavage). After 21 days, blood and tissue samples were collected for histopathological, biochemical, gene, and protein analyses. We demonstrated that VTX treatment resulted in cardiac damages as evidenced by major changes in histopathology and markedly elevated cardiac enzymes and hypertrophic genes markers. Moreover, we observed a drastic increase in oxidative stress, as well as inflammatory and apoptotic markers, with a remarkable decline in the levels of Bcl-2. To the best of our knowledge, this study is the first to report the cardiotoxic effect of VTX. Further experiments and future studies are strongly needed to comprehensively understand the cardiotoxic effect of VTX.     

Resistive-switching in yttria-stabilized hafnia ceramics

Yttria-stabilized hafnia ceramics are high-temperature oxide ion conductors that lose a small amount of oxygen, both at high temperatures and on the application of a small dc bias. At zero applied bias, a small amount of p-type conductivity is present. This increases with low bias and is attributed to reactions initiated at the positive electrode/ceramic interface. With a further increase in bias, n-type conductivity is initiated at the negative electrode/ceramic interface. After a short time-lapse, the overall conductivity increases rapidly by 1.5–3 orders of magnitude and is reversible, with hysteresis, on subsequent removal of the bias. Switching has been observed over the range 457–531°C and is sensitive to both temperature and oxygen partial pressure in the surrounding atmosphere. This is the first example of low field, resistive switching in bulk hafnia ceramics, in contrast to most examples of resistive switching which are observed in nanometre-thick devices using similarly applied voltages.