Thermal modeling of an induction machine through the association of two numerical approaches

The thermal modeling of the machine adopted here results from the association of two methods: a nodal approach that models the diffusion in the structure and a computational fluid dynamics approach that characterizes the convective heat exchanges that operate in the end-bracket cavities . This thermal model is then validated after experimentation carried out on an induction machine equipped with thermal sensors. This enables us to evaluate the thermal behavior of the machine in normal operating mode. In particular, the modeling of the convection heat exchanges in the internal cavities has to be done in detail to reproduce the thermal behavior of the machine accurately.     

Salmeterol compared with slow-release terbutaline in nocturnal asthma. A multicenter, randomized, double-blind, double-dummy, sequential clinical trial. French Multicenter Study Group

The aim of the multicenter, randomized, double-blind, double-dummy, parallel-group clinical trial with a 2-week treatment period was to compare the efficacy and safety of salmeterol (50 micrograms twice daily) with slow-release (SR) terbutaline (5 mg orally, twice daily) in nocturnal asthma. A total of 159 asthmatic adults (FEV, 50-90% of predicted value; sex ratio: 0.87) with at least two nocturnal awakenings during a 7-d run-in period was included in the study. Patients were centrally randomized with a national computer network (Minitel). The main variable (number of awakening-free nights during the last week of treatment) was analyzed according to a sequential method with the one-sided triangular test. The number of awakening-free nights (+/- SD) was significantly higher in the salmeterol group: 5.3 +/- 2.4 vs 4.6 +/- 2.3 (P = 0.006). Salmeterol was significantly more effective than SR-terbutaline in the following factors: number of patients without any awakening during the last week of treatment (50% vs 27%, P = 0.003), mean morning PEF (351 +/- 109 l/min-1 vs 332 +/- 105 l/min-1, P = 0.04), PEF diurnal variation 6 +/- 10% vs 11 +/- 12%, P = 0.01), overall assessment of efficacy by the patient and the investigator (P = 0.001 and 0.005, respectively), and daily rescue salbutamol intakes (P = 0.004). In the salmeterol group, significantly fewer patients reported adverse events (16% vs 29%, P = 0.04).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Death-effector filaments: novel cytoplasmic structures that recruit caspases and trigger apoptosis

The death-effector domain (DED) is a critical protein interaction domain that recruits caspases into complexes with members of the TNF-receptor superfamily. Apoptosis can also be induced by expressing certain DED-containing proteins without surface receptor cross-linking. Using Green Fluorescent Protein to examine DED-containing proteins in living cells, we show that these proteins cause apoptosis by forming novel cytoplasmic filaments that recruit and activate pro-caspase zymogens. Formation of these filaments, which we term death-effector filaments, was blocked by coexpression of viral antiapoptotic DED-containing proteins, but not by bcl-2 family proteins. Thus, formation of death-effector filaments allows a regulated intracellular assembly of apoptosis-signaling complexes that can initiate or amplify apoptotic stimuli independently of receptors at the plasma membrane.     

Analysis of the evolution of microcreep during physical aging and mechanical deformation in poly(methyl methacrylate) using a microstructural model

The evolution of poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) during physical aging at 90°C is followed by torsional microcreep tests. On the aged specimen a longitudinal stress is applied which induces a strain of 5 percent after 30 days of creep. The torsional microcreep tests are performed during the longitudinal creep in order to compare the structure evolution of PMMA caused by straining with its evolution measured during aging. The microcreep, for the first 800s, follows a reversible logarithmic law. In this stage the mobile defects achieve their activated form which is perfectly reversible when unloaded. The physical aging reduces this logarithmic part of microcreep. This is due to the decrease of either the number or the volume of the mobile defects. Beyond a critical elongation ? = 1 percent, the longitudinal straining has just the opposite influence, i.e., the logarithmic part of microcreep increases. This critical elongation ? = 1 percent corresponds to the beginning of the steady state longitudinal creep. The transient that precedes this steady state has no detectable influence on the structure of the specimen.     

Meaningful electronic signatures based on an automatic indexing method

Legal information certification and secured storage combined with documents electronic signature are of great interest when digital documents security and conservation are in concern. Therefore, these new and evolving technologies offer powerful abilities, such as identification, authentication and certification. The latter contribute to increase the global security of legal digital archives conservation and access. However, currently used cryptographic and hash coding concepts cannot intrinsically enclose cognitive information about both the signer and the signed content. Indeed, an evolution of these technologies may be necessary to achieve full text researches within hundreds or thousands of electronically signed documents. This article aims at describing a possible model along with associated processes to create and make use of these new electronic signatures called “meaningful electronic signatures” as opposed to traditional electronic signatures based on bit per bit computation.     

Effects of the level of asphyxia during delivery on viability at birth and early postnatal vitality of newborn pigs

Newborn pigs (n = 117) were used to provide information on the relationships of degree of asphyxia during delivery, viability at birth, and some striking aspects of postnatal vitality including survival, interval between birth and first udder contact and between birth and first suckling, rectal temperature at 24 h of life (RT24), and growth rate over the first 10 d of life. The degree of asphyxia at birth was estimated from cord blood pCO2, pH, and lactate levels. Onset of respiration, heart rate, skin color, and attempts to stand during the first minute after birth were used to estimate the viability score. Neonatal asphyxia, i.e., decreased blood pH and increased blood pCO2 and lactate, was associated with the production of unusually high levels of catecholamines. The degree of asphyxia increased with late position in the birth order (P < .01) and was higher in piglets born posteriorly (P < 0.5). Further, the average blood pCO2 within a litter increased (P < .05) with litter size. The was an inverse relationship between the degree of asphyxia and the viability score (P < .001). Highly viable piglets reached the udder more rapidly (P < .001) and had a higher RT24 (P < .001) than those of low viability. Plasma glucose concentrations increased with blood pCO2 and plasma epinephrine concentrations (P < .001). Neonatal asphyxia reduced postnatal vitality by delaying the first contact with the udder (P < .03) and was associated with a lower RT24 (P < .05), growth rate (P < .001), and survival over 10 d (P < 0.06). These variables, i.e., interval between birth and first udder contact, RT24, and growth rate, were correlated with birth weight (P < .001); RT24 was also shown to decrease (P < .001) with the time taken to reach the udder. Overall, results suggest that piglet suffering from asphyxia during delivery are less viable at birth and less prone to adapt to extrauterine life.     

乙炔羰基化合成丙烯酸甲酯的研究

以乙炔、一氧化碳和甲醇为原料,卤化镍为主催化剂,羰基化合成丙烯酸甲酯,考察其在不同的反应温度、反应初始压力、原料配比、反应时间和催化剂用量下对反应结果的影响,确定最优的工艺条件。实验表明：以甲醇为溶剂,在185℃左右和5．2～5．5MPa的条件下,n（甲醇）：n（乙炔）：n（CO）=5．5～6．2：1：1,催化剂用量0．85wt％～0．9wt％,反应4～5h,丙烯酸甲醣的收率（相对乙炔）达到90％以上。