A three‐dimensional model describing stress‐temperature induced solid phase transformations: solution algorithm and boundary value problems

An always increasing knowledge on material properties as well as a progressively more sophisticated production technology make shape memory alloys (SMA) extremely interesting for the industrial world. At the same time, SMA devices are typically characterized by complex multi‐axial stress states as well as non‐homogeneous and non‐isothermal conditions both in space and time. This aspect suggests the finite element method as a useful tool to help and improve application design and realization. With this aim, we focus on a three‐dimensional macroscopic thermo‐mechanical model able to reproduce the most significant SMA features (Int. J. Numer. Methods Eng. 2002; 55 : 1255–1264), proposing a simple modification of such a model. However, the suggested modification allows the development of a time‐discrete solution algorithm, which is more effective and robust than the one previously discussed in the literature. We verify the computational tool ability to simulate realistic mechanical boundary value problems with prescribed temperature dependence, studying three SMA applications: a spring actuator, a self‐expanding stent, a coupling device for vacuum tightness. The effectiveness of the model to solve thermo‐mechanical coupled problems will be discussed in a forthcoming work. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

The Simon effect occurs relative to the direction of an attention shift.

We investigated whether the Simon effect depends on the orienting of attention. In Experiment 1, participants were required to execute left-right discriminative responses to 2 patterns that were presented to the left or right of fixation. The 2 patterns were similar, and the discrimination was difficult. A letter at fixation signaled whether the current trial was a catch trial. The results showed a reversal of the Simon effect. That is, spatially noncorresponding responses were faster than spatially corresponding responses. In Experiment 2, the discrimination of the relevant stimulus attribute was easy. In Experiment 3, the discrimination of the relevant stimulus attribute was difficult, but the stimulus exposure time was long. In either experiment, the regular Simon effect was reinstated. In Experiment 4, the letter that signaled a catch trial appeared to the left or right of the imperative stimulus. The Simon effect occurred relative to the position of the letter. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Macrophage-derived cytokines in the follicular fluids of women with infertility due to immunological causes. Elevated levels of interleukin 6 and low levels of granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor

Myoclonus of the middle ear is a rare condition characterized by abnormal repetitive muscle contractions of the tympanic cavity. In this paper we describe what we believe is the first reported case of continuous high-frequency objective tinnitus caused by middle ear myoclonus. During exploratory tympanomastoidectomy it was hypothesized that a small dural arteriovenous malformation not identified on previous tests was the cause of the tinnitus. However, complete disappearance of the tinnitus during administration of curare for anesthesia led us to believe that the tinnitus might have been caused by myoclonus of the middle ear. Sectioning of the stapedius and tensor tympani tendons rendered the patient asymptomatic and confirmed the diagnosis of middle ear myoclonus. At follow-up of one year, the patient's quality of life had improved substantially; the tinnitus did not recur and she no longer had vertigo.     

The Multifunctional Sactipeptide Ruminococcin C1 Displays Potent Antibacterial Activity In Vivo as Well as Other Beneficial Properties for Human Health

The world is on the verge of a major antibiotic crisis as the emergence of resistant bacteria is increasing, and very few novel molecules have been discovered since the 1960s. In this context, scientists have been exploring alternatives to conventional antibiotics, such as ribosomally synthesized and post-translationally modified peptides (RiPPs). Interestingly, the highly potent in vitro antibacterial activity and safety of ruminococcin C1, a recently discovered RiPP belonging to the sactipeptide subclass, has been demonstrated. The present results show that ruminococcin C1 is efficient at curing infection and at protecting challenged mice from Clostridium perfringens with a lower dose than the conventional antibiotic vancomycin. Moreover, antimicrobial peptide (AMP) is also effective against this pathogen in the complex microbial community of the gut environment, with a selective impact on a few bacterial genera, while maintaining a global homeostasis of the microbiome. In addition, ruminococcin C1 exhibits other biological activities that could be beneficial for human health, as well as other fields of applications. Overall, this study, by using an in vivo infection approach, confirms the antimicrobial clinical potential and highlights the multiple functional properties of ruminococcin C1, thus extending its therapeutic interest.     

Perfect Strategies for the Ulam-Rényi Game with Multi-interval Questions

We study a new variant of the classical 20 question game with lies (a.k.a. Ulam-Rényi game). The Ulam-Rényi game models the problem of identifying an initially unknown m-bit number by asking subset questions, where up to e of the answers might be mendacious. In the variant considered in this paper, we set an additional constraint on the type of questions, namely, that the subsets they ask for should be the union of at most k intervals for some k>0 fixed beforehand. We show that for any e and m, there exists k only depending on e such that strategies using k-interval question are as powerful (in terms of the minimum number of queries needed) as the best strategies using arbitrary membership questions.     

Spatio-temporal hotspots and application on a disease analysis case via GIS

Hotspot analysis is a spatial analysis that uses cluster techniques for determining areas with elevated concentrations of localized events. We use the consolidated Extended Fuzzy C-Means algorithm to determine the hotspot areas on the map as circles, moreover the advantages of this technique are the linear computational complexity, the robustness to noise and outliers, the automatic determination of the optimal number C of clusters (in the classical FCM algorithm C is chosen a priori). Furthermore it prevents the problem of shifting the clusters with low density area of data points in areas with higher density of such points. We apply this method to study the spatio-temporal variations of the hotspot areas by testing this process on a specific disease problem, precisely we have clusterized 5,000 point-events correspondent to cases of brain cancer detected in the state of New Mexico from 1973 to 1991. We also show that the same results are obtained by using the Extended Gustafson–Kessel algorithm which gives elliptical clusters. We have implemented both algorithms in a Geographic Information System environment. Thus we establish the areas which seem not interested from the incidence of the disease and those areas in which the phenomenon appears to be temporarily attenuated either increased or constant or quite disappeared.     

Physical Violence Detection Based on Distributed Surveillance Cameras

Mobile Networks and Applications - In recent years, physical violence detection has become a research hotspot in the area of human activity recognition. With the improvement and full coverage of...     

Post-Event Site Investigation,Monitoring, Stability Analysis,and Modeling of a Gas Pipeline Explosion

This paper describes the results of site investigations, monitoring, stability analyses, and soil-pipe interaction modeling of a built-up slope located near Pineto (Abruzzo Province, Central Italy), where a gas pipeline exploded on March 6th, 2015, due to heavy rains inducing slope movements. The slope is formed by OC clay, covered with an upper 10- to 14-m-thick clayey-sandy silt colluvial layer. The explosion in the upper portion of the slope caused extensive damage to existing buildings and threatened human lives. Soon after the event, a site investigation and monitoring program was carried out. A detailed topographic survey and hydrological data were analyzed in order to characterize possible critical rainfall events. The stability of the slope was analyzed both in pre- and in post-explosion conditions. The profiles of the DMT horizontal stress index K _D helped to identify multiple slip surfaces. Then, the results of the site investigation and stability analyses were used to implement a simplified finite element model aimed to describe the soil-pipeline interaction, taking into account the role of the observed wrinkle in the pipeline. The numerical simulations reveal the crucial role played by the slope movements, and by the wrinkle as well, in inducing the collapse of the pipe.     

Programmable differential brake for passive haptics

This paper outlines work on a novel programmable braking system, which is widely applicable to most passive haptic applications and benefits from a simple design, theoretically infinite positional resolution and the ability to generate stiff collision forces, without the need for any explicit force measurements. Results are also given of a preliminary concept demonstrator which is based on a simple 2-Degrees-Of-Freedom (DOF) Revolute–Revolute (RR) manipulator incorporating the programmable brakes. Performance measures for the joint, as well as figures describing the ability of the 2-DOF prototype to constrain the end effector motion to a plane and a circle, are also provided.     

Faster Deterministic Communication in Radio Networks

We study the communication primitives of broadcasting (one-to-all communication) and gossiping (all-to-all communication) in known topology radio networks, i.e., where for each primitive the schedule of transmissions is precomputed based on full knowledge about the size and the topology of the network. We show that gossiping can be completed in time units in any radio network of size n, diameter D, and maximum degree Δ=Ω(log n). This is an almost optimal schedule in the sense that there exists a radio network topology, specifically a Δ-regular tree, in which the radio gossiping cannot be completed in less than units of time. Moreover, we show a schedule for the broadcast task. Both our transmission schemes significantly improve upon the currently best known schedules by Gąsieniec, Peleg, and Xin (Proceedings of the 24th Annual ACM SIGACT-SIGOPS PODC, pp. 129–137, 2005), i.e., a O(D+Δlog n) time schedule for gossiping and a D+O(log ³ n) time schedule for broadcast. Our broadcasting schedule also improves, for large D, a very recent O(D+log ² n) time broadcasting schedule by Kowalski and Pelc. A preliminary version of this paper appeared in the proceedings of ISAAC’06. F. Cicalese supported by the Sofja Kovalevskaja Award 2004 of the Alexander von Humboldt Stiftung. F. Manne and Q. Xin supported by the Research Council of Norway through the SPECTRUM project.