SCC casting prediction for the realization of prototype VHPC-precambered composite beams

Casting simulations of self-compacting concrete are carried out in order to obtain a value of the minimum fluidity needed to cast a VHPC precambered composite beam. The mix proportioning of the concrete takes into account this minimum value. The numerical predictions are finally compared with the experimental observations during two casting tests and the real casting of the two 13 m beams. Although the simplifying assumptions needed to carry out the simulations are numerous, there is an agreement between the predictions and the real casting.     

Expression of INK4 inhibitors of cyclin D-dependent kinases during mouse brain development

In situ hybridization of mouse embryo sections demonstrated expression of mRNAs encoding two polypeptide inhibitors (p18INK4c and p19INK4d) of cyclin D-dependent kinase (CDK) 4 and CDK6 in the central nervous system. No expression of two other INK4 members, p16INK4a and p15INK4b, was observed. The p19INK4d and p18INK4c proteins formed complexes with either CDK4 or CDK6 in a temporal pattern consistent with the results of in situ hybridization. Expression of INK4c was observed at embryonic day 13.5 in neuroepithelial zones of the developing brain, being restricted to dividing neuroblasts but absent from differentiating postmitotic neurons. In the neocortex, p18INK4c was expressed precisely at those developmental stages when neuroblasts switch from a symmetric to an asymmetric pattern of cell division with concomitant increases in their G1 interval. INK4d RNA was detected from embryonic day 11.5 onward, at higher levels than INK4c and with a distinctly different spatial and temporal pattern. Marked INK4d expression was seen in dorsal root ganglia, spinal cord, and focally throughout the brain, but primarily in postmitotic neurons. Neural expression of INK4d continued postnatally into adulthood in postmitotic cells of the dentate gyrus, the pyramidal layer of the hippocampus, and in discrete regions of the cerebral cortex, cerebellum, thalamus, and brainstem. Downregulation of p19INK4d in the dentate gyrus after kainic acid-induced seizures indicated that its expression could also be modified in nondividing cells by excitotoxic stress. Therefore, p19INK4d may contribute to maintaining the quiescent state, acting as a buffer to prevent reactivation of cyclin D-dependent kinases in terminally differentiated cells.     

Insulin sensitivity, insulin action, and fibrinolysis activity in nondiabetic and diabetic obese subjects

Because inconsistencies occur with regard to the relative contribution of insulin to the hypofibrinolysis characteristic of obesity and diabetes, we explored the relationship between insulin and fibrinolysis, assessing both insulin sensitivity and insulin action. Seventeen markedly obese subjects (body mass index [BMI], 34.0+/-1.6 kg/m2; 12 nondiabetic and five diabetic) were studied using the three-step euglycemic-hyperinsulinemic clamp technique. Since the circadian rhythm of the fibrinolytic system may obscure a true effect of insulin, variations in fibrinolysis parameters observed during the glucose clamp were compared with those occurring spontaneously because of the circadian rhythm. Compared with six normal-weight subjects (BMI, 21.0+/-0.9 kg/m2), all obese subjects exhibited basal hyperinsulinism (fasting plasma insulin, 16.0+/-1.4 v 9.8+/-1.3 microU/microL, P < .001; fasting plasma C-peptide, 1.4+/-0.2 v 0.5+/-0.2 ng/mL, P < .001), hypofibrinolysis (euglobulin lysis time [ELT], 378+/-29 v 222+/-31 minutes, P=.01; tissue plasminogen activator [tPA] antigen, 7.8+/-0.9 v 4.2+/-0.5 ng/mL, P=.04; plasminogen activator inhibitor type 1 [PAI-1] activity, 22.2+/-2.5 v3.9+/-0.6 AU/mL, P=.004), and marked insulin resistance (M value, ie, the maximal glucose disposal rate, 9.1+/-0.6 v 18.6+/-0.8 mg/(kg x min), P < .001). The M value correlated inversely with tPA antigen (r=-.46, P=.05). During insulin infusion, values for fibrinolysis parameters decreased, but were not different compared with variations due to the circadian rhythm. In conclusion, our findings together with previously reported data reinforce the idea that chronic hyperinsulinism is linked to hypofibrinolysis, but insulin does not seem to acutely regulate the fibrinolysis system.     

Spectroscopic and electrical properties of 3-alkyl pyrrole-pyrrole copolymers

Three types of copolymers composed of pyrrole and 3-alkyl pyrroles (with alkyl being pentyl, nonyl and undecyl) have been synthesized. A strong linear dependency of the alkyl chain length on the as-prepared copolymer physical properties is demonstrated via (a) DSC (for phase transition temperatures and enthalpy changes) and (b) UV-vis (for wavelengths of the polaronic and bipolaronic electronic transitions, and ratio of the corresponding absorbances). A trend in the copolymers' doping level vs alkyl chain length is also estimated, via IR, by taking the ratio of band intensities of the stretching modes of the polaronic and bipolaronic species. The copolymers are found to be soluble in organic solvents and their solutions can be cast onto glass substrates or metals resulting in thin films, which can be used as the electroactive component of Schottky diodes. The electrical properties of these diodes are also found to be dependent on increasing 3-alkyl chain length.     

A memetic algorithm to solve an unrelated parallel machine scheduling problem with auxiliary resources in semiconductor manufacturing

In this paper, we propose a metaheuristic for solving an original scheduling problem with auxiliary resources in a photolithography workshop of a semiconductor plant. The photolithography workshop is often a bottleneck, and improving scheduling decisions in this workshop can help to improve indicators of the whole plant. Two optimization criteria are separately considered: the weighted flow time (to minimize) and the number of products that are processed (to maximize). After stating the problem and giving some properties on the solution space, we show how these properties help us to efficiently solve the problem with the proposed memetic algorithm, which has been implemented and tested on large generated instances. Numerical experiments show that good solutions are obtained within a reasonable computational time.     

Study of Nano-Porous Silicon with Low Thermal Conductivity as Thermal Insulating Material

Recently discovered phenomenon of extremely low thermal conductivity of nano-porous silicon (nano-PS) is discussed in detail. A theoretical model describing specific mechanisms of heat transport in as-prepared and oxidized nano-PS layers is described. The theoretical estimations are in a good agreement with experimental data obtained earlier. The low thermal conductivity values allow to use this promising material as thermal insulator in microsensors and microsystems. To ensure an efficient thermal isolation, a nano-PS layer has to be as thick as possible and mechanically stable. We describe here the procedures to form thick (up to 200 m) and stable nano-PS layers. Distribution of Si oxidized fraction along the layer thickness after thermal oxidation in dry O₂ atmosphere at 300°C during 1 h is studied.     

Using conscious reflection,group processes,and AI to facilitate development of expertise

Three experiments investigated procedures derived from research on knowledge acquisition, group processes, and artificial intelligence for facilitating the development of expertise. In each experimental session, subjects learned to control a simulated sugar production factory. Then they formulated written policies for controlling sugar production either alone as individuals or in small groups. An adaptive AI system provided feedback on policy quality. The research also investigated the use of forced reflective practice in which learners attempted to predict what their policy would do while performing the task. The AI system provided feedback about what their policy would have done in each situation and the outcome based on their policy's response or their suggested alternative response. Results indicated that group interaction and feedback from the AI system improved policy quality. However, only when all three procedures were employed, group interaction, AI feedback, and forced reflective practice, was the development of individual expertise on the task enhanced.     

Flow induced particle migration in fresh concrete: Theoretical frame,numerical simulations and experimental results on model fluids

In this paper, we describe and compare the various physical phenomena which potentially lead to flow induced particle migration in concrete. We show that, in the case of industrial casting of concrete, gravity induced particle migration dominates all other potential sources of heterogeneities induced by flow. We then show, from comparisons between experiments using model materials, dimensional analysis and numerical simulations, that, from a quantitative point of view, the viscous drag force, which prevents particles from migrating during a casting process, shall neither be computed from the apparent viscosity nor from the plastic viscosity of the suspending phase but from its tangential viscosity. Finally, the transfer of this type of numerical prediction tool to real concrete is discussed.