bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
An Investigation on the Inconsistency of Consumer Preferences for Product Appearance: A Case Study of Residential Solar Panels
Authors: Bao Qifang , Ferik Sami El , Shaukat Mian Mobeen , Yang Maria C.
Published: January 2015

The importance of the appearance of consumer products is widely understood. This paper considers an evaluation of the appearance of a technology-oriented product, the residential solar panel, from the perspective of individuals. This study uses a quantitative approach, visual conjoint analysis, to determine preferences for product appearance of solar panels, and further explores how presenting a solar panel in its context of use can influence the consistency of consumer preferences. Approximately 200 survey respondents were shown two kinds of images of solar panels, one of a standalone panel and the other of a panel installed on a roof. Results show a significant shift of preferences when first showing the non-contextualized image and then showing the contextualized image. Such preference inconsistency provides insights with which to inform the process of user-needs revealing.
High Power Density Drive System of a Novel Hydraulic Quadruped Robot
Authors: Wang Jing , Gao Feng , Zhang Yong
Published: January 2015

Walking robots in practice are energy autonomy, so the high power density drive technology is crucial in robotics. In this paper, two approaches are proposed to increase power density of a novel hydraulic quadruped robot. One is that, a hybrid actuator is invented to make the simplest hydraulic system for robot. The structure and feature of the actuator is described in detail. The other is to reduce installed capacity by optimizing flow requirement. The factors that contribute to flow rate are analyzed. The experiment results show that the quadruped robot with the simplest hydraulic system works stably and reliably.
Study of Pneumatic Force Servo System for Resistance Spot Welding
Authors: Wang Bo , Wang Tao , Fan Wei , Wang Yu
Published: January 2015

The purpose of this paper is to develop a pneumatic servo drive mechanism, which is the basis of high performance pneumatic servo gun for resistance spot welding. In order to increase the output force and reduce costs, booster cylinder and high speed solenoid valve are included in the system. In this paper, a mathematical model of the pneumatic force servo system is derived. Pulse-Width-Modulation control scheme is given to control the solenoid valves. Computer simulation results and experimental results show that the designed pneumatic servo force system has a good performance, which verifies the feasibility of the designed scheme.
Aligning Brain Activity and Sketch in Multi-Modal CAD Interface
Authors: Shafiei Somayeh B. , Esfahani Ehsan Tarkesh
Published: January 2015

This paper investigates the proper synchronization of sketch data and cognitive states in a multi-modal CAD interface. In a series of experiments, 5 subjects were instructed to watch and then explain 6 mechanical mechanisms by sketching them on a touch based screen. Simultaneously, subject’s brain waves were recorded in terms of electroencephalogram (EEG) signals from 9 locations on the scalp. EEG signals were analyzed and translated into mental workload and cognitive state. A dynamic time window was then constructed to align these features with sketch features such that the combination of two modalities maximizes the classification of gesture from non-gesture strokes. Quadratic Discriminant Analysis (QDA) was used as classification method. Our experimental results show that the best temporal alignment for workload and sketch analysis starts from 30% time lag with previous stroke and ends before 30% time lag with next stroke.
Actuation of a Frequency Modulated MEMS Gyroscope
Authors: Xie Michael , Park Sangtak , Abdel-Rahman Eihab , Yavuz Mustafa
Published: January 2015

This paper describes an analog actuation circuit for a novel frequency-modulated MEMS gyroscope. The circuit provides an amplitude-modulated (AM) signal as the input into a RLC resonant drive circuit, which drives the gyroscope. The actuation system is composed an automatic gain control (AGC) loop, a low pass filter, an amplitude modulation component and a resonant drive circuit. The AM signal is composed of a modulating signal that excite a natural frequency of gyroscope drive mode and a carrier signal with a frequency corresponding to the electrical resonant frequency of the RLC circuit. Both feedforward and feedback AGC configurations are used to stabilize the envelope of the signal. However, the breadboard implementations of the feedforward and feedback circuits in their current configurations have similar signal to noise ratio to that of the function generator. To improve the actuation circuit performance, we plan to include the resonant drive circuit within the AGC feedback loop and implement the actuation circuit on PCB.
Analytical and Numerical Investigations on a Bistable System for Energy Harvesting Application
Authors: Heymanns Matthias , Hagedorn Peter
Published: January 2015

This paper aims at an analytical and numerical analysis of a bistable Duffing equation. One purpose lies in the identification of suitable oscillations for a robust energy harvesting device, i.e. a system that is well suited for a broad bandwidth excitation. A map is constructed illustrating the dependence of the harvested energy on the predominant oscillation type. It shows that inter-well oscillations lead to the highest energy harvest compared to intra-well and cross-well oscillations under harmonic excitation. The determination of the critical excitation parameters necessary to maintain inter-well oscillations is essential for the design of bistable energy harvesters. Therefore, investigations are made to attain an analytical description of the inter-well oscillation region. On this basis, a design criterion is derived for nonlinear energy harvesters.
Dynamic Trapping in Bi-Stable Electrostatically Actuated Curved Micro Beams
Authors: Medina Lior , Gilat Rivka , Krylov Slava
Published: January 2015

Micro and nano devices incorporating bi-stable structural elements such as micro beams are designed to exploit the fact that the latter possess two stable configurations at the same actuation force. Generally, the transition of a micro beam from one table state to another, namely the snap-through which is essentially dynamic phenomenon, can be initiated by either static or dynamic activations. In this work, results of theoretical and numerical investigations of the transient dynamics of a pre-stressed initially curved double clamped micro beams actuated by a time dependent electrostatic load are presented. We show by means of a reduced order model of a shallow beam, derived using the Galerkin procedure, that the beam may exhibit various types of responses. For certain beam characteristics, the second stable state is inaccessible under a static loading but is attainable only by means of a specially tailored dynamic actuation. This gives way to the possibility of trapping the dynamically bi-stable beam at a stable configuration which is close to the electrode by applying special loading sequences.
Rigid Body Guidance of Human Gait as Constrained TRS Serial Chain
Authors: Soh Gim Song
Published: January 2015

The motion of gait is a cyclical activity that requires the coordination between locomotion mechanism, motor control and musculoskeletal function. The basic assumption is that one stride is the same as the next. From a simplified kinematics point of view, the human gait can be considered as a TRS serial chain with six degrees-of-freedom driven by the pelvis rotational and tilting motion during walking. This paper presents a dimensional synthesis procedure for the design of two degrees-of-freedom of spatial eight-bar linkages by mechanically constraining a TRS serial chain. The goal is to develop a methodology for the design of under-actuated lower limb walking devices or passively driven exoskeleton systems.

The dimensional synthesis process starts with the specification of the links of a TRS chain according to the gait anthropometric data. We show the various ways how four TS constraints can be used to constrain the links of the this chain to obtain a two degrees-of-freedom spatial eight-bar linkage. We formulate and solve the design equations as well as analyze the resulting eight-bar linkage from the data we obtained from an optical motion capture system. An example demonstrates our results.
Comparing Sustainable Performance of Industrial System Alternatives by Integrating Environment, Costs, Clients and Exploitation Context
Authors: Leroy Yann , Cluzel François , Lame Guillaume
Published: January 2015

Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) is a methodology to assess environmental performances of products throughout their life cycles. Traditionally, LCA-based decision-making focuses on environmental impacts, excluding customer expectations and economic considerations. Moreover, it usually uses generic data while environmental performances of industrial systems often depend on local contexts. The aim of this paper is to provide a comprehensive framework to identify the solution most adapted to a specific context, considering environmental, economic and commercial aspects. First, environmental performances of competing products are compared thanks to LCA. A sensitivity analysis highlights influential parameters on which operational scenarios are built. Costs are then incorporated into a set of exploitation scenarios.

Second, matrix-based approach is used. Products are ranked according to several client profiles. The most suitable solution for a given context is identified.

This framework is applied on three burners for forge furnaces. Results show that client profiles and operational contexts (namely client expectations, location and resources availability and costs) affect choices.
Experimental Characterization of a Cantilever Beam With a Fluidic Flexible Matrix Composite Vibration Treatment
Authors: Zhu Bin , Krott Matthew J. , Rahn Christopher D. , Bakis Charles E.
Published: January 2015

Fluidic flexible matrix composite (F2MC) tubes can add damping to and absorb vibrations from a host structure. Transverse structural vibration couples with F2MC tube strain to pump fluid through an external circuit that can be tailored to provide vibration damping and/or absorption. In this paper, an F2MC-cantilever system, consisting of two F2MC tubes attached to a uniform cantilever beam, is designed, fabricated, and experimentally tested. The F2MC tubes are connected in parallel to one of two fluidic circuits. The first circuit uses an orifice to dissipate energy, reducing the first mode resonant response by over 20 dB and providing 5% damping. The second circuit uses an inertia track and an accumulator to produce a tuned absorber that replaces the first mode resonance peak with a valley, reducing the resonant response by 27 dB.
A Generic System Architecture for Energetic Optimization of Vehicles by Using Driver Assistance Systems
Authors: Korzenietz Peter , Kluin Matthias , Winner Hermann
Published: January 2015

The increase of energy efficiency of vehicles in the course of rising energy costs and the limited range of electric vehicles can be realized with ecological driver assistance systems. Based on preview information these systems can assist the driver in providing energy efficient driving and operating strategies. But, many of these systems directly focus on specific functional approaches and do not consider a comprehensive system architecture. Thus, functional extensions and adoptions to other vehicle and propulsion concepts are hereby complicated.

In this paper a generic system architecture is introduced which represents a framework for present and future for assistance systems for ecological optimization. The framework provides hereby the overview of the necessary core modules and the interfaces between them. The innovative aspect of the introduced framework is the modularization in a vehicle independent optimization module and a vehicle dependent energy conversion model. This approach promotes a vehicle independent and efficient system development. The system architecture aims to provide a basis for assistance systems that are robust towards functional extensions and adoptions to other vehicle and propulsion concepts.

In an exemplary use case the application of the generic system architecture is demonstrated and the portability is discussed.
Modular Design of Community-Scale Photovoltaic Reverse Osmosis Systems Under Uncertainty
Authors: Bilton Amy , Dubowsky Steven
Published: January 2015

Photovoltaic reverse osmosis (PVRO) systems can provide a viable clean water source for many remote communities. To be cost-effective, PVRO systems need to be custom-tailored for the local water demand, solar insolation, and water characteristics. Designing a custom system composed of modular components is not simple due to the large number of design choices and the variations in the sunlight and demand. This paper presents a modular design architecture, which when implemented on a low-cost PC, would enable users to configure systems from inventories of modular components. The method uses a hierarchy of filters or design rules, which can be provided in the form of an expert system, to limit the design space. The architecture then configures a system from the reduced design space using a genetic algorithm to minimize the system lifetime cost subject to system constraints. The genetic algorithm uses a detailed cost model and physics-based PVRO system model which determines the ability of the system to meet demand. Determining the ability to meet demand is challenging due to variations in water demand and solar radiation. Here, the community’s historical water demand, solar radiation history, and PVRO system physics are used in a Markov model to quantify the ability of a system to meet demand or the loss-of-water probability (LOWP). Case studies demonstrate the approach and the cost-reliability trade-off for community-scale PVRO systems. In addition, long-duration simulations are used to demonstrate the Markov model appropriately captures the uncertainty.
Modelling of the Waterbomb Origami Pattern and its Applications
Authors: Ma Jiayao , You Zhong
Published: January 2015

The waterbomb pattern is a well-known origami pattern and has been employed to construct foldable cylinders as stent grafts and deformable robot wheels. It is known that the cylinders made from the waterbomb pattern are, in general, not rigidly foldable. This feature makes construction and numerical simulation of those cylinders difficult because a distortion-free initial configuration for the cylinders cannot be identified. A geometrical analysis of the cylinders formed from the waterbomb pattern reveals that by properly selecting pattern geometry, there exist particular configurations at which a cylinder of a uniform radius can be rigidly assembled out of the pattern. In other words, the pattern can be perfectly connected together to form a cylinder without distortion. Those particular configurations can be used as the initial configuration of the cylinders when they are constructed and as the starting configuration of the cylinders in a numerical analysis.
The Role of Individual Risk Attitudes on the Selection of Creative Concepts in Engineering Design
Authors: Toh Christine A. , Miller Scarlett R.
Published: January 2015

While creativity is often seen as an indispensable quality of engineering design, individuals often select conventional or previously successful options during the concept selection process due to the inherent risk associated with creative concepts. Surprisingly, prior research has shown that this preference for conventional design alternatives is often done in an unconscious manner and is attributed to people’s inadvertent bias against creativity. While we know that designers may prematurely filter out creative ideas, little is actually known about what factors attribute to the promotion or filtering of these creative concepts during concept selection. The current paper describes an empirical study conducted with 19 first-year engineering students aimed at investigating the impact of individual risk aversion and ambiguity aversion on the selection and filtering of creative ideas during the concept selection process. The results from this study indicate that individual risk attitudes are related to both creative ability and creative concept selection. However, an individual’s ability to generate creative ideas was found to be unrelated to their preference for creative ideas during concept selection. These results add to our understanding of creativity during concept selection and provide guidelines for enhancing the design process to encourage design creativity.
Flexible Multibody Approaches for Dynamical Simulation of Beam Structures in Drilling
Authors: Mikheev Gennady , Pogorelov Dmitry , Dmitrochenko Oleg , Gandikota Raju
Published: January 2015

Two approaches for simulation of dynamics of complex beam structures such as drill strings are considered.

In the first approach, the drill string is presented as a set of uniform beams connected via force elements. The beams can undergo arbitrary large displacements as absolutely rigid bodies but its flexible displacements due to elastic deformations are assumed to be small. Flexibility of the beams is simulated using the modal approach. Thus, each beam has at least twelve degrees of freedom: six coordinates define position and orientation of a local frame and six modes are used for modeling flexibility.

The second approach is dynamic simulation of the drill string using nonlinear finite element model. The proposed beam finite element uses Cartesian coordinates of its nodes and node rotation angles around axis of Cartesian coordinate system as generalized coordinates. The nonlinear finite element is developed based on method of large rotation vectors. Rotation angles in the nodes can be arbitrary large.

Equations of motion of beam structure are derived in the paper. The number of degrees of freedom is decreased by factor two as compared with the modal approach. Thereby, computational efficiency under simulation of dynamics of long drill strings is considerably increased.

The features of creating the models and numerical methods as well as results obtained by applying both approaches are discussed in the paper.
On Grazing Bifurcations in an Aeroelastic System With Multi-Segmented Nonlinearity in the Pitch Degree of Freedom
Authors: Vasconcellos Rui , Abdelkefi Abdessattar
Published: January 2015

A nonlinear characterization based on modern methods of nonlinear dynamics is performed to identify the effects of a multi-segmented nonlinearity on the response of an aeroelastic system. This system consists of a plunging and pitching rigid airfoil supported by a linear spring in the plunge degree of freedom and a nonlinear spring in the pitch degree of freedom. The multi-segmented nonlinearity is associated with the pitch degree of freedom and contains two different boundaries. The results show that the presence of this multi-segmented nonlinearity results in the presence of a subcritical instability. It is also shown that there are four main transitions or sudden jumps in the system’s response when increasing the freestream velocity. It is demonstrated that the first and second sudden jumps are accompanied by the appearance and disappearance of quadratic nonlinearity induced by discontinuity and static positions. The results show that the first transition is due to a near grazing bifurcation that occurs near the first boundary of the multi-segmented nonlinearity. As for the second transition, it is demonstrated that the sudden jump at this transition is associated with a tangential contact between the trajectory and the first boundary of the multi-segmented nonlinearity and with a zero-pitch velocity incidence which is a characteristic of a grazing bifurcation. In the third and fourth transitions, it is demonstrated that there are changes in the response of the system from simply periodic to two periods having the main oscillating frequency and its superharmonic of order 3 and from chaotic to two periods having the main oscillating frequency and its superharmonic of order 3. Using modern methods of nonlinear dynamics, it is shown that this transition is due to a grazing bifurcation at the second boundary of the multi-segmented nonlinearity.
Continuous Solution of Partial Differential Equations on Non-Rectangular and Non-Continuous Geometry
Authors: Venkataraman P.
Published: January 2015

A high order continuous solution is obtained for partial differential equations on non-rectangular and non-continuous domain using Bézier functions. This is a mesh free alternative to finite element or finite difference methods that are normally used to solve such problems. The problem is handled without any transformation and the setup is direct, simple, and involves minimizing the error in the residuals of the differential equations along with the error in the boundary conditions over the domain. The solution can be expressed in polynomial form. The effort is same for linear and nonlinear partial differential equations. The procedure is developed as a combination of symbolic and numeric calculation. The solution is obtained through the application of standard unconstrained optimization. A constrained approach is also developed for nonlinear partial differential equations. Examples include linear and nonlinear partial differential equations. The solution for linear partial differential equations is compared to finite element solutions from COMSOL.
Collaborative Sketching With skWiki: A Case Study
Authors: Chandrasegaran Senthil , Badam Sriram Karthik , Zhao Zhenpeng , Elmqvist Niklas , Kisselburgh Lorraine , Ramani Karthik
Published: January 2015

Sketching for conceptual design has traditionally been performed on paper. Recent computational tools for conceptual design have leveraged the availability of hand-held computing devices and web-based collaborative platforms. Further, digital sketching interfaces have the added advantages of storage, duplication, and sharing on the web. We have developed skWiki, a tool that enables collaborative sketching on digital tablets using a web-based framework. We evaluate skWiki in two contexts, (a) as a collaborative ideation tool, and (b) as a design research tool. For this evaluation, we perform a longitudinal study of an undergraduate design team that used skWiki over the course of the concept generation and development phase of their course project. Our analysis of the team’s sketching activity indicated instances of lateral and vertical transformation between participants, indicating collaborative exploration of the breadth and depth of the design space. Using skWiki for this evaluation also demonstrated it to be an effective research tool to investigate such collaborative design processes.
Energy Conservation Using Cost Minimization for Household Space Heating
Authors: Pareek Mayank , Srivastava Rupal Vikas , Behdad Sara
Published: January 2015

Building insulation is considered as a solution to reduce the energy cost for both residential and commercial buildings. However, determining the best combination of insulation materials that result into the lowest total ownership cost is now becoming a bigger challenge. Various factors influence the efficiency of heat transfer within a room including geometry and size of the room, ambient temperature, heat and sink sources presented inside the building, type of insulation materials, etc. The aim of this paper is to develop an optimization-based decision making tool to help house owners select the best combination of given insulation materials considering all these factors. The purpose of design approach adopted in this paper is to minimize total ownership cost while providing the required heating in the building. The SQP, Quasi-Newton, line-search algorithm was used to obtain the optimized thermal conductivity values for the combination of insulation material to be used in the walls, floor, ceiling, window and the door of a room, along with the width of the air gap to be kept. The results help in deciding what combination of insulation material will achieve the required heating for the house owner while keep the total cost incurred to be minimum.
A Matlab-Based Toolkit to Program Microcontrollers for Use in Teaching Mechanisms and Robotics
Authors: Canfield Stephen L. , Ghafoor Sheikh
Published: January 2015

Programming is an essential skill for engineering students, particularly in areas of mechanisms and robotics, mechatronics and design. Students receive formal programming training early on in the typical engineering curriculum, but generally demonstrate difficulty in implementing programming skills to solve engineering problems in later courses. This is due to a number of factors including a lack of cohesion in programming practice in the curriculum and improper context for introducing programming to engineering students. The authors have developed a hands-on programming toolkit to allow engineers to learn programming on a Microcontroller and associated hardware (sensors, motors, output devices) using the Matlab environment. This toolkit is applicable to all levels of students, from freshman in their introductory programming course through senior and graduate students. In this hands-on toolkit, the MCU becomes the target for the program. Once programmed, the hardware runs independently and can readily be implemented outside of class or the lab. The primary method of programming an MCU is with C or assembly. One of the unique offerings of this toolkit is that it provides a way to program an MCU directly using Matlab. The premise is that adding an MCU as a programming target, rather than simply a PC, may provide a more appropriate context for engineers to learn programming. In addition, the MCU target will offer a greater number of options for incorporating programming into the engineering curriculum. This paper will present an overview of the programming toolkit and environment. The paper will also present a series of programming exercises related to dynamics of machinery, robotics, mechatronics and controls.
Searching for Inspiration: An In-Depth Look at Designers Example Finding Practices
Authors: Miller Scarlett R. , Bailey Brian P.
Published: January 2015

Designers frequently use examples during the design process as a way to provide a visual framework, allow for re-interpretation and allow for evaluation of design ideas. Although the use of examples is an important part of the design process, little is known about how designers retrieve these examples or the characteristics of the example set designers collect for a given project. Knowledge of this behavior is important, as research has shown that using examples too similar to the design problem or too familiar to the designer can cause design fixation and hinder creativity. Therefore, the current study was conducted to provide insights into these example retrieval processes by monitoring 18 professional designers during a 90-minute design task complemented by surveys and interviews for an in-depth understanding of user behavior. We relate our results to research on design fixation and provide implications for the development of example finding tools.
Influence of Knee Ligament Structure Viscoelasticity on Dynamic Tests
Authors: Caruntu Dumitru I. , Granados Eduardo , Gomez Ricardo
Published: January 2015

This paper deals with nonlinear dynamics of viscoelastic ligament model human knee. A two dimensional model of the human knee to include tibia and femur, and the ligamentous structure between the two bones is used to investigate the influence of ligamentous viscoelastic properties on dynamic testing of human knee. An exercise in which the femur is pinned at the hip in a sitting position, and tibia in a vertical position is actuated by a vertical harmonic force at various frequencies is proposed. The viscoelastic model of ligaments shows for the knee dynamic testing a resonance in the range of 15 Hz to 20 Hz.
A Cyber-Physical Framework for MRI Guided Magnetic Nano/Micro Particles Called “MAGNASIM”
Authors: Ahmadniaroudsari Mani , Mavroidis Constantinos
Published: January 2015

Nano Magnetic Particles drug delivery is a new method of cancer treatment targeting the replacement of current methods such as chemotherapy and radiation to increase the efficiency of treatment. This project aims to design a system including experimental setup and computational platforms that will work parallel to each other developing guidelines for scientists. The Computational platform is able to model the nano particle’s aggregations and movement. Experimental setup will be used to generate results validating the simulations done on the computational platform. Experimental setup has the potential to operate Magnetic nanoparticles drug delivery in different scale and situations. We aim to make the experimental setup as close as possible to human blood properties. This will enable us to come up with guiding trajectories and control algorithms for guidance of different size and shape nano particles in arbitrary capillary shapes. This data can be beneficial for researchers doing experiments on magnetic drug delivery and avoid the In vivo experiments for the sake of animal rights. We present software called MAGNASIM that is being developed to perform simulation, visualization and post-processing analysis of the aggregation and disaggregation processes of magnetic Nano/Micro particles within a fluid environment such as small arteries and arterioles or fluid-filled cavities of the human body. Basically the software would be able:

• To examine Self-assembly process and breakup process

• To provide design guidelines for fabricating, control and steering the nanocapsules

After gathering all the initial conditions, software is able to provide the user the following information:

• Forces on each particle in each time-step.

• Position of each particle in each time-step.

• Interactions between particles.

• Control and steer the particles to the considered destination.

• Providing visualization of the particles movement.
On the Comparison of the Dynamic Performance of Open-Loop and Closed-Loop Mechanisms
Authors: Rastegar Jahangir , Feng Dake
Published: January 2015

In general, mechanical systems with closed-loop mechanisms can achieve significantly higher operating speeds as compared to open-loop mechanisms such as robots performing identical tasks. In this brief paper, the reason for the superior dynamic performance of closed-loop mechanisms as compared to open-loop mechanisms performing identical tasks is shown to be the inherent dynamic response limitations of the actuation devices in open-loop dynamic systems. Several examples are provided.
Optimal Design and Experimental Validation of a New No-Cuff Blood Pressure Sensor Based on a New Finite Element Model
Authors: Tu Tse-Yi , Chao Paul C.-P. , Lee Yung-Pin , Kao Yung-Hua
Published: January 2015

A new multi-physics finite element model (FEM) on the vibration of the radial artery on the wrist is built by this study to predict vibration of wrist artery vessel vibration and then diastolic and systolic blood pressures. The FEM includes the sensor of gel capsule and strain-sensing electrodes, skin, bones and muscles. The vibrations of skin surface and the sensor module are successfully simulated by the established FEM. The resulted vibratory deformation of the sensor electrodes are further transformed to resistance variations to mimic realistic electronics of the front-end readout circuit via establishing a cross-discipline sub-FEM model. The established FEM can is particularly customized to varied ages, weights, heights, genders, and special cardiovascular diseases of users. The customization can be performed in a fashion of one-time calibration by medical staff and/or medical staff. With the customized FEM in high accuracy level, the diastolic and systolic pressures can be accurately predicted by the simulated output resistance variation. Based on simulation FEMs, the design of the pulse sensor is successfully optimized via the processes of Taguchi and numerical methods. The measurements are also conducted to a dozen of subjects. It shows that the designed novel blood pressure sensor is capable of sensing the blood pressure to require accuracy level of the error less than 10% as compared to commercial counterparts with a cumbersome cuff.
Effect of Adaptive Slicing on Surface Integrity in Additive Manufacturing
Authors: Sikder S. , Barari Ahmad , Kishawy H. A.
Published: January 2015

In today’s Additive Manufacturing (AM), a part is typically manufactured using layer by layer addition of material from a Computer Aided Design (CAD) model. Traditionally the CAD model is transferred to RP system after exchanging to Stereo Lithography (STL) format which is triangulated tessellation of the CAD model. Then it is sliced using different slice algorithms and machine constraints. The inherent uncertainties in this process have led to development of adaptive direct slicing technique. There are several adaptive slicing techniques but only few researches have been done to calculate an actual surface error factor and the cost aspect of the slicing algorithm. This paper proposes new adaptive algorithm to compute a surface error factor and to find the cost effective approach for slicing. The adaptive slicing algorithm dynamically calculates slice thickness and it is based on the allowable threshold for surface integrity error to optimize the cost and time. The paper also provides comparative study of previously developed adaptive models by the authors based on cusp height and surface integrity.
The Four-Box Method of Problem Specification and Analogy Evaluation in Biologically Inspired Design
Authors: Helms Michael , Goel Ashok K.
Published: January 2015

The process of biologically inspired design is fundamentally analogical; given a design problem, the process retrieves potentially multiple biological analogues as potential sources of inspiration. The selection of a specific analogue for idea generation naturally has a strong influence on the final design. But what makes one biological analogue better than another for a given design problem? In the context of a classroom on biologically inspired design, we found that interdisciplinary design teams often struggle with this question. In this paper, we describe a Four-Box method that identifies function, operating environment, constraints, and performance criteria as dimensions for matching biological analogues with the design problem. We also present some initial results from a classroom implementation of the Four-Box method of analogy evaluation: The results suggest that the student designers found the Four-Box method both useful and usable.
STIM2 enhances receptor-stimulated Ca
2+
signaling by promoting recruitment of STIM1 to the endoplasmic reticulum–plasma membrane junctions
Authors: Ong Hwei Ling , de Souza Lorena Brito , Zheng Changyu , Cheng Kwong Tai , Liu Xibao , Goldsmith Corinne M. , Feske Stefan , Ambudkar Indu S.
Published: January 2015

STIM2 increases physiological responses to agonist stimulation by promoting clustering of STIM1 and activation of Orai1.
Comaneci neck bridging device for the treatment of cerebral aneurysms
Authors: Gupta Rishi , Kolodgie Frank D , Virmani Renu , Eckhouse Ronen
Published: January 2015

Background and purpose

Adjunctive devices are commonly employed in the treatment of wide necked cerebral aneurysms. Balloon remodeling and permanent stent implantation may lead to thromboembolic complications or the need for antiplatelet use. A temporary stent that does not lead to complete flow arrest may be beneficial.

Methods

We studied 20 New Zealand white rabbits in whom aneurysms were created using elastase and ligation of the right common carotid artery. The aneurysms were then embolized with bare platinum coils along with adjunctive treatment using the Comaneci device or the Hyperglide balloon. Assessments were made for endothelial injury using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and light microscopy.

Results

20 rabbits of mean±SD weight 3.1±0.2 kg were studied. Twelve rabbits were treated with the Comaneci device and eight with the Hyperglide balloon. There were no substantial differences on SEM or light microscopy in the subacute and chronic phase to suggest the Comaneci device caused endothelial injury.

Conclusions

The Comaneci device is a new adjuvant treatment for bridging of wide necked aneurysms with the advantage of averting flow arrest during deployment. There does not appear to be any evidence of significant endothelial damage during deployment in preclinical studies.
4D DSA a new technique for arteriovenous malformation evaluation: a feasibility study
Authors: Sandoval-Garcia Carolina , Royalty Kevin , Yang Pengfei , Niemann David , Ahmed Azam , Aagaard-Kienitz Beverly , Başkaya Mustafa K , Schafer Sebastian , Strother Charles
Published: January 2015

Background

The angioarchitectural features of an arteriovenous malformation (AVM) provide key information regarding natural history and treatment planning. Because of rapid filling and vascular overlap, two-dimensional (2D) and three-dimensional (3D) digital subtraction angiography (DSA) are often suboptimal for evaluation of these features. We have developed an algorithm that derives a series of fully time-resolved 3D DSA volumes (four-dimensional (4D) DSA) at up to 30 frames/s from a conventional 3D DSA. The temporal/spatial resolution of 4D reconstructions is significantly higher than that provided by current MR angiography and CT angiography techniques. 4D reconstruction allows viewing of an AVM from any angle at any time during its opacification. This feasibility study investigated the potential of 4D DSA to improve the ability to analyze angioarchitectural features compared with conventional 2D and 3D DSA.

Methods

2D, 3D, and 4D DSA reconstructions of angiographic studies of six AVMs were evaluated by three cerebrovascular neurosurgeons and one interventional neuroradiologist. These observers evaluated the ability of each modality to visualize the angioarchitectural features of the AVMs. They also compared the information provided using the combination of 2D and 3D DSA with that provided by a 4D DSA reconstruction.

Results

By consensus, 4D DSA provided the best ability to visualize the internal features of the AVM including intranidal aneurysms, fistulae, venous obstructions, and sequence of filling and draining. 2D and 3D images in comparison were limited because of overlap of the vasculature.

Conclusions

In this small series, 4D DSA provided better ability to visualize the angioarchitecture of an AVM than conventional methods. Further experience is required to determine the ultimate utility of this technique.
The 1994 landslide at Sainte-Monique, Quebec: geotechnical investigation and application of progressive failure analysis
Authors: Locat A. , Leroueil S. , Fortin A. , Demers D. , Jostad H.P.
Published: January 2015

In 1994, a landslide occurred in the municipality of Sainte-Monique, Quebec. The debris of the landslide had graben and host shapes, typical of spreads in sensitive clays. The geotechnical investigation shows that the soil involved is a firm to stiff, sensitive, nearly normally consolidated grey silty clay of high plasticity. This soil exhibits a high sensitivity and a high brittleness during shear and is therefore susceptible to progressive failure. Traditional stability analysis cannot explain this landslide. This gives the opportunity to examine the applicability of progressive failure analysis to this spread. Using the finite elements method, it is demonstrated that the initiation and observed extent of the failure surface are explained by a soil having high brittleness during shear and a large-deformation shear strength close to the remoulded shear strength of the soil. The dislocation of the soil mass can also be explained by the active failure occurring in the soil mass above the failure surface during or shortly after failure propagation. It is therefore numerically demonstrated that progressive failure explains the initiation and the extent of the failure surface of this spread.
Theoretical estimates of integrated Sachs–Wolfe effect detection through the Australian Square Kilometre Array Pathfinder’s Evolutionary Map of the Universe (ASKAP- EMU) survey, with confusion, position uncertainty, shot noise, and signal-to-noise ratio analysis
Authors: Rahman Syed Faisal ur
Published: January 2015

Detection of the late-time integrated Sachs–Wolfe (ISW) effect is an active area of study related to large-scale structures (LSSs). The ISW effect can be studied by observing the non-zero cross-correlation between cosmic microwave background (CMB) anisotropies with tracers of mass field, such as galaxy survey data. We study this effect by cross-correlating the CMB data and related cosmological parameters, as delineated by the Wilkinson Microwave Anisotropy Probe (WMAP), with the upcoming Evolutionary Map of the Universe (EMU) survey planned for the Australian Square Kilometre Array Pathfinder (ASKAP). ASKAP-EMU will conduct a deep radio continuum survey with a root-mean-square (rms) flux of 10 μJy per beam (1 Jy = 10–26 Wm–2Hz–1). The survey will cover the entire southern sky, extending to +30° declination. To infer the expected redshift distribution (dN/dz) and differential source count (S) that can be extracted from the galaxies surveyed via EMU, we use data from the S-cubed simulation of extragalactic radio continuum sources (S3-SEX) for the Square Kilometre Array Design Studies (SKADS). We also calculate various parameters including galaxy survey shot noise, root mean square confusion uncertainty, and position uncertainty for the survey, which can help in understanding the accuracy of the survey results and in performing the data analysis. We also discuss signal-to-noise ratios over a range of maximum redshifts and maximum multipole values with some discussion on constraints over dark energy density parameter (ΩΛ) and baryonic matter density parameter (Ωb).
Quantized gravito-magnetic charges from WIMT: cosmological consequences
Authors: Romero Jesús Martín , Bellini Mauricio
Published: January 2015

Using the formalism of Weitzenböck induced matter theory (WIMT) we calculate the gravito-magnetic charge on a topological string, which is induced through a foliation on a five-dimensional (5D) gravito-electromagnetic vacuum defined on a 5D Ricci-flat metric, which produces symmetry breaking on an axis. We obtain the resonant result that the quantized charges are induced on the effective four-dimensional hypersurface. This quantization describes the behavior of a test gravito-electric charge in the vicinity of a point gravito-magnetic monopole, both geometrically induced from a 5D vacuum. We demonstrate how gravito-magnetic monopoles would decrease exponentially during the inflationary expansion of the universe.
A Case of Type 2 Amiodarone-Induced Thyrotoxicosis That Underwent Total Thyroidectomy under High-Dose Steroid Administration
Authors: Hashimoto Koshi , Ota Masaki , Irie Tadanobu , Takata Daisuke , Nakajima Tadashi , Kaneko Yoshiaki , Tanaka Yuko , Matsumoto Shunichi , Nakajima Yasuyo , Kurabayashi Masahiko , Oyama Tetsunari , Takeyoshi Izumi , Mori Masatomo , Yamada Masanobu
Published: January 2015

Amiodarone is used commonly and effectively in the treatment of arrhythmia; however, it may cause thyrotoxicosis categorized into two types: iodine-induced hyperthyroidism (type 1 amiodarone-induced thyrotoxicosis (AIT)) and destructive thyroiditis (type 2 AIT). We experienced a case of type 2 AIT, in which high-dose steroid was administered intravenously, and we finally decided to perform total thyroidectomy, resulting in a complete cure of the AIT. Even though steroid had been administered to the patient (maximum 80 mg of prednisolone), the operation was performed safely and no acute adrenal crisis as steroid withdrawal syndrome was found after the operation. Few cases of type 2 AIT that underwent total thyroidectomy with high-dose steroid administration have been reported. The current case suggests that total thyroidectomy should be taken into consideration for patients with AIT who cannot be controlled by medical treatment and even in those under high-dose steroid administration.
PRMT5 Is Required for Lymphomagenesis Triggered by Multiple Oncogenic Drivers
Authors: Li Yan , Chitnis Nilesh , Nakagawa Hiroshi , Kita Yoshiaki , Natsugoe Shoji , Yang Yi , Li Zihai , Wasik Mariusz , Klein-Szanto Andres J.P. , Rustgi Anil K. , Diehl J. Alan
Published: January 2015

Protein arginine methyltransferase 5 (PRMT5) has been implicated as a key modulator of lymphomagenesis. Whether PRMT5 has overt oncogenic function in the context of leukemia/lymphoma and whether it represents a therapeutic target remains to be established. We demonstrate that inactivation of PRMT5 inhibits colony-forming activity by multiple oncogenic drivers, including cyclin D1, c-MYC, NOTCH1, and MLL–AF9. Furthermore, we demonstrate that PRMT5 overexpression specifically cooperates with cyclin D1 to drive lymphomagenesis in a mouse model, revealing inherent neoplastic activity. Molecular analysis of lymphomas revealed that arginine methylation of p53 selectively suppresses expression of crucial proapoptotic and antiproliferative target genes, thereby sustaining tumor cell self-renewal and proliferation and bypassing the need for the acquisition of inactivating p53 mutations. Critically, analysis of human tumor specimens reveals a strong correlation between cyclin D1 overexpression and p53 methylation, supporting the biomedical relevance of this pathway.

Significance: We have identified and functionally validated a crucial role for PRMT5 for the inhibition of p53-dependent tumor suppression in response to oncogenic insults. The requisite role for PRMT5 in the context of multiple lymphoma/leukemia oncogenic drivers suggests a molecular rationale for therapeutic development. Cancer Discov; 5(3); 288–303. ©2015 AACR.

This article is highlighted in the In This Issue feature, p. 213
Edge Effects on Morphometrics and Body Mass in Two Sympatric Species of Mouse Lemurs in Madagascar
Authors: Burke Ryan J. , Lehman Shawn M.
Published: January 2015

Edge effects are an inevitable and important consequence of forest loss and fragmentation. These effects include changes in species biology and biogeography. Here we examine variations in body mass and morphometrics for 2 sympatric species of mouse lemurs (Microcebus murinus and M. ravelobensis) between edge and interior habitats in the dry deciduous forest at Ankarafantsika National Park. Between May and August 2012, we conducted mark-recapture experiments on mouse lemurs trapped along edge and interior forest transects within continuous forest adjacent to a large savannah. Of the 34 M. murinus captured during our study, 82% (n = 28) were trapped in interior habitats. Conversely, 72% (n = 47) of M. ravelobensis were captured in edge habitats. We found that mean body mass of M. murinus and M. ravelobensis did not differ between edge and interior habitats. However, female M. ravelobensis weighed significantly more in edge habitats (56.09 ± 1.74 g) than in interior habitats (48.14 ± 4.44 g). Our study provides some of the first evidence of sex differences in edge responses for a primate species.
The Biogeography of the Papio Baboons: A GIS-Based Analysis of Range Characteristics and Variability
Authors: Winder Isabelle C.
Published: January 2015

The Papio baboons are known for their ecological flexibility and wide geographic ranges, as well as their uncertain taxonomy. There have, however, been few systematic comparisons of the environments occupied by the 6 major Papio species, and how differences in range conditions and variability might affect their evolutionary ecology remains unknown. This paper uses geographical information system techniques to explore the environmental associations of all 6 major species. It argues that despite some small differences in the average conditions encountered by each, it is in fact variation within individual ranges that is most apparent. In fact, the differences between the environments occupied by adjacent troops in well-known national parks may be as large or larger than the average differences in the ranges of different species, and this may have important implications for baboon biogeography.