Thermal modeling in electricity assisted incremental sheet forming

A thermal model was built to account for the effects of geometrical parameters of sheet specimen, process parameters and material parameters on the temperature increase of the sheet specimen in Electricity-Assisted Incremental Sheet Forming (EISF). In the EISF, the local area of sheet specimen contacting with a forming tool is heated by direct current, which flows through the forming tool to the sheet specimen. EISF experiments of two high strength steel sheets were carried out to validate the thermal model. The thermal model can be integrated into the control program of EISF system to achieve more accurate temperature control.     

Characterization of the Basal and mTOR-Dependent Acute Pulmonary and Systemic Immune Response in a Murine Model of Combined Burn and Inhalation Injury

Severe burn injury leads to a cascade of local and systemic immune responses that trigger an extreme state of immune dysfunction, leaving the patient highly susceptible to acute and chronic infection. When combined with inhalation injury, burn patients have higher mortality and a greater chance of developing secondary respiratory complications including infection. No animal model of combined burn and inhalation injury (B+I) exists that accurately mirrors the human clinical picture, nor are there any effective immunotherapies or predictive models of the risk of immune dysfunction. Our earlier work showed that the mechanistic/mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) pathway is activated early after burn injury, and its chemical blockade at injury reduced subsequent chronic bacterial susceptibility. It is unclear if mTOR plays a role in the exacerbated immune dysfunction seen after B+I injury. We aimed to: (1) characterize a novel murine model of B+I injury, and (2) investigate the role of mTOR in the immune response after B+I injury. Pulmonary and systemic immune responses to B+I were characterized in the absence or presence of mTOR inhibition at the time of injury. Data describe a murine model of B+I with inhalation-specific immune phenotypes and implicate mTOR in the acute immune dysfunction observed.     

Bracing systems in masonry buildings / Aussteifungssysteme im Mauerwerksbau

In this article, an FE analysis model suitable in engineering practice for masonry bracing walls acting as deep beams without tensile strength is compared with simple models based on trusses. The results of both processes are compared through the example of a four‐storey building of Poroton masonry.     

Nachträgliche Verstärkung gemauerter Tragwerke mit Faserverbundwerkstoffen

Gemauerte Konstruktionen lassen sich sehr effektiv mit Faserverbundwerkstoffen nachträglich verstärken. Dabei ist es sinnvoll, den Faserverbundwerkstoff direkt auf der Mauerwerksoberfläche durch das Einlegen von Fasergelegen in eine Klebstoffmatrix herzustellen. Anwendungsgebiete dieses Verfahrens sind die Umschnürung gemauerter Pfeiler, die Verstärkung von Wänden unter Scheibenbeanspruchung und die zugfeste Bewehrung biegebeanspruchter Bauteile. Die wichtigsten Ergebnisse umfangreicher experimenteller Untersuchungen, die an der Universität Kassel in den vergangenen Jahren durchgeführt wurden, werden vorgestellt und erläutert. Post‐strengthening of masonry structures with fibre reinforced polymers. Fiber reinforced polymeres can be used effectively for post‐strengthening of masonry structures. In this context it is reasonable to manufacture the FRP material by wet‐lay‐up directly on the surface of the masonry structure. Possible applications of the method are the confinement of columns as well as post‐strengthening of in‐plane and out‐of‐plane loaded structures. The main results of experimental research carried out at the University of Kassel during the last years will be presented.     

A study of female urinary incontinence in general practice. Demography, medical history, and clinical findings

The aim of this study was to provide valid data on the demography, medical history and clinical findings among adult women presenting with urinary incontinence to general practitioners. In a rural community in Norway, all women > 20 years who consulted their general practitioner for urinary incontinence during a 3 year period were included in a prospective study. A thorough medical history and both a general and focused clinical examination were undertaken. Gynecological examination, stress provocation test, and 48 h frequency/volume chart and pad weighing test were also performed. 105 women were included (4.4% of women > 20 years in the total population). Mean age was 57 years, 64% were postmenopausal. A lot of comorbidity was reported. Duration of incontinence was > 5 years in 49%. By a severity index, 64% were classified as severe, 28% as moderate and 8% as having slight incontinence. 59% were using protective pads or garments. Mean leakage per 24 h was 31 g. 38% had significant genital prolapse. Contractility of the pelvic floor muscles was weak in 28%. Diagnostic classification revealed 50% stress incontinence, 10% urge and 40% mixed incontinence. 42% of the patients were a great deal or much bothered by their incontinence. Patients with stress incontinence were less bothered than others. Women presenting with urinary incontinence at a primary care level are prevalent, and often have significant incontinence. It is a challenge for the general practitioners to investigate and treat these patients optimally.     

Participatory ergonomics in design processes: the role of boundary objects

The aim of this paper is to introduce the concept of boundary objects in order to better understand the role of objects in participatory ergonomics (PE) design processes. The research question is: What characterizes boundary objects in PE processes? Based on two case studies, we identify eight characteristics of boundary objects and their use, which make them particularly useful in PE design processes. These characteristics go beyond the object itself and extend into the context of their use. We argue that the selection of boundary objects in PE processes is of great importance, since different objects enable workers’ participation and collaborative design in different ways. The framework developed may serve to provide criteria to guide practitioners and intervention researchers in the selection of objects to facilitate a PE process. The paper concludes with a list of recommendations for ergonomic practitioners that are based on the framework.