Structural Superplasticity at High Strain Rates of Super Duplex Stainless Steel Fe‐25Cr‐7Ni‐3Mo‐0.3N

The fine‐grained super duplex stainless steel Fe‐25Cr‐7Ni‐3Mo‐0.3N consisting of two phases (δ‐ferrite/austenite) exhibits structural super‐plasticity at higher strain rates of ? ≈ 10^?2s^?1 in the temperature range between 975 and 1100°C. The equiaxed microstructure with an average grain size of was produced by thermomechanical processing. Maximum strain‐rate‐sensitivity exponents of m ≈ 0.5 and elongations to failure of more than 500% were achieved. From thermal activation analysis an activation energy for superplastic flow of Q = 310 ± 20 kJ/mole was derived. The superplastic behaviour at higher strain rates is quantitatively described by a deformation model where grain or interphase boundary sliding is accommodated by sequential steps of dislocation glide and climb. The high strain‐rate‐sensitivity exponent and the observed dislocation density indicate that dislocation climb in the slightly solid solution strengthened austenite is the rate controlling step for superplastic flow. The deformation mechanism reveals that the investigated super duplex stainless steel exhibits superplastic behaviour that is typical for class II solid solution alloys.     

Classification of rheumatoid joint inflammation based on laser imaging

We describe a classification system for a novel imaging method for arthritic finger joints. The basis of this system is a laser imaging technique which is sensitive to the optical characteristics of finger joint tissue. From the laser images acquired at baseline and follow-up, finger joints can automatically be classified according to whether the inflammatory status has improved or worsened. To perform the classification task, various linear and kernel-based systems were implemented and their performances were compared. Based on the results presented in this paper, we conclude that the laser-based imaging permits a reliable classification of pathological finger joints, making it a sensitive method for detecting arthritic changes.     

Magnetization transfer short inversion time inversion recovery enhanced 1H MRI of the human lung

The unique characteristics of the human lung arising from low proton density and multiple air-tissue interfaces of the alveoli cause difficulty in¹H lung magnetic resonance imaging. In addition, the dominating signal from sources such as the thoracic muscle and subcutaneous fat hampers the visualization of the lung parenchyma. In this contribution, an efficient tissue suppression technique is presented which allows one to significantly enhance lung parenchyma visibility. A short inversion time inversion recovery (STIR) experiment combined with a magnetization transfer (MT) experiment was used for magnetization preparation in order to suppress the signal from muscle. A half-Fourier single-shot turbo spin-echo sequence was used as acquisition module. This approach was used to perform lung anatomical imaging in eight healthy human subjects and five patients withcystic fibrosis. The results obtained demonstrate that with MT-STIR approach high quality human lung images can be obtained and that this approach has the potential for the evaluation of lung pathologies.     

A correlation framework for the CORBA component model

Large distributed systems, including real-time embedded systems, are increasingly being built using sophisticated middleware frameworks. Communication in such systems is often realized using in terms of asynchronous events whose propagation is implemented by an underlying publish/subscribe service that hooks components into a generic event communication channel. Event correlation—a mechanism for monitoring and filtering events—has been introduced in some of these systems as an effective technique for reducing network traffic and computation time. Unfortunately, even though event correlation is used heavily in frameworks such as ACE/TAO’s real-time event-channel and in mission critical contexts such as Boeing’s Bold Stroke avionics middleware, the industry standard CORBA Component Model (CCM) does not include a specification of event correlation. While previous proposals for event correlation usually offer sophisticated facilities to detect combinations in the stream of incoming events, they have not been constructed to fit within the CCM type system, and they offer relatively little support for transforming and rearranging filtered events into meaningful output events. In this paper, we present the design rationale, syntax, and semantics for a new and highly flexible model for event correlation that is designed for integration into the CCM type system. Our model has been integrated and tested in the Cadena development and analysis framework, which has been designed to support development of mission-control applications in the Boeing Bold Stroke framework. This work was supported in part by the US Army Research Office (DAAD190110564), by DARPA/IXO’s PCES program (AFRL Contract F33615-00-C-3044), by NSF (CCR-0306607) and by Lockheed Martin.     

Bekämpfung der Computerkriminalität

Die Autoren setzen sich mit dem Gesetzentwurf zur Bek?mpfung der Computerkriminalit?t auseinander, insbesondere mit der Strafbarkeit des Einsatzes von Analysetools.     

Structure and spatial consistency of network-based space layouts for building and product design

Network-based space layouts are schematic models of whole spaces, subspaces, and related physical elements. They address diverse space modeling needs in building and product design. A schema (data model) for network-based space layouts is defined that is influenced by existing space schemas. Layout elements and selected spatial relations form a geometric network. The network is embedded in 3-space and facilitates analysis with graph and network algorithms. Spatial constraints on layout elements and spatial relations extend the schema to support spatial consistency checking. Spatially consistent layouts are required for reliable network analysis and desirable for layout modification operations. An operation is introduced that evaluates spatial constraints to detect and semi- or fully-automatically resolve spatial inconsistencies in a layout. A layout modeling system prototype that includes proof-of-concept implementations of the layout schema extended by spatial constraints and the inconsistency resolution operation is described. Layouts of a floor of an office building and a rack server cabinet have been modeled with the system prototype.     

Homogenization and crystallization of histidine ammonia-lyase by exchange of a surface cysteine residue

Histidase (histidine ammonia-lyase, EC 4.3.1.3) from Pseudomonasputida was expressed in Escherichia coli and purified. In theabsence of thiols the tetrameric enzyme gave rise to undefinedaggregates and suitable crystals could not be obtained. Thesolvent accessibility along the chain was predicted from theamino acid sequence. Among the seven cysteines, only one waslabeled as `solvent-exposed'. The exchange of this cysteineto alanine abolished all undefined aggregations and yieldedreadily crystals diffracting to 1.8 Å resolution.     

A channel flow cell system specifically designed to test the efficiency of redox shuttles in dye sensitized solar cells

The construction and use of a thin layer flow cell test system employing a TiO₂ working electrode, a platinum quasi-reference electrode and the ruthenium dye (H₂-dcbpy)Ru(NCS)₂ (H₂-dcbpy=2,2′-bipyridine-4,4′-dicarboxylic acid) is described. The efficient design enables significant advantages to be gained over presently available procedures for the measurement of photocurrents of dye-sensitized solar cells. The widely used iodide/triiodide redox shuttle system has been investigated over a wide range of conditions. A linear dependence of photocurrent on cation radius was revealed. Under certain conditions, the photocurrent measured in the presence of the Li⁺ cation is five times larger than when the (C₄H₉)₄N⁺ cation is used. Additionally, the addition of low concentrations of cations with small diameters has a significant catalytic enhancement effect on the photocurrent. Other redox shuttles, based on ferrocene, thiocyanate, triiodide and bromide, were tested for their performance in the flow cell and compared to iodide. However, despite some apparent thermodynamic advantages, the photocurrents obtained with these redox shuttles were more than two orders of magnitude lower than those measured with iodide. This finding implies that the efficiency of redox shuttles is limited by kinetic restraints rather than their thermodynamic properties and confirms that the iodide/triiodide system is the dominant redox shuttle.