A Complementarity Problem–Based Solution Procedure for 2D Steady-State Rolling Contacts with Dry Friction

The problem of steady-state rolling contact between two cylinders with dry friction was formulated into standard linear complementarity problems (LCPs) using the explicit physical definition. For normal contacts, the complementarity variables are the normal pressure and the gap. For the tangential contact, the traction distribution and relative slip are the variables obtained by solving the LCP. The frictional behavior is assumed to be governed by the Coulomb friction law, and LCP formulations of both similar elastic (Carter problem) and dissimilar elastic rolling contacts are presented in this work. Good agreement was found between the current LCP approach and publicly available software for both the rolling contact of similar elastic and dissimilar elastic cylinders. Moreover, the surface roughness was taken into account in this article by the verified approach. The results show the initial slope of the traction-relative creepage curve decreases as the surface roughness increases.     

Fire safe,sustainable loose furnishing

The aim of this exploratory study has been to investigate the fire properties and environmental aspects of different upholstery material combinations, mainly for domestic applications. An analysis of the sustainability and circularity of selected textiles, along with lifecycle assessment, is used to qualitatively evaluate materials from an environmental perspective. The cone calorimeter was the primary tool used to screen 20 different material combinations from a fire performance perspective. It was found that textile covers of conventional fibres such as wool, cotton and polyester, can be improved by blending them with fire resistant speciality fibres. A new three‐dimensional web structure has been examined as an alternative padding material, showing preliminary promising fire properties with regard to ignition time, heat release rates and smoke production.     

Numerical simulation of confined pulsating jets in human phonation

Confined pulsating jets in simplified two-dimensional models of the larynx are considered to study human phonation. The jets are generated by periodically oscillating inlet velocities in stationary vocal tracts. The jets are computed by solving the 2D compressible Navier-Stokes equations by a high order finite difference method, which has been constructed to be strictly stable for linear hyperbolic and parabolic problems. Vortex dynamics is investigated.     

On the adaptive use of the Taylor assumption in computational homogenization of thin metal sheets

A strategy for macroscale modeling adaptivity in fully nested two-scale computational (first order) homog- enization based on assumed scale separation is proposed. The Representative Volume Element (RVE) for a quite complex substructure pertinent to Duplex Stainless Steel (DSS) is considered, whereby crystal plasticity is adopted for the subscale material modeling. The choice of the pertinent prolongation condition defining the deformation mapping from the macro- to the subscale is the sole source of model error discussed here. Two common choices are (in hierarchical order): (1) ”simplified” model based on homogeneous (macroscale) deformation within the RVE, i.e., the Taylor assumption, (2) ”reference” model employing Dirichlet boundary conditions on the RVE.     

High-resolution capillary zone and gel electrophoresis of structurally similar amphipathic glutathione conjugates based on interaction with beta-cyclodextrins

The tripeptide glutathione is a prominent intracellular constituent that provides protection against genotoxic and carcinogenic electrophiles and is also a component of several biological signal substances. Glutathione conjugates, free glutathione, and glutathione disulfide contain charged amino acid residues, which contribute to solubility in aqueous media. However, the amphipathic nature of glutathione conjugates and the small differences that may distinguish the S substituents, pose analytical problems in their resolution. The present study demonstrates how homologous S-alkyl and S-benzyl conjugates of high structural similarity can be efficiently resolved by capillary electrophoresis. Inclusion of beta-cyclodextrins in the buffer or in a polyacrylamide gel affords baseline separation of the analytes. The separation methods described are applicable to enzyme assays in vitro and to the identification and quantification of glutathione conjugates of importance in toxicology and physiology. The contribution of beta-cyclodextrin to the separation is primarily based on interactions between its hydrophobic cavity and the S-alkyl and S-benzyl groups of the analytes.     

A multilevel relaxation algorithm for simultaneous localization and mapping

This paper addresses the problem of simultaneous localization and mapping (SLAM) by a mobile robot. An incremental SLAM algorithm is introduced that is derived from multigrid methods used for solving partial differential equations. The approach improves on the performance of previous relaxation methods for robot mapping, because it optimizes the map at multiple levels of resolution. The resulting algorithm has an update time that is linear in the number of estimated features for typical indoor environments, even when closing very large loops, and offers advantages in handling nonlinearities compared with other SLAM algorithms. Experimental comparisons with alternative algorithms using two well-known data sets and mapping results on a real robot are also presented.     

A genetic factor explains most of the variation in the psychopathic personality.

The psychopathic personality can be conceptualized as three interrelated dimensions, (a) an interpersonal style of glibness, grandiosity, and manipulation; (b) an affective disposition of callousness, lack of empathy, and unemotionality; and (c) a behavioral/lifestyle dimension of impulsivity, need for stimulation, and irresponsibility, underpinning a higher order construct, psychopathic personality. The authors used a self-report questionnaire (The Youth Psychopathic Traits Inventory) to study the importance of genetic and environmental influences on psychopathic personality traits in a sample of 1,090 monozygotic and dizygotic twin pairs, aged 16-17 years. Results showed a strong genetic influence behind the higher order "psychopathic personality" factor, underpinned by the three psychopathic personality dimensions. Over and above the effects to the higher order factor, significant unique genetic influences were also found in the callous/unemotional and in the impulsive/irresponsible dimension, but not in the grandiose/manipulative dimension. The authors propose that this latent psychopathic personality factor is a meaningful target for future etiological research. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

A Model for Technology Transfer in Practice

Technology transfer, and thus industry-relevant research, involves more than merely producing research results and delivering them in publications and technical reports. It demands close cooperation and collaboration between industry and academia throughout the entire research process. During research conducted in a partnership between Blekinge Institute of Technology and two companies, Danaher Motion Saro AB (DHR) and ABB, we devised a technology transfer model that embodies this philosophy. We initiated this partnership to conduct industry-relevant research in requirements engineering and product management. Technology transfer in this context is a prerequisite: it validates academic research results in a real setting, and it provides a way to improve industry development and business processes     

Off-plane computer-generated waveguide hologram

We present the theory, design, fabrication and evaluation of off-plane computer-generated waveguide holograms (OP-CGWHs). The hologram structure is composed of an array of rectangular elements each containing a waveguide grating coupler. The function of the rectangular elements is twofold: outcoupling the guided optical wave, and introducing phase shift. The phase shift of each rectangular element can be determined by controlling the dislocation of the grating grooves along the guided wave propagation direction. In addition, the phase pattern of the OP-CGWH can be designed using many existing algorithms for computer-generated holograms (CGH), such as the iterative Fourier transform algorithm (IFTA). A design example is presented for a waveguide array generator, which outcouples a Gaussian-like incident guided wave and simultaneously produces an array of spots in free space. Such an OP-CGWH device, based on an AlGaAs-GaAs waveguide, was fabricated using electron-beam lithography and reactive ion beam etching. Experimental results are presented that demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed idea. The uniformity error and the power efficiency of the fabricated OP-CGWH array generator were measured to be approximately 8% and 30%, respectively     

Induction of human breast cancer cell apoptosis from G2/M preceded by stimulation into the cell cycle by Z-1,1-dichloro-2,3-diphenylcyclopropane

We have shown previously that Z-1,1-dichloro-2,3-diphenylcyclopropane (a.k.a. Analog II, A(II)) inhibits human breast cancer cell proliferation regardless of estrogen receptor status or estrogen sensitivity, and that its cellular targets include microtubules. In the present study, we investigated the apoptosis-inducing effects of A(II). MCF-7, MCF-7/LY2, and MDA-MB-231 cells all showed nuclear fragmentation in response to 100 microM A(II) when stained with Hoechst 33342 and examined by fluorescence microscopy. Pulsed field gel electrophoretic analysis showed that each of the cell lines also developed specific high molecular weight DNA fragments: a low level of 1-2 Mb fragments appeared after 6 hr, while 30-50 kb fragments accumulated subsequently. At 24 hr of drug exposure, the majority of cells became nonadherent, and the 30-50 kb fragments were restricted to detached MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 cells. Both adherent and detached MCF-7/LY2 cells exhibited these fragments. A previous study by single-color (propidium) flow cytometry demonstrated that A(II) blocks MDA-MB-231 cells in G2/M of the cell cycle. More refined analyses in the present study showed this same result for MDA-MB-231 cells, but MCF-7 and MCF-7/LY2 cells did not reveal apparent drug-induced cell cycle block. A(II) demonstrated growth inhibitory, cell cycle-perturbing, and hypodiploidy-inducing activity against other human breast carcinoma lines, i.e. BT-20, CAMA-1, and SKBR-3, but no such actions in the non-tumorigenic, "normal" human breast epithelial line MCF-10A. Bromodeoxyuridine labeling and two-color flow cytometric analysis, however, suggested that A(II) caused stimulation into S phase, and that G2/M was the phase of the cell cycle from which cells apoptosed. A(II) caused cell rounding, detachment from the growth matrix, and nuclear shrinkage and fragmentation in parallel with biochemical changes. Cycloheximide inhibited A(II)-induced cell death, indicating that its toxicity requires de novo protein synthesis.