Analytical model of displacement amplification and stiffness optimization for a class of flexure-based compliant mechanisms

The paper formulates an analytical method for displacement and stiffness calculations of planar compliant mechanisms with single-axis flexure hinges. The procedure is based on the strain energy and Castigliano’s displacement theorem and produces closed-form equations that incorporate the compliances characterizing any analytically-defined hinge, together with the other geometric and material properties of the compliant mechanism. Displacement amplification, input stiffness and output stiffness calculations can simply be performed for any serial compliant mechanism. The class of amplifying compliant mechanisms that contain symmetric corner-filleted or circular flexure hinges is specifically addressed here. A parametric study of the mechanism performance is performed, based on the mathematical model, and an optimization procedure is proposed, based on Lagrange’s multipliers and Kuhn-Tucker conditions, which identifies the design vector that maximizes the performance of these flexure-based compliant mechanisms. Independent finite element simulation confirms the analytical model predictions.     

Rapid analysis of polymer homologues and additives with SFE/SFC-MS coupling

A rapid and easy analysis method for polymers is presented. The method involves sample preparation by SFE, separation of the extracted compounds by SFC and simultaneous quantitative detection by FID, as well as identification of unknowns by MS. The applications illustrate how structural research work and routine polymer analysis can be done with this time saving method.     

Representation and uniformization of algebraic transductions

This paper explores different means of representation for algebraic transductions, i.e., word relations realized by pushdown transducers. The relevance of this work lies more in its point of view rather than any particular result. We are aiming at giving specific techniques for obtaining, or perhaps explaining, decompositions of algebraic (and incidentally, rational) relations, relying solely on their “machine” definition rather than some complex algebraic apparatus. From this point of view, we are hoping to have demystified the heavy formalism employed in the present literature. Some of the novelties of our work are: the use of “stack languages” and “embeddings,” which eliminate the need of arbitrary context-free languages in our characterizations, the study of uniformizations for algebraic transductions and the use of the so-called stack transductions for exposing the anatomy of pushdown transducers.This work was supported by the Natural Science and Engineering Research Council of Canada grants R220259 and OGP0041630.     

Performance enhancement of an induction motor by secondaryimpedance control

The paper demonstrates the use of nonresistive secondary control of an induction motor to improve efficiency, power factor and torque. A mathematical algorithm is presented to predict the control requirements in terms of secondary capacitance. The required secondary capacitance is implemented by a novel electronic switching technique that effectively increases the value of the used capacitor. This overcomes the high-capacitance demand and provides a feasible solution. Experimental verification is presented in the results obtained from a small induction motor drive     

Detecting palindromes,patterns and borders in regular languages

Given a language L and a non-deterministic finite automaton M, we consider whether we can determine efficiently (in the size of M) if M accepts at least one word in L, or infinitely many words. Given that M accepts at least one word in L, we consider how long a shortest word can be. The languages L that we examine include the palindromes, the non-palindromes, the k-powers, the non-k-powers, the powers, the non-powers (also called primitive words), the words matching a general pattern, the bordered words, and the unbordered words.     

Note: Bending compliances of generalized symmetric notch flexure hinges

The bending compliances of generalized notch flexure hinges with transverse or transverse-and-axial symmetry are studied in two particular reference frames. For an end-point reference frame, the cross compliance and the rotary compliance are proportional. When the reference frame is placed at the flexure's midpoint, the cross compliance is zero. The translatory and rotary compliances of only half the flexure hinge are sufficient to calculate the overall compliances of a transverse-symmetry flexure configuration. Similarly, the overall bending compliances of a flexure hinge with transverse-and-axial symmetry require prior calculation of the translatory and rotary compliances of a quarter flexure solely.     

Cardiac Toxicity Associated with Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors: A Systematic Review

Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) are an important advancement in the field of cancer treatment, significantly improving the survival of patients with a series of advanced malignancies, like melanoma, non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), renal cell carcinoma (RCC), and Hodgkin lymphoma. ICIs act upon T lymphocytes and antigen-presenting cells, targeting programmed cell death protein 1 (PD1), programmed cell death protein ligand 1 (PD-L1), and cytotoxic T-lymphocyte antigen 4 (CTLA-4), breaking the immune tolerance of the T cells against malignant cells and enhancing the body’s own immune response. A variety of cardiac-adverse effects are associated with ICI-based treatment, including pericarditis, arrhythmias, cardiomyopathy, and acute coronary syndrome, with myocarditis being the most studied due to its often-unexpected onset and severity. Overall, Myocarditis is rare but presents an immune-related adverse event (irAE) that has a high fatality rate. Considering the rising number of oncological patients treated with ICIs and the severity of their potential adverse effects, a good understanding and continuous investigation of cardiac irAEs is of the utmost importance. This systematic review aimed to revise recent publications (between 2016–2022) on ICI-induced cardiac toxicities and highlight the therapeutical approach and evolution in the selected cases.     

Facile Microwave Assisted Synthesis of Silver Nanostars for Ultrasensitive Detection of Biological Analytes by SERS

We report a very simple, rapid and reproducible method for the fabrication of anisotropic silver nanostars (AgNS) that can be successfully used as highly efficient SERS substrates for different bioanalytes, even in the case of a near-infra-red (NIR) excitation laser. The nanostars have been synthesized using the chemical reduction of Ag⁺ ions by trisodium citrate. This is the first research reporting the synthesis of AgNS using only trisodium citrate as a reducing and stabilizing agent. The key elements of this original synthesis procedure are rapid hydrothermal synthesis of silver nanostars followed by a cooling down procedure by immersion in a water bath. The synthesis was performed in a sealed bottom flask homogenously heated and brought to a boil in a microwave oven. After 60 s, the colloidal solution was cooled down to room temperature by immersion in a water bath at 35 °C. The as-synthesized AgNS were washed by centrifugation and used for SERS analysis of test molecules (methylene blue) as well as biological analytes: pharmaceutical compounds with various Raman cross sections (doxorubicin, atenolol & metoprolol), cell lysates and amino acids (methionine & cysteine). UV-Vis absorption spectroscopy, (Scanning) Transmission Electron Microscopy ((S)TEM) and Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) have been employed for investigating nanostars’ physical properties.