Effects of the cryogenic cooling on the fatigue strength of the AISI 304 stainless steel ground components

For environmental considerations, the substitution of the conventionally used oil-based grinding fluids has nowadays become strongly recommended. Although several alternatives have been proposed, cryogenic cooling by liquid nitrogen is the non-polluting coolant that has been given relatively more attention because of its very low temperature. In this investigation, in order to contribute to developing this promising cooling mode, its beneficial effects on the ground surface integrity of the AISI 304 stainless steel and their consequences on the fatigue lifetime are explored. Results of this investigation show that grinding under cryogenic cooling mode generates surfaces with lower roughness, less defects, higher work hardening and less tensile residual stresses than those obtained on surfaces ground under oil-based grinding fluid. These surface enhancements result into substantial improvements in the fatigue behaviour of components ground under this cooling mode. An increasing rate of almost 15% of the endurance limit at 2 × 10⁶ cycles could be realized. SEM analyses of the fatigue fracture surfaces have shown that the fatigue cracks observed on the specimens ground under cryogenic cooling are shorter (i.e., 30-50 μm) than those generated under oil-based cooling mode (i.e., 150-200 μm). The realized improvements in the surface integrity and in the fatigue behaviour are thought to be related to the reduction of the grinding zone temperature observed under cryogenic cooling, as no significant differences between the grinding force components for both cooling modes have been observed.     

Microstructure and mechanical properties of modified and non-modified stir-cast Al-Si hypoeutectic alloys

The microstructure and mechanical properties of modified and non-modified stir-cast commercial aluminium alloys A-S7G03 and A-S4G have been investigated. Stir casting of these alloys resulted in spherical and/or rosette shape primary -phase, and the eutectic silicon was broken into miniature needle morphology. This stir-cast structure slightly improved the mechanical properties in comparison to those of conventionally cast alloys, however the fracture of the stir-cast alloys revealed intergranular brittle fracture. The addition of 0.02% strontium, in the form of Al-5 mass% Sr master alloy, during stir casting modified the eutectic silicon into a very fine spheroidal morphology, while the -phase particle showed the same morphology as the stir-cast alloys. This novel structure resulted in significant improvement of mechanical properties. The elongation of the modified stir-cast alloys was five times greater than that of the non-modified one. A transgranular mode of fracture was observed for the modified stircast alloys, moreover smooth ripple and dimple patterns were observed reflecting the high ductility of the modified stir-cast alloys.     

Soluble Epoxide Hydrolase Blockade after Stroke Onset Protects Normal but Not Diabetic Mice

Soluble epoxide hydrolase (sEH) is abundant in the brain, is upregulated in type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM2), and is possible mediator of ischemic injury via the breakdown of neuroprotective epoxyeicosatrienoic acids (EETs). Prophylactic, pre-ischemic sEH blockade with 4-[[trans-4-[[(tricyclo[3.3.1.13,7]dec-1-ylamino)carbonyl]amino]cyclohexyl]oxy]-benzoic acid (tAUCB) reduces stroke-induced infarct in normal and diabetic mice, with larger neuroprotection in DM2. The present study tested whether benefit occurs in normal and DM2 mice if tAUCB is administered after stroke onset. We performed 60 min middle cerebral artery occlusion in young adult male C57BL mice divided into four groups: normal or DM2, with t-AUCB 2 mg/kg or vehicle 30 min before reperfusion. Endpoints were (1) cerebral blood flow (CBF) by laser Doppler, and (2) brain infarct at 24 h. In nondiabetic mice, t-AUCB reduced infarct size by 30% compared to vehicle-treated mice in the cortex (31.4 ± 4 vs. 43.8 ± 3 (SEM)%, respectively) and 26% in the whole hemisphere (26.3 ± 3 vs. 35.2 ± 2%, both p < 0.05). In contrast, in DM2 mice, tAUCB failed to ameliorate either cortical or hemispheric injury. No differences were seen in CBF. We conclude that tAUCB administered after ischemic stroke onset exerts brain protection in nondiabetic but not DM2 mice, that the neuroprotection appears independent of changes in gross CBF, and that DM2-induced hyperglycemia abolishes t-AUCB-mediated neuroprotection after stroke onset.     

Differencing and merging of architectural views

Differencing and merging architectural views is an important activity in software engineering. However, existing approaches are still based on restrictive assumptions, such as requiring view elements to have unique identifiers or exactly matching types, which is often not the case in many application domains. We propose an approach based on structural information. We generalize a published polynomial-time tree-to-tree correction algorithm that detects inserts, renames and deletes, into a novel algorithm that additionally detects restricted moves. Our algorithm also supports forcing and preventing matches between view elements. We incorporate the algorithm into tools to compare and merge Component-and-Connector (C&C) architectural views. We provide an empirical evaluation of the algorithm. We illustrate the tools using extended examples, and use them to detect and reconcile interesting differences between real architectural views. This article is an expanded version of the following paper: Abi-Antoun, M., Aldrich, J., Nahas, N., Schmerl, B., and Garlan, D: 2006, ‘Differencing and Merging of Architectural Views’. In: Proceedings of the 21st IEEE International Conference on Automated Software Engineering, pp. 47–58.     

Proteomics in chronic kidney disease: The issues clinical nephrologists need an answer for

A growing number of patients are recognised to have chronic kidney disease (CKD). However, only a minority will progress to end-stage renal disease requiring dialysis or transplantation. Currently available diagnostic and staging tools frequently fail to identify those at higher risk of progression or death. Furthermore within specific disease entities there are shortcomings in the prediction of the need for therapeutic interventions or the response to different forms of therapy. Kidney and urine proteomic biomarkers are considered as promising diagnostic tools to predict CKD progression early in diabetic nephropathy, facilitating timely and selective intervention that may reduce the related health-care expenditures. However, independent groups have not validated these findings and the technique is not currently available for routine clinical care. Furthermore, there are gaps in our understanding of predictors of progression or need for therapy in non-diabetic CKD. Presumably, a combination of tissue and urine biomarkers will be more informative than individual markers. This review identifies clinical questions in need of an answer, summarises current information on proteomic biomarkers and CKD, and describes the European Kidney and Urine Proteomics initiative that has been launched to carry out a clinical study aimed at identifying urinary proteomic biomarkers distinguishing between fast and slow progressors among patients with biopsy-proven primary glomerulopathies.     

Stability and robustness of fuzzy adaptive control of nonlinear systems

In this paper, we propose a new approach that guarantees the stability and robustness of an adaptive control law of a nonlinear system.The control diagram proposed contains a Takagi–Sugeno–Kang fuzzy controller (TSK-FC) and a training block allowing the online adaptation of the FC parameters. The adaptation algorithm used is based on the gradient with minimization of the quadratic error between the system output and that desired by using the direct method of Lyapunov. However, our approach considers the gradient step of each adaptive FC parameter to be bound. This approach was applied to the control of an inverted pendulum. The results obtained confirm well the validity of such an adaptation especially the guarantee of the pendulum stability and the robustness of its control with respect to the disturbances introduced on the FC parameters and the pendulum itself.     

Modeling and Retrieval of Moving Objects

This paper presents a symbolic formalism for modeling and retrieving video data via the moving objects contained in the video images. The model integrates the representations of individual moving objects in a scene with the time-varying relationships between them by incorporating both the notions of object tracks and temporal sequences of PIRs (projection interval relationships). The model is supported by a set of operations which form the basis of a moving object algebra. This algebra allows one to retrieve scenes and information from scenes by specifying both spatial and temporal properties of the objects involved. It also provides operations to create new scenes from existing ones. A prototype implementation is described which allows queries to be specified either via an animation sketch or using the moving object algebra.     

Modeling and Analysis of Workflows Using Petri Nets

A workflow system, in its general form, is basically a heterogeneous and distributed information system where the tasks are performed using autonomous systems. Resources, such as databases, labor, etc. are typically required to process these tasks. Prerequisite to the execution of a task is a set of constraints that reflect the applicable business rules and user requirements.In this paper we present a Petri Net (PN) based framework that (1) facilitates specification of workflow applications, (2) serves as a powerful tool for modeling the system under study at a conceptual level, (3) allows for a smooth transition from the conceptual level to a testbed implementation and (4) enables the analysis, simulation and validation of the system under study before proceeding to implementation. Specifically, we consider three categories of task dependencies: control flow, value and external (temporal).We identify several structural properties of PN and demonstrate their use for conducting the following type of analyses: (1) identify inconsistent dependency specifications among tasks; (2) test for workflow safety, i.e. test whether the workflow terminates in an acceptable state; (3) for a given starting time, test whether it is feasible to execute a workflow with the specified temporal constraints. We also provide an implementation for conducting the above analyses.     

Effects of Pulsed Electric Fields on Cabernet Sauvignon Grape Berries and on the Characteristics of Wines

The treatment of Cabernet Sauvignon red grapes by pulsed electric fields (PEFs) is performed prior to vinification in order to enhance the extraction of polyphenols. PEF treatments of the longest duration and of the highest energy (E?= 0.7 kV/cm, t _PEF?=?200 ms, W?=?31 Wh/kg) changed the structure of grape skins and produced a wine that was richer in tannins (34 %), while treatment of the highest strength (E?=?4 kV/cm, t _PEF?=?1 ms, W =?4 Wh/kg) altered the visual appearance of phenolic compounds in the skins and led to greater extraction of the anthocyanins (19 %). The PEF treatments caused the depolymerization of skin tannins, improving the diffusion of these decondensed tannins which are smaller. The PEF treatment of longest duration and of the highest energy had more impact on the parietal tannins and the cell walls of the skins while treatment of the highest strength modified more the vacuolar tannins. Changes in the operating parameters of the PEF treatment (E?=?0.7 to 4 kV/cm, t _PEF?=?1 to 200 ms, W?=?4 to 31 Wh/kg) did not affect alcohol content, total acidity nor volatile acidity in finished wines compared to the values of the control wine, but seemed to cause a slight increase in pH (1–2 %).