On the influence of fibre texture on the compression creep behaviour of a short fibre reinforced aluminium alloy

The creep behaviour of Al–Zn/8 vol.% “Saffil” metal matrix composites (MMCs) with a random planar fibre texture (“fibre plane”) was found to depend on the orientation of the fibre plane with respect to the loading axis and on the sign of the applied load. The results are discussed and compared to findings for MMCs with higher volume fractions.     

A Distinct Cytokine Profile and Stromal Vascular Fraction Metabolic Status without Significant Changes in the Lipid Composition Characterizes Lipedema

Lipedema is an adipose tissue disorder characterized by the disproportionate increase of subcutaneous fat tissue in the lower and/or upper extremities. The underlying pathomechanism remains unclear and no molecular biomarkers to distinguish the disease exist, leading to a large number of undiagnosed and misdiagnosed patients. To unravel the distinct molecular characteristic of lipedema we performed lipidomic analysis of the adipose tissue and serum of lipedema versus anatomically- and body mass index (BMI)-matched control patients. Both tissue groups showed no significant changes regarding lipid composition. As hyperplastic adipose tissue represents low-grade inflammation, the potential systemic effects on circulating cytokines were evaluated in lipedema and control patients using the Multiplex immunoassay system. Interestingly, increased systemic levels of interleukin 11 (p = 0.03), interleukin 28A (p = 0.04) and interleukin 29 (p = 0.04) were observed. As cytokines can influence metabolic activity, the metabolic phenotype of the stromal vascular fraction was examined, revealing significantly increased mitochondrial respiration in lipedema. In conclusion, despite sharing a comparable lipid profile with healthy adipose tissue, lipedema is characterized by a distinct systemic cytokine profile and metabolic activity of the stromal vascular fraction.     

Simulation-based layout optimization for multi-station assembly lines

Journal of Intelligent Manufacturing - This article presents a novel approach for the automated 3D-layout planning of multi-station assembly lines. The planning method is based on a comprehensive...     

Novel Flexible Electrochemical Microreactor and its Validation by Three Model Electrosyntheses

A novel flexible electrochemical microreactor has been developed. Flexibility is reached by a modular design, suitability for a broad process parameter range including high pressure operation, and accessibility of production scale. Selected reactor aspects have been validated by applying the reactor to three different electrosyntheses: synthesis of tailor-made mixtures of paraffins by Kolbe electrolysis, cation flow method, and synthesis of peroxodicarbonate. High conversion rates, yields, selectivities, and Faraday efficiency levels have been observed, showing precise process control.     

Understanding the impact of texture on the micromechanical anisotropy of laser powder bed fused Inconel 718

Journal of Materials Science - The manufacturability of metallic alloys using laser-based additive manufacturing methods such as laser powder bed fusion has substantially improved within the last...     

Characterization of Cu/CeO2/γ-Al2O3 Thin Film Catalysts by Thermal Desorption Spectroscopy

Thermal desorption spectroscopy (TDS) under ultra high vacuum (UHV) condition has been used to investigate the desorption characteristics of Cu/CeO₂/γ-Al₂O₃ thin film catalysts coated onto the microchannel of a microreactor. TDS results demonstrate that surface desorption profiles and chemical properties (acid–base and redox properties) are remarkably influenced by the catalyst composition, i.e. the loading of copper and ceria. The enhanced basicity with the increase of ceria loading and the decrease of copper loading is evident from the shifted desorption maximum of CO₂ in TDS spectra. Three oxygen species, ranging from weakly bound oxygen desorbed at low temperature to the strongly held lattice oxygen desorbed at high temperature, are easily discernible and clearly identified by O₂ TDS spectra, depending on the catalyst compositions. The concomitant thermal desorption of O₂, CO₂, and H₂O at low temperature indicates the unique chemical properties of copper/ceria catalyst with appropriate copper and ceria contents. The observed low-temperature feature is ascribed to the role of porthole of copper/ceria interfacial area for several desorbed species. The weakly bound oxygen species is attributed to the enhanced abundance of copper/ceria interfacial anionic vacancies created by the intimate contact between copper and ceria entities and its impact on steam reforming of methanol (SRM) reaction is tentatively discussed in terms of reverse oxygen spillover.     

ERSA Conference participation: does location matter?

Abstract.  This article analyses participation in the annual European congresses of the Regional Science Association (ERSA) from 1998 through 2003. We formulate goals that the ERSA conferences should aim at and based on these aims we formulate hypotheses about conference participation. In the empirical part we test hypotheses with regard to the spatial distribution of the participants over countries, the distribution of the frequency of attendance among the participants, and the presence of distance decay in participation. All hypotheses are confirmed. We also pay attention to the relation between the frequency of attendance and distance. In the conclusions we derive implications for future conferences.     

Fuzzy Models in Geotechnical Engineering and Construction Management

This article is devoted to a variety of applications of fuzzy models in civil engineering, presenting the current work of a group of researchers at the University of Innsbruck. With fuzzy methods and possibility theory as an encompassing framework, the following areas are addressed: uncertainties in geotechnical engineering, fuzzy finite‐element computation of a foundation raft, fuzzy dynamic systems, and processing uncertainty in project scheduling and cost planning.