Two-Dimensional Physical and Numerical Modeling of a Pile-Supported Earth Platform over Soft Soil

This paper focuses on the mechanisms occurring in a granular earth platform over soft ground improved by rigid piles. Two-dimensional physical model experiments were performed using the Schneebeli’s analogical soil to investigate the load transfer mechanisms by arching and the settlement reduction and homogenization. Experimental outputs are compared to results obtained on a numerical model using a plane strain continuum approach. The impact of the constitutive model complexity to simulate the platform material behavior was first assessed, but no large difference was recorded. As far as the proposed model, which takes the main features of the observed behavior satisfactorily into account, the numerical procedure could be validated and the parametric studies extended numerically. Both approaches of this study underlined the main geometrical and geotechnical parameters which should inevitably be taken into account in a simplified design method, namely the capping ratio, the platform height, and the platform material shear strength.     

Analysis of planar arrays of shunt slots in ridged waveguides

Planar infinite arrays, comprising longitudinal slots cut in ridged waveguides, are analysed using a Galerkin formulation for the tangential electric field at both slot interfaces, combined with the finite element method for generating the waveguide Green function used in the integral equation. Computations agree very well with previously documented results     

Cbf5p, a potential pseudouridine synthase, and Nhp2p, a putative RNA-binding protein, are present together with Gar1p in all H BOX/ACA-motif snoRNPs and constitute a common bipartite structure

The eukaryotic nucleolus contains a large number of small nucleolar RNAs (snoRNAs) that are involved in preribosomal RNA (pre-rRNA) processing. The H box/ACA-motif (H/ACA) class of snoRNAs has recently been demonstrated to function as guide RNAs targeting specific uridines in the pre-rRNA for pseudouridine (psi) synthesis. To characterize the protein components of this class of snoRNPs, we have purified the snR42 and snR30 snoRNP complexes by anti-m3G-immunoaffinity and Mono-Q chromatography of Saccharomyces cerevisiae extracts. Sequence analysis of the individual polypeptides demonstrated that the three proteins Gar1p, Nhp2p, and Cbf5p are common to both the snR30 and snR42 complexes. Nhp2p is a highly basic protein that belongs to a family of putative RNA-binding proteins. Cbf5p has recently been demonstrated to be involved in ribosome biogenesis and also shows striking homology with known prokaryotic psi synthases. The presence of Cbf5p, a putative psi synthase in each H/ACA snoRNP suggests that this class of RNPs functions as individual modification enzymes. Immunoprecipitation studies using either anti-Cbf5p antibodies or a hemagglutinin-tagged Nhp2p demonstrated that both proteins are associated with all H/ACA-motif snoRNPs. In vivo depletion of Nhp2p results in a reduction in the steady-state levels of all H/ACA snoRNAs. Electron microscopy of purified snR42 and snR30 particles revealed that these two snoRNPs possess a similar bipartite structure that we propose to be a major structural determining principle for all H/ACA snoRNPs.     

Effects of low-voltage electrical stimulation during exsanguination on meat quality and display colour stability

Five steers from each of four slaughter groups were randomly assigned to a low-voltage electrical stimulation (LVES) treatment during exsanguination (within 5 min after stunning) and five served as controls (C). LVES consisted of 50V of 60 Hz alternating current (1 s on and 1 s off for 2 min).

At 28 h, LVES longissimus (LM) was lighter in colour, softer, coarser in texture and tended to have lower marbling estimates than C. LVES LM steaks were lighter red at 0 and 1 days, but more discoloured at 5 days, of display than C steaks. Both the deep (DSM) and superficial (SSM) portions of LVES semimembranosus (SM) steaks were lighter red at 0 and 1 days of display than C steaks. Water-holding capacity for LVES LM and DSM steaks was lower than for C steaks. A trained sensory panel found LVES LM steaks to be less juicy and less tender than C steaks. Also, LVES LM steaks had greater cooking losses than C steaks in two of the four slaughter groups. We conclude that LVES during exsanguination, coupled with relatively slow initial chilling, may be detrimental to muscle quality.     

Balanitis/balanoposthitis chronica circumscripta benigna plasmacellularis--entity or fiction?

During the years 1985 up to 1995 53 patients between 18 and 80 years of age (mean age 54.7 years) with histologically and clinically proven Zoon's balanitis were treated by circumcision. The majority of patients had symptoms for more than 12 months. In five cases they had lasted for 8, 10, 16, 17 and 47 (!) years. 30 patients were investigated by means of physical examination and questionnaire in this retrospective study. Lesions involved glans in all patients, while in 17 of 30 patients both glans and prepuce were involved. None of the patients showed lesions of the prepuce only. In most cases Zoon's balanitis was successfully treated by circumcision in a period of two to four weeks. In four cases, psoriatic lesions, and in one case lichen ruber was diagnosed. In the remaining patient, whose circumcision was inadequate, a small area of balanitis persisted in the sulcus coronarius still covered by the foreskin. The curative effect of adequate circumcision in 100% of patients suggests that Zoon's balanitis is a relatively non-specific reactive balanitis caused by a disturbed "preputial-ecology". It is remarkable that other distinct inflammatory diseases of glans and prepuce can show features which are identical to those Zoon's balanitis.     

Phase identification of micro and macro bubbles at the interface of directly bonded GaAs on sapphire

Direct wafer bonding (DWB) of 3 GaAs and R-cut sapphire was performed in a microcleanroom using ultra pure water as cleaning agent. The initial bonding is mediated by Van der Waals forces and hydrogen bridges. The bond energy is released by subsequent heating up to temperatures of 500°C. During heating the formation of macroscopic bubbles at the interface was observed. Details of the interface structure were investigated by cross-sectional as well as plan-view transmission electron microscope (TEM) micrographs. The chemical composition of the elements at the interface was measured by energy dispersive X-ray analysis (EDX) and electron energy loss spectroscopy (EELS). A high density of micro bubbles in bonded areas, a network of micro channels in the transition region and macro bubbles in debonded areas could be distinguished. The macro bubbles are filled with a porous oxide. X-ray diffraction (XRD) and selected area electron diffraction (SAED) revealed the growth of textured -Ga2O3 and elemental arsenic. © 1998 Chapman & Hall     

Der Wertbeitrag von Prozessflexibilität

Promising to cope with increasing demand variety and uncertainty, flexibility in general and process flexibility in particular are becoming ever more desired corporate capabilities. During the last years, the business process management and the production/operations management communities have proposed numerous approaches that investigate how to valuate and determine an appropriate level of process flexibility. Most of these approaches are very restrictive regarding their application domain, neglect characteristics of the involved processes and outputs other than demand and capacity, and do not conduct a thorough economic analysis of process flexibility. Against this backdrop, the authors propose an optimization model that determines an appropriate level of process flexibility in line with the principles of value-based business process management. The model includes demand uncertainty, variability, criticality, and similarity as process characteristics. The paper also reports on the insights gained from applying the optimization model to the coverage switching processes of an insurance broker pool company.