Spray formed bearing steel insensitive to distortion

To minimize the distortion of bearing steel components during manufacturing processes, 100Cr6 steel (SAE 52100) has been produced by spray forming as an alternative approach to conventional continuous casting process. Material characteristics and distortion behaviour of the spray formed 100Cr6 steel were investigated in comparison with continuous cast material. The investigation showed that the spray formed 100Cr6 steel exhibited lower distortion potential than the conventional material due to much better metallurgical homogeneity.     

Preface: Volume 68, Issue 6

INFINITY 2002, the 4th International Workshop on Verification of Infinite-State Systems, was held as a satellite workshop of CONCUR 2002 (the 13th International Conference on Concurrency Theory) in Brno, Czech Republic, on August 24, 2002. The aim of the workshop is to provide a forum for researchers interested in the development of mathematical techniques for the analysis and verification of systems with infinitely many states. The topics of INFINITY 2002 included the following: techniques for modeling and analysis of infinite-state systems, equivalence-checking and model-checking with infinite-state systems, parameterized systems, calculi for mobility and security, finite-state abstractions of infinite-state systems.The volume consists of six contributed papers selected by the INFINITY 2002 programme committee. The papers were reviewed by the program committee consisting, besides editors, of

Parosh Abdulla	(Uppsala (SE))
Julian Bradfield	(Edinburgh (UK))
Didier Caucal	(Irisa (F))
Hubert Comon	(LSV Cachan (F))
Giorgio Delzanno	(Genova (I))
Yoram Hirshfeld	(Tel-Aviv (Israel))
Denis Lugiez	(Marseille (F))
Bernhard Steffen	(Dortmund (D))
P.S. Thiagarajan	(Chennai (India))
Moshe Vardi	(Rice (USA))

Full-size table

The programme of INFINITY 2002 was further enriched by an invited talk given by Colin Stirling, and by four short presentations of work in progress.This volume will be published as volume 68(6) in the series Electronic Notes in Theoretical Computer Science (ENTCS). This series is published electronically through the facilities of Elsevier Science B.V. and its auspices. The volumes in the ENTCS series can be accessed at the URL http://www.elsevier.nl/locate/entcsWe are very grateful to the CONCUR 2002 Organizing Committee for arranging all local affairs, and to Michael Mislove, the managing editor of ENTCS, for providing the opportunity to publish the INFINITY 2002 proceedings in the ENTCS series.December 9, 2002 Antonin Kucera, Richard Mayr     

Evaluation of the influence of mastication on temporal aroma release of ripe and unripe bananas,using a model mouth system and gas chromatography-olfactometry

The effect of the mastication rate on temporal aroma release from ripe and unripe bananas was investigated using a model mouth system and analysing the volatiles by gas chromatography-olfactometry (GC-O) and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Large differences were found in the numbers of odour active compounds of ripe and unripe bananas as well as for the three different mastication rates investigated (0, 26 and 52 min^-1). Hexanal was the only compound that was detected by all six assessors for ripe and unripe bananas for each mastication speed. In the odour profile of ripe and unripe bananas with a mastication rate of 52 min^-1, 18 and 7 significant odour active compounds respectively were detected whereas with a mastication rate of 26 min^-1, 15 and 3 respectively were detected. Without mastication only 3 and 2 compounds respectively were observed. Principal component analysis on GC-O data allowed an easy separation between the three chewing speeds and the ripe and unripe bananas.     

Computer aided adjustment of the phrenic pacemaker: automatic functions, documentation, and quality control

Electrical stimulation of the phrenic nerves of patients with complete ventilatory insufficiency with the Vienna respiratory pacemaker has been in clinical use since 1983. During the adjustment of stimulation parameters with this device, the following problems have occurred: for some measurements like the recruitment curve, series of complete inspiration cycles have to be stimulated, which causes the danger of muscle fatigue for unconditioned patients. The documentation is completed predominantly by hand, taking time and increasing the possibility of error. As a first step to solve these problems, we developed a new stimulation and measurement system. It consists of a PC with data acquisition hardware, the necessary sensors, and amplifier circuitry. The implanted stimulator is controlled via the parallel interface. The new system offers some advantages: computer control shortens the time for measurement and documentation, and the stress on the patient and the risk of error is reduced; synchronized measurement makes it possible to use single stimulation pulses instead of bursts and ramps to reduce diaphragm fatigue; digital signal processing improves measurement results and reproducibility; and help functions and self tests are provided, together with a graphical user interface. We used sensors for air flow, diaphragm EMG, and acceleration, on up to 8 channels simultaneously. Combined sample rates of up to 100 kS/s were possible. The system could be adapted for other uses involving functional electrical stimulation with our implantable nerve stimulators. Using this equipment saves a lot of effort, and the adjustment process can be focused on improved stimulation results and better performance for the patient. Current research is studying implementation of automatic functions like acquisition of stimulation thresholds. This could result in a predominantly automated adjustment of the phrenic pacemaker and even in a closed-loop controlled system in the future.     

Interferenzlinienprofilanalysen an hartstoffbeschichteten Stahlproben unterschiedlicher Schichtdicke

Investigations on the lattice constants and the calculation of domain sizes and mean squared lattice strains have been presented for PVD-TiN coatings of various thickness on the substrates 52 100 and M2. Constant dependencies have been observed for the lattice constants, domain sizes and lattice strains as a function of the coating thickness. The two different substrate materials have no influence on the mentioned properties.     

Analysis of 309 cases of esophageal atresia for associated congenital malformations

We describe a 50-year-old man with adult T-cell leukemia complicated by laryngeal tuberculosis whose tumor cells proliferate in response to IL-2 in a paracrine manner. On admission, the patient's white blood cell count was 17,900/mm3; 73% were abnormal lymphocytes with convoluted nuclei. FACS analysis showed that the tumor cells were CD4-negative, CD8-positive T cells. Southern blot analysis of tumor cells revealed integration of a defective HTLV-I genome lacking gag and pol genes. He was diagnosed with chronic ATL complicated by laryngeal tuberculosis. The primary leukemic cells expressed IL-2R alpha and IL-2R beta detected by FACS and Northern blot analysis and showed marked growth in response to exogenously added recombinant IL-2 in short-term cultures. Northern blot analysis did not show any IL-2 mRNA. We have previously demonstrated that primary leukemic cells from some ATL patients grow in response to IL-2 in an autocrine or paracrine manner. These results suggest that in CD8 ATL, IL-2 may be involved in a paracrine manner.