Experimental and numerical investigation of the crushing response of an open section composite energy absorbing element

The quasi-static crushing response of carbon epoxy composite hat-shaped crush elements is described herein. A steeple-type triggering mechanism was used to ensure the specimens exhibited a continuous stable crushing mode of failure. The explicit finite element software PAM-CRASH was used to predict the crushing failure of these energy absorbing elements. A four-layer, stacked-shell model of the composite hat-shaped element, after calibration against experimental test data, was found to be capable of closely approximating the failure modes and provide agreement with the load vs. displacement behaviour observed during the experiments. The predicted steady state load and specific energy absorption were respectively within 1.5 and 0.2% of the experimental average. With further validation, the developed stacked-shell methodology could help provide a predictive tool to characterise the energy absorption of open section crush elements and significantly reduce the cost associated with an extensive experimental material characterisation test program.     

Self-multiplexing force-sense test structures for (MOS) ICapplications

A self-multiplexing technique that enables multiple force-sense measurements to be carried out on test structures in the small area scribe lanes of product chips is presented. Instead of using separate address signals, the technique uses the distribution of stimulus and sense voltages across lines to select the proper test structure, leading to a drastic reduction in the number of probe pads. A simple, robust prototype circuit which enables four independent test structures to be measured with only five probe pads is presented. The technique can be extended to 12 structures with some additional circuitry. Excellent measurement accuracy is obtained and the self-multiplexing circuit allows a wide range of operating conditions while being insensitive to process variations     

Differential effects of learning and recall of a spatial task on phosphoinositide hydrolysis induced by the metabotropic glutamate receptor agonist 1S,3R-ACPD (1S,3R-1-amino-cyclopentane-1,3-discarboxylic acid) in the hippocampus and the prefrontal cortex of rats

Phosphoinositide (PI) hydrolysis, stimulated by 1S,3R-1-amino-cyclopentane-1,3-dicarboxylic acid (1S,3R-ACPD), an agonist of metabotropic glutamate receptors (mGluRs), was measured in hippocampal and prefrontal cortical slices obtained from rats which had been trained for 8 days in a Morris water maze and had learned an allocentric spatial task. Brain slices were pre-labeled with myo-3H-inositol and 1S,3R-ACPD (100 microM) stimulation was assessed by measuring the accumulation of [3H]inositol phosphates ([3H]IPs) in the presence of Li+. Measurements conducted 24 h following the last training session revealed no differences in 1S,3R-ACPD-stimulated formation of [3H]IPs, either in the hippocampus or in the prefrontal cortex. However, a diminished response to mGluRs stimulation was detected in the hippocampus of animals re-trained after an 11-day interval. The decrease was not evident in the prefrontal cortex. These data indicate a differential involvement of the hippocampus and the prefrontal cortex in the processing of spatial information and correspond to the functional differences attributed to these areas.     

Shifting behavior: an analysis of response patterns of Parkinson patients in discrimination learning

Parkinson patients often show decreased performance on what is generally referred to as "shift tasks." This does not necessarily imply that Parkinson patients have problems with shifting, since task performance reflects not only shifting but also other factors. Using a discrimination learning task, we analyzed response patterns to determine the decision rules used. As well, we varied the manner of problem alternation (implicit versus explicit) and the type of problem alternation (extradimensional versus intradimensional shifts). In accordance with the literature, we found that Parkinson patients needed more trials to solve the problems. However, the response patterns of the Parkinson patients and controls were practically the same. An important finding was that Parkinson patients did not hold on longer to a rule, which was correct in a former problem, than controls did. Therefore, we concluded that Parkinson patients are able to shift from one decision rule to another.     

Synergistic protection against cartilage destruction by low dose prednisolone and interleukin-10 in established murine collagen arthritis

BACKGROUND: For simplification of blood cell transplantation, an automated apheresis system that exploits a dual-stage channel device for mononuclear cell (MNC) collection (AutoPBSC, designed for the COBE Spectra) was studied. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: The automated default software (AutoPBSC-Default) and three software modifications of the harvest frequency during leukapheresis, referred to as AutoPBSC-1.25, AutoPBSC-1.75, and AutoPBSC-2.75, were evaluated in comparison with the semiautomated Version 4.7 (V4.7) apheresis system in 119 leukapheresis procedures performed in 90 cancer patients treated with chemotherapy plus granulocyte-colony-stimulating factor. CD34+ cell and platelet collection efficiency (CE); volume and cell composition of the leukapheresis components; and patient platelet and red cell (RBC) loss during leukapheresis were measured. RESULTS: The majority of collection measures evaluated with the AutoPBSC compared favorably to those obtained with the V4.7. CD34+ cell CE increased from 55 percent with V4.7 to 68 percent with the AutoPBSC-Default (p = 0.05). The AutoPBSC provided lower platelet contamination in the collected component (1.18 x 10(11) vs. 2.26 x 10(11) with the V4.7; p<0.001). The volume of the AutoPBSC-Default component was significantly lower (67 vs. 180 mL with the V4.7; p<0.001). The MNC purity of the AutoPBSC component was greater (52 vs. 28% with the V4.7; p<0.001), and the RBC contamination lower (AutoPBSC, 0.53 x 10(11) vs. 1.04 x 10(11) with the V4.7; p<0.001). Modifications of the AutoPBSC to increase the harvest frequency by 1.25-, 1.75-, and 2.75-fold resulted in increased CD34+ cell CE (77%, 75%, and 83%, respectively; p<0.001 in all cases), but also in reduced numbers of circulating platelets, higher platelet contamination of the component, and lower MNC purity than were seen with the AutoPBSC-Default. CONCLUSION:The AutoPBSC offers the following advantages over the V4.7 system: a) better CE of CD34+ cells; b) reduced collection of platelets; c) reduced contamination of the leukapheresis component with granulocytes, platelets, and RBCs; d) reduced component volume; and e) automation.     

Workflow automation based on OSI job transfer and manipulation

This paper shows that Workflow Management Systems (WFMS) and a data communication standard called Job Transfer and Manipulation (JTM) are built on the same concepts, even though different words are used. The paper analyses the correspondence of workflow concepts and JTM concepts. Besides, the correspondence of relationships between those concepts is analysed as well. Thus, we show that JTM is suitable for triggering activities, coordination of work, routing of documents, handling exceptions, safeguarding the integrity of business transactions and retrieving information from business processes. This implies that JTM can be used to support workflows and to provide interoperability between different brands of workflow tools.