bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Cost‐effectiveness of negative pressure wound therapy in patients with many comorbidities and severe wounds of various etiology
Authors: Driver Vickie R. , Eckert Kristen A. , Carter Marissa J. , French Michael A.
Published: September 2016

This study analyzed a cross‐section of patients with severe chronic wounds and multiple comorbidities at an outpatient wound clinic, with regard to the cost‐effectiveness and cost‐benefit of negative pressure wound therapy (intervention) vs. no negative pressure wound therapy (control) at 1 and 2 years. Medicare reimbursement charges for wound care were used to calculate costs. Amputation charges were assessed using diagnosis‐related groups. Cost‐benefit analysis was based on ulcer‐free months and cost‐effectiveness on quality‐adjusted life‐years. Undiscounted costs, benefits, quality‐adjusted life‐years, undiscounted and discounted incremental net health benefits, and incremental cost‐effectiveness ratios were calculated for unmatched and matched cohorts. There were 150 subjects in the intervention group and 154 controls before matching and 103 subjects in each of the matched cohorts. Time to heal for the intervention cohort was significantly shorter compared to the controls (270 vs. 635 days,p = 1.0 × 10−7, matched cohorts). The intervention cohort had higher benefits and quality‐adjusted life‐year gains compared to the control cohort at years 1 and 2; by year 2, the gains were 68–73% higher. In the unmatched cohorts, the incremental net health benefit was $9,933 per ulcer‐free month at year 2 for the intervention; the incremental cost‐effectiveness ratio was −825,271 per quality‐adjusted life‐year gained (undiscounted costs and benefits). For the matched cohorts, the incremental net health benefits was only $1,371 per ulcer‐free month for the intervention, but the incremental cost‐effectiveness ratio was $366,683 per quality‐adjusted life‐year gained for year 2 (discounted costs and benefits). In a patient population with severe chronic wounds and serious comorbidities, negative pressure wound therapy resulted in faster healing wounds and was more cost‐effective with greater cost‐benefits than not using negative pressure wound therapy. Regarding overall cost‐effectiveness, the intervention was still expensive, but that is the reality amidst limited treatment options for such serious cases of chronic wounds.
Political Mass Strikes: Workers' Counter Mobilization to Capitalist Enforcement
Authors: Chirino Fernando Cortés
Published: September 2016

Political mass strikes are a uniquely, class‐based collective action that transform workers' labor‐power into a source of political power outside of the formal, institutionalized modes of political participation. Using the Banks' Cross‐National Time‐Series Dataset, I examine the distribution of political mass strikes around the world between 1919 and 2014. I find that the use of political mass strikes has increased over time and is higher in peripheral and semi‐peripheral countries after 1975 than in core countries. This suggests that a country's position in the world‐system partially structures workers' political opportunities at the local level. After examining the five countries experiencing the most political mass strikes after 1975, I find that workers use political mass strikes as a counter‐mobilization against states that implement neo‐liberal economic reforms and function as enforcers of capitalist accumulation.
The potential and pitfalls of de‐extinction
Authors: Richmond Douglas J. , Sinding Mikkel‐Holger S. , Gilbert M. Thomas P.
Published: September 2016

‘De‐extinction’ is the nascent discipline that aims to one day literally revive now‐extinct species from the dead. Although we have yet to see any successful attempts to truly resurrect an extinct species, several technologies are now in place that might one day provide a plausible solution. Thus, the area is receiving increased attention from both scientists and the general public. However, how far does present technology place us from the ultimate goal? We address the state of the art of several prominent de‐extinction methods: back‐breeding, cloning, synthetic genomics and genome editing, and discuss some of the major outstanding challenges for each. We also discuss some of the wider challenges facing de‐extinction, including both what might constitute the definition of success and what might be needed to successfully take a recreated animal and confer on it the ability to establish itself back in the wild.
The phylogenomic forest of bird trees contains a hard polytomy at the root of Neoaves
Authors: Suh Alexander
Published: September 2016

Birds have arguably been the most intensely studied animal group for their phylogenetic relationships. However, the recent advent of genome‐scale phylogenomics has made the forest of bird phylogenies even more complex and confusing. Here, in this perspective piece, I show that most parts of the avian Tree of Life are now firmly established as reproducible phylogenetic hypotheses. This is to the exception of the deepest relationships among Neoaves. Using phylogenetic networks and simulations, I argue that the very onset of the super‐rapid neoavian radiation is irresolvable because of eight near‐simultaneous speciation events. Such a hard polytomy of nine taxa translates into 2 027 025 possible rooted bifurcating trees. Accordingly, recent genome‐scale phylogenies show extremely complex conflicts in this (and only this) part of the avian Tree of Life. I predict that the upcoming years of avian phylogenomics will witness many more, highly conflicting tree topologies regarding the early neoavian polytomy. I further caution against bootstrapping in the era of genomics and suggest to instead use reproducibility (e.g. independent methods or data types) as support for phylogenetic hypotheses. The early neoavian polytomy coincides with the Cretaceous–Paleogene (K‐Pg) mass extinction and is, to my knowledge, the first empirical example of a hard polytomy.
Local models for Weil-restricted groups
Authors: Levin Brandon
Published: September 2016

We extend the group-theoretic construction of local models of Pappas and Zhu [Local models of Shimura varieties and a conjecture of Kottwitz, Invent. Math.194(2013), 147–254] to the case of groups obtained by Weil restriction along a possibly wildly ramified extension. This completes the construction of local models for all reductive groups when$p\geqslant 5$. We show that the local models are normal with special fiber reduced and study the monodromy action on the sheaves of nearby cycles. As a consequence, we prove a conjecture of Kottwitz that the semi-simple trace of Frobenius gives a central function in the parahoric Hecke algebra. We also introduce a notion of splitting model and use this to study the inertial action in the case of an unramified group.
Leptin modifies the prosecretory and prokinetic effects of the inflammatory cytokine interleukin‐6 on colonic function in Sprague–Dawley rats
Authors: Buckley Maria M. , O'Brien Rebecca , Devlin Michelle , Creed Aisling A. , Rae Mark G. , Hyland Niall P. , Quigley Eamonn M. M. , McKernan Declan P. , O'Malley Dervla
Published: September 2016

New Findings

What is the central question of this study?

Does crosstalk exist between leptin and interleukin‐6 in colonic enteric neurons, and is this a contributory factor in gastrointestinal dysfunction associated with irritable bowel syndrome?

What is the main finding and its importance?

Leptin ameliorates the prosecretory and prokinetic effects of the pro‐inflammatory cytokine interleukin‐6 on rat colon. Leptin also suppresses the neurostimulatory effects of irritable bowel syndrome plasma, which has elevated concentrations of interleukin‐6, on enteric neurons. This may indicate a regulatory role for leptin in immune‐mediated bowel dysfunction.

In addition to its role in regulating energy homeostasis, the adipokine leptin modifies gastrointestinal (GI) function. Indeed, leptin‐resistant obese humans and leptin‐deficient obese mice exhibit altered GI motility. In the functional GI disorder irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), circulating leptin concentrations are reported to differ from those of healthy control subjects. Additionally, IBS patients display altered cytokine profiles, including elevated circulating concentrations of the pro‐inflammatory cytokine interleukin‐6 (IL‐6), which bears structural homology and similarities in intracellular signalling to leptin. This study aimed to investigate interactions between leptin and IL‐6 in colonic neurons and their possible contribution to IBS pathophysiology. The functional effects of leptin and IL‐6 on colonic contractility and absorptosecretory function were assessed in organ baths and Ussing chambers in Sprague–Dawley rat colon. Calcium imaging and immunohistochemical techniques were used to investigate the neural regulation of GI function by these signalling molecules. Our findings provide a neuromodulatory role for leptin in submucosal neurons, where it inhibited the stimulatory effects of IL‐6. Functionally, this translated to suppression of IL‐6‐evoked potentiation of veratridine‐induced secretory currents. Leptin also attenuated IL‐6‐induced colonic contractions, although it had little direct effect on myenteric neurons. Calcium responses evoked by IBS plasma in both myenteric and submucosal neurons were also suppressed by leptin, possibly through interactions with IL‐6, which is elevated in IBS plasma. As leptin has the capacity to ameliorate the neurostimulatory effects of soluble mediators in IBS plasma and modulated IL‐6‐evoked changes in bowel function, leptin may have a role in immune‐mediated bowel dysfunction in IBS patients.
Aerothermal Performance of a Nozzle Vane Cascade With a Generic Nonuniform Inlet Flow Condition—Part I: Influence of Nonuniformity Location
Authors: Perdichizzi A. , Abdeh H. , Barigozzi G. , Henze M. , Krueckels J.
Published: September 2016

In this paper, the modifications induced by the presence of an inlet flow nonuniformity on the aerodynamic performance of a nozzle vane cascade are experimentally assessed. Tests were carried out in a six vane linear cascade whose profile is typical of a first stage nozzle guide vane of a modern heavy-duty gas turbine. An obstruction was located in the wind tunnel inlet section to produce a nonuniform flow upstream of the leading edge plane. The cascade was tested in an atmospheric wind tunnel at an inlet Mach number Ma1 = 0.12, with a high turbulence intensity (Tu1 = 9%) and variable obstruction tangential and axial positions, as well as tangential extension. The presented results show that an inlet flow nonuniformity influences the stagnation point position when it faces the vane leading edge from the suction side. A relevant increase of both 2D and secondary losses is observed when the nonuniformity is aligned to the vane leading edge. When it is instead located in between the passage, it does not affect the stagnation point location, in the meanwhile allowing a reduction in the secondary loss.
Lattice Boltzmann Simulation of Airflow and Heat Transfer in a Model Ward of a Hospital
Authors: Hasan Md. Farhad , Ahmed Himika Taasnim , Molla Md. Mamun
Published: September 2016

In this research, a very popular alternative computational technique, the lattice Boltzmann method (LBM), has been used to simulate the indoor airflow and heat transfer in a model hospital ward. Different Reynolds numbers have been used to study the airflow pattern. Boundary conditions for velocity and temperature have also been discussed in detail. Several tests have been conducted for code validation. LBM is demonstrated through simulation in forced convection inside hospital ward with six beds for two different situations: ward without partition and ward with partition. Changes in average rate of heat transfer in terms of average Nusselt numbers have also been recorded for those situations. Average Nusselt numbers were found to differ for different cases. In terms of airflow, it has been found that, for various Reynolds numbers, airflow changes its pattern and leads to few recirculations for relatively higher Reynolds number but remains steady for low Reynolds number. It was observed that partition narrowed the channel for airflow and once the air overcame this barrier, it gets free space and recirculation appears more. For higher Reynolds number, the average rate of heat transfer increases and patients near the recirculation zone release maximum heat and will feel more comfortable.
Research on the Relationships of Customized Service Attributes in Cloud Manufacturing
Authors: Zhou Longfei , Zhang Lin , Xu Yuyan
Published: September 2016

Cloud manufacturing (CMfg) aims to meet the customization demand of resource service demander (RSD) effectively. This article investigates the relationship between cloud service attributes and task completion from several aspects and a multi-dimensional classification scheme of cloud service attributes is established. Key service attributes of manufacturing cloud service are categorized in six aspects including role oriented, dynamic nature of data, steps of service composition, correlation between service attribute and fitness function of service composition, value types and dimension. From the perspective of attribute indexes, the relationship between service attributes and different demands of personalized customized are analysed and elaborated, and the corresponding objective functions are proposed.
An Experiment-Based Model to Determine Eigenstrain in Fibre Metal Laminates Induced by Laser Peen Forming
Authors: Zhang Zhengyu , Hu Yongxiang , Yao Zhenqiang
Published: September 2016

Fibre metal laminates are new sorts of composite materials with superior fatigue and impact properties. Forming parts from FMLs is very attractive to reduce the process cycle and labor cost. Laser peen forming (LPF) is a promising method to form FMLs with its design flexibility and adaptability to produce complex shapes. To predict the deformed shape of FMLs after laser peen forming, eigenstrain-based modelling is a helpful method with advantage in spending less computational time, but it is difficult to precisely determine eigenstrain distribution regarding material with layered structure. In the present research, an efficient and effective experiment-based method is proposed to determine eigenstrain in the metal layer of FMLs, which can avoid the complicated numerical simulation. The determined eigenstrain is assumed to be uniformly distributed in each metal layer while no plastic deformation is generated in composite layer due to its high strength yield. An analytical model is developed to relate the bending deformation to eigenstrain field. Firstly, the equivalent external bending moment applied on the samples is deduced from eigenstrain, and then the relation of deformation and bending moment is provided by a beam bending model. Chemical etching is utilized to remove metal layer by layer to calculate eigenstrain in each layer. With removal of each metal layer, the bending profiles will spring back or bend further due to change of applied moment and bending stiffness. The eigenstrain in each layer can be inversely determined by matching the residual bending profile after each etching with the developed bending model. One scanning strategy of LPF with reciprocating line and 50% overlapping rate is performed in experiments to apply laser shocks on the entire top surface of strip samples, which are prepared from glass laminate aluminum reinforced epoxy with a unidirectional orientation. Eigenstrain in the top and bottom metal layer is successively determined by the proposed analytical model and chemical etching. Finite element analysis is utilized to verify the determined eigenstrain by comparing the simulated shape with experiments and good agreement is obtained.
Heuristic Feature Selection for Shaving Tool Wear Classification
Authors: Wang Yong , Brzezinski Adam J. , Qiao Xianli , Ni Jun
Published: September 2016

In this paper, we develop and apply feature extraction and selection techniques to classify tool wear in the shaving process. Because shaving tool condition monitoring is not well-studied, we extract both traditional and novel features from accelerometer signals collected from the shaving machine. We then apply a heuristic feature selection technique to identify key features and classify the tool condition. Run-to-life data from a shop-floor application is used to validate the proposed technique.
Effect of Laser Shock Peening on Electrochemical Corrosion Resistance of 2024 Aluminum Alloy
Authors: Wang Hao , Huang Yihui , Du Zhenying , Zhang Wenwu , Bi Mengxue
Published: September 2016

Laser shock peening is an innovation technique due to its significant improvement on the corrosion resistance of metallic materials. The study describes the effect of laser shock peening with multiple LSP impacts on the corrosion resistance of 2024 aluminum alloy in NaCl water solution with a mass fraction of 3.5% by using electrochemical technique. The experimental results reveal that LSP significantly reduces the corrosion rate of 2024 aluminum alloy, and as the number of impacts increases the corrosion rate decreases. The study demonstrates that LSP is an effective method to improve the electrochemical corrosion resistance of 2024 aluminum alloy.
Electrically Assisted Compression of Tungsten Carbide and its Implications for Electrically Assisted Machining
Authors: Ruszkiewicz Brandt J. , Mears Laine
Published: September 2016

It has been shown that electrically assisted machining has the ability to reduce cutting force, change chip type, and improve surface finish. However, the effect of electricity on tungsten carbide has not been examined, a material often used to create cutting tools used in electrically assisted machining. During machining processes, depending on the type of cut, a small amount of the tool may be in contact with the workpiece. This will lead to an increased current density at that point on the tool which could lead to undesired effects with respect to tool wear and life. This paper conducts electrically assisted compression tests on uncoated tungsten carbide rod to examine the effect of electricity on the material and determine if there are any current densities that cause large magnitude weakening of the tungsten carbide. It is concluded that there is a maximum current density that can be passed through tungsten carbide before thermal softening becomes a problem. At a current density lower than this threshold, electricity has little effect on the strength of the carbide. This work is related to past electrically assisted turning experimentation.
Temperature Controlled Forming of 7075-T6 Aluminum Using Linearly Decaying Direct Electric Current
Authors: Ruszkiewicz Brandt J. , Mears Laine
Published: September 2016

The push in the automotive industry towards lightweighting to meet new stricter fuel efficiency standards has driven the need to research lightweight material forming. This requires research into forming high strength materials, as well as lower strength lightweight materials that may typically have poor formability characteristics. 7075-T6 aluminum suffers from limited elongation during tensile forming; electrically-assisted forming, which uses direct current to improve formability, is a viable candidate process to improve formability. In past electrical tension testing by various authors, two types of wave forms have been examined: continuous current and square waveforms. For tension it was shown that applying current using square waveforms was able to extend formability beyond what continuous current could produce, due to reducing the overheating in the necking region. This paper examines the effect of a non-decaying and linearly globally decaying saw tooth wave on the formability and flow stress of 7075-T6 aluminum in tension. It is shown that EAM using a sawtooth waveform can result in further elongation than cold forming, with similar elongation to previously-investigated square waves. An existing temperature model is adapted to the saw tooth waveform and used to calculate the change in material properties to find the flow stress using a theoretical strength equation.
Fog-Enabled Architecture for Data-Driven Cyber-Manufacturing Systems
Authors: Wu Dazhong , Terpenny Janis , Zhang Li , Gao Robert , Kurfess Thomas
Published: September 2016

Over the past few decades, both small- and medium-sized manufacturers as well as large original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) have been faced with an increasing need for low cost and scalable intelligent manufacturing machines. Capabilities are needed for collecting and processing large volumes of real-time data generated from manufacturing machines and processes as well as for diagnosing the root cause of identified defects, predicting their progression, and forecasting maintenance actions proactively to minimize unexpected machine down times. Although cloud computing enables ubiquitous and instant remote access to scalable information and communication technology (ICT) infrastructures and high volume data storage, it has limitations in latency-sensitive applications such as high performance computing and real-time stream analytics. The emergence of fog computing, Internet of Things (IoT), and cyber-physical systems (CPS) represent radical changes in the way sensing systems, along with ICT infrastructures, collect and analyze large volumes of real-time data streams in geographically distributed environments. Ultimately, such technological approaches enable machines to function as an agent that is capable of intelligent behaviors such as automatic fault and failure detection, self-diagnosis, and preventative maintenance scheduling. The objective of this research is to introduce a fog-enabled architecture that consists of smart sensor networks, communication protocols, parallel machine learning software, and private and public clouds. The fog-enabled architecture will have the potential to enable large-scale, geographically distributed online machine and process monitoring, diagnosis, and prognosis that require low latency and high bandwidth in the context of data-driven cyber-manufacturing systems.
In-Line Dimensional Metrology for Nanomanufacturing Systems
Authors: Yao Tsung-Fu , Duenner Andrew , Cullinan Michael
Published: September 2016

One of the major challenges in nanoscale manufacturing is defect control because it is difficult to measure nanoscale features in-line with the manufacturing process. Optical inspection typically is not an option at the nanoscale level due to the diffraction limit of light, and without inspection high scrap rates can occur. Therefore, this paper presents an atomic force microscopy (AFM)-based inspection system that can be rapidly implemented in-line with other nanomanufacturing processes. Atomic force microscopy is capable of producing very high resolution (sub-nm-scale) surface topology measurements and is widely utilized in scientific and industrial applications, but has not been implemented in-line with manufacturing systems, primarily because of the large setup time typically required to take an AFM measurement. In order to overcome this limitation, we have developed a single-chip-AFM-based inspection system where a wafer can be precisely and repeatably loaded into the setup and measurements can be taken in under 60 seconds. This inspection system consists of several single-chip AFMs integrated into a positioning stage to make measurements at multiple spots on a wafer at the same time. Each single-chip AFM is a MEMS device that is approximately 2 mm wide by 1 mm tall and is capable of scanning a 10 micron by 10 micron area. Thermal actuators in the MEMS device are used to do the scanning in both the x and y directions as well as to excite the z axis of the AFM so that it can be run in taping mode. Each AFM is attached to a flexure stage in the top plate of the inspection system so that the AFM can be precisely moved to the desired inspection location on the wafer. The flexure plate is coupled to the inspection plate using a kinematic coupling so that the flexure plate can be precisely located with respect to the inspection plate after each loading operation. In order to take a measurement, the flexure plate is removed from the inspection plate, a wafer is loaded into the inspection plate using an exactly constrained, passive alignment system, and the flexure plate is then placed back onto the inspection plate. This brings the AFMs back into contact with the surface that is to be measured and the AFMs can then start taking measurements without any additional alignment operations. The overall measurement procedure takes less than one minute, which is faster than most nanomanufacturing processes. This guarantees that the inspection step will not be the bottleneck in the manufacturing process.
An Analysis of Interfacial Adhesion Between TPU/MWCNT Composites and ABS Substrate by Over Injection Molding
Authors: Fetecau Catalin , Stan Felicia , Cristea Nicoleta Violeta , Sandu Laurentiu Ionut
Published: September 2016

In this work, the advantages of Thermoplastic Polyurethane (TPU) filled with multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) were combined with those of the over injection molding process in order to obtain two-component (2k) structures with very different but high mechanical and electrical properties. TPU/MWCNT composites with different MWCNTs wt.% were over-molded onto Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene (ABS) substrates, under different processing conditions, and the adhesion was assessed by T-peel tests at room temperature. Since adhesion is also related to flow behavior, the rheological properties were studied with a capillary rheometer at shear rates similar to those of the injection molding process (102∼104s−1). Experimental results indicated that the most effective way to control the adhesion between the ABS substrate and the over-molded TPU/MWCNT composite is to increase the melt temperature. The addition of carbon nanotubes improves adhesion in the vicinity of 0.5 wt.% MWCNTs.
Development of Smart Tooling Concepts Applied to Ultra-Precision and High Speed Machining
Authors: Wang Chao , Cheng Kai , Rakowski Richard
Published: September 2016

This paper presents smart tooling concepts applied to ultra-precision and high speed machining, particularly through the development of smart tool holders, two types of smart cutting tools and a smart spindle for high speed drilling and precision turning purposes respectively. The smart cutting tools presented are force-based devices, which allow measuring the cutting force in real time. By monitoring the cutting force a suitable sensor feedback signal can be captured, which can then be applied for the smart machining. Furthermore, an overview of recent research projects on smart spindle development is provided, demonstrating that signal feedback is very closely correlated to the drilling through a multilayer composite board. Implementation aspects on the proposed smart cutting tool are also explored in the application of hybrid dissimilar material machining.
Simulation of Long Semi-Flexible Fiber Orientation During Injection Molding
Authors: Chen Hongyu , Wapperom Peter , Baird Donald G.
Published: September 2016

Fiber orientation simulation is conducted for the Center-Gated-Disk (CGD) geometry and compared with experimental data. Long-fiber thermoplastic composites (LFTs) possess competitive advantages over short glass fiber composites in terms of their mechanical properties while retain the ability to be injection molded. Mechanical properties of LFTs are highly dependent on the microstructural variables imparted by the injection molding process including fiber orientation and fiber length distribution. As the fiber length increased, the mechanical properties of the composites containing discontinuous fibers can approach those of continuous fiber materials. Several researchers have reported that flexural, creep and charpy impact properties increase as fiber length increases, while tensile modulus will plateau for glass fibers above 1 mm in length. Fibers less than the 1 mm threshold have been considered to be short while fibers with lengths greater than 1 mm are considered long. For long fibers, they will have the ability to deform, bend and even break during any stage of polymer processing.

There is a lack of knowledge about the effects of fiber length and fiber length variation on fiber orientation kinetics. This lack of information provides an opportunity to understand the length effect inherent to long fibers systems. The Bead-Rod fiber orientation model takes into account the flexibility of semi-flexible fibers that show small bending angles. In this model, a flexibility parameter representing the resistive bending potential is fiber length dependent (detailed explanation can be found in the reference)1. This work is concerned with the effect of fiber length on the performance of the Bead-Rod fiber orientation model which takes into account the flexibility of semi-flexible fibers. Different averaging techniques are used to represent the average fiber length for the population of fibers, which give different fiber length parameters for the Bead-Rod model. The sensitivity of the Bead-Rod model is evaluated with regard to the fiber flexibility parameter, k, and length parameter, lb. The other phenomenal parameters within the orientation model are obtained via basic rheological measurements using simple shear flow. As the value of average fiber length Lav increases and the corresponding flexibility parameter value decreases, the core regions become wider and the flow direction orientation gradually decreases especially near the walls for the Bead-Rod model predictions. In addition, as the parameters favor longer fiber lengths, the predicted extent of fiber bending increases. The simulation results are also compared with the experimental obtained fiber orientation at different flow length along the thickness direction. The Bead-Rod model shows improvement over the rigid rod model.
Effect of Electrical Augmentation on the Joining of Al6063-T5 Using Flow Drill Screws
Authors: Skovron Jamie D. , Ruszkiewicz Brandt J. , Mears Laine , Abke Tim
Published: September 2016

Increasing fuel economy standards have motivated automakers to reduce vehicle mass with multi-material bodies-in-white. One joining technology particularly suited for onesided multi-material joining is Flow Drill Screwdriving (FDS), a process by which a fastener friction drills, penetrates the joint, thread-forms, and then torques to apply clamping pressure to the joint. The frictional nature of FDS induces thermal softening of the material but requires time for the heat to build. Prior work with thermal assistance has shown that increasing pre-process temperature leads directly to reducing penetration time, but may add to overall cycle time. A more efficient augmentation approach through Electrical Augmentation (EA) is investigated to reduce cycle time. An experimental investigation of the EA-FDS process is presented, with the joint metrics quantified through installation torque, process time, and breakloose torque. EA-FDS is shown to reduce cycle time, and have the ability to join thicker cross-sections.
Tip-Based Nanomanufacturing (TBN) of Nanofluidics Using AFM
Authors: Promyoo Rapeepan , El-Mounayri Hazim , Karingula Varun Kumar , Varahramyan Kody
Published: September 2016

Recent developments in science and engineering have advanced the atomic manufacturing of nanoscale structures, allowing for improved high-performance technologies. The challenge now is to expand nanomanufacturing capabilities in order to fabricate a broader range of structures with higher complexity, greater precision and accuracy, and with substantially improved performance. Also, reducing the cost by avoiding the use of expensive equipment/processes is highly desirable. While current nanomanufacturing capabilities limit the commercialization of such nanoscale structures, AFM-based nanomachining is a promising tool to address issues and is considered a potential manufacturing tool for operations including machining, patterning, and assembling with in situ metrology and visualization. Most existing techniques used in the fabrication of nanofluidic channels involved the use of electron-beam lithography systems, which are very expensive processes. In addition, one of the issues associated with electron-beam lithography is when the base material is changed; the energy of ejecting electrons needs to be adjusted. This results in time spending on developing the formula for different material. In this work, atomic force microscopy (AFM) is employed in the fabrication of a nanofluidic device for medical applications. Nanofluidic channels with various depths and widths are fabricated using AFM indentation and scratching techniques. Nanoscale channel is mainly used in the study of molecular behavior at single molecule level. The interaction of molecules with the nanochannels at persistence length has led to a new way of detecting, analyzing and separating these biomolecules. The resulting device from the current work can be used for the DNA stretching application and the separation of elite group of lysosome and other viruses.

The nanochannels are integrated between the microchannels and act as a filter to separate biomolecules. Sharply developed vertical microchannels are produced from a deep reaction ion etching followed by deposition of different materials such as gold and polymer on the top surface in order to study alternative ways of manufacturing the nanofluidic device. PDMS bonding is performed to close the top surface of the device. An experimental setup is used to test and validate the device by flowing fluid through the channels. A detailed cost evaluation is conducted to assess the economical merits of the proposed process. It is shown that there is 47.7% manufacturing-time savings and 60.6% manufacturing-cost savings, when using the proposed process compared to more traditional processes.
Experimental Study on Blasting Erosion Arc Machining of 50 Vol% SiC/Al Matrix Composites
Authors: Chen Jipeng , Gu Lin , Zhao Wansheng
Published: September 2016

Machining performance of high fraction SiC/Al matrix composites (e.g., 50 vol% SiC/Al) is very limited because of their reinforced SiC particles. In order to study the machinability of high fraction SiC/Al matrix composites with blasting erosion arc machining (BEAM), factorial experiment was employed under the negative electrode machining condition. It was found that when peak current was 500 A, MRR (material removal rate) could be as high as 6,000 mm3/min. Besides, surface integrity under different machining parameters was also investigated. Finally, a 50 vol% SiC/Al composites workpiece was successfully machined with BEAM, which demonstrated that BEAM is capable for the machining of high fraction SiC/Al matrix composites.
Microstructure Engineering of Commercially Pure Ni Sheets to Enhance Micro-Deep Drawing Formability
Authors: Moradi Marzyeh , Shankar M. Ravi
Published: September 2016

Effects of starting microstructure on deformation behavior of commercially pure Ni blanks during micro-deep drawing was studied utilizing microforming set up that sits inside the chamber of Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) enables in situ observation of material flow during deformation. Various microstructure fields were created in Ni blanks using Severe Plastic Deformation (SPD) and heat treatment. SEM based Digital Image correlation (DIC) technique was used to characterize the micromechanics of deformation and its relation to process outcomes/performance. Pre and post–deformation microstructure analysis was carried out by performing Orientation Imaging Microscopy (OIM) to track the microstructure evolution across the micro-formed blanks during deformation in order to identify the process anomalies originated from the characteristics of starting microstructure and its interaction with deformation mechanics. We showed that microstructurally graded sheets consisting of nano-grained/coarse-grained layers significantly improves the formability of micro-blanks and effectively delays strain localization and onset of instability/failure during micro-deep drawing.
Manufacturing Reliable Ceramic Crowns: The Role of Abrasive Machining in Digital Dentistry
Authors: Yin Ling , Alao Abdur-Rasheed , Song Xiao-Fei , Stoll Richard
Published: September 2016

Dental caries is a ubiquitous disease and nearly 100% of the population is affected worldwide. Consequently, reliable dental restorations are in high demand. More and more patients expect and request esthetics and biosafety, and desire metal-free prostheses. Both biocompatible and esthetic ceramics and digital processing of prostheses have been developed to meet these demands. This paper reviews the current status of abrasive machining involved in affordable digital dental ceramic restorations with regard to dental ceramic materials, dental CAD/CAM systems, and extra/intraoral dental handpiece adjustments. It highlights the importance and challenge of abrasive machining technologies in manufacturing of affordable and reliable dental restorations with cutting-edge materials.
Joint Maintenance and Energy Management in Manufacturing Systems: Prospect Discussion, Challenge Analysis, and a Case Study
Authors: Yao Xufeng , Sun Zeyi , Wei Dong , Wang Lingyun
Published: September 2016

The maintenance in manufacturing systems has been widely studied to improve equipment reliability, increase the productivity, and reduce operational cost. Recently, with the increasing concerns on climate change and environmental protection, the energy related performance of manufacturing system has also draw wide attention from both academia and industry. One common decision of maintenance and energy management can be the identification of the machines that could be shut down in the manufacturing system for either maintenance or energy saving purpose. Thus, the idea of implementing maintenance and energy control simultaneously has emerged. Some existing cases about the joint maintenance and energy control in manufacturing systems can be found in literature. In this paper, we further analyze the existing opportunities for joint energy and maintenance decision making in manufacturing systems. A few research directions towards this goal are proposed and discussed. The corresponding research challenges are also analyzed. A numerical case based on a section of an automotive assembly line is used to illustrate the potential benefits of the proposed approach.
A Bending-Machining Hybrid Process for Angular Dimensional Accuracy Enhancement
Authors: Li Ye , Sekar Anand
Published: September 2016

Bending is a fundamental manufacturing process to form sheet metals into intended angular geometries. Although the process has been extensively studied, predicting its accuracy is still challenging due to the Springback phenomenon inherent to the process. This research intends to combine bending and machining processes to improve bent workpiece angular dimensional accuracy. A minimum enclosing CAD model is first obtained by determining optimum thickness from the bend part CAD model to accommodate the estimated Springback in order to guide the selection of blank workpiece dimension for this bending/machining strategy. Then the machining areas are determined and the cutting forces are predicted to estimate the deformation in the machining process. Toolpath is planned on the surface profile considering both the cutter deflection and the incurred workpiece deformation during machining. This project aims to produce a bending part with the desired dimensional accuracy through a hybrid manufacturing approach. More importantly, it also provides a technological foundation to prototype angled parts at a low cost by avoiding high expenses in making new die.
Compressive Evaluation of Polyethylene (Glycol) Diacrylate (PEGDA) for Scaffold Fabrication
Authors: Yasar Ozlem , Inceoglu Serkan
Published: September 2016

In the field of tissue engineering, scaffold is the foundation structure that provides the desired mechanical support for the tissue being engineered, surface for cells to attach and spread, and access for nutrient transport crucial for cell viability. The scaffolds are 3D building blocks which are designed and fabricated precisely prior to its implantation to the host tissue. When scaffolds with desired shape and size are fabricated, they can be seeded with cells and appropriate growth factors. After cells show healthy growth within the scaffold, they are implanted into the body with the scaffold to allow full-scale tissue regeneration.

In this research, photolithography is adapted as a fabrication method to generate PEGDA-based structures. In this method, ultra-violet (UV) light is reflected on PEGDA and as a result of the interaction between UV light and precursor solution, PEGDA turns into solid form.

Despite the potential of PEGDA in scaffold applications, the mechanical properties have not been studied in a great extent. Therefore, in this project, the mechanical characterization of PEGDA was conducted for various polymer concentrations. Specimens with 20%, 40%, 60%, 80% and 100% PEGDA to water ratio were prepared for compression tests. Our preliminary experimental data results show that, mechanical properties of PEGDA can be controlled by changing the PEGDA to water ratio. Stronger and stiffer structures can be obtained with high PEGDA concentrations while softer structures can be fabricated with reduced PEGDA concentrations.
A Cloud-Based Approach to Support the Mobile Phone Recycling Industry in China
Authors: Zhao Wenyan , Wang Xi Vincent , Yang Jianxin , Li Bo , Wang Lihui
Published: September 2016

In recent years, the waste mobile phones are generated in large quantity in China. Those e-wastes gain more and more attention because of both the sharp increase in quantity and the recyclable resources they contain. Furthermore, the mobile phone recycling industry has experienced a trend of rapid growth as well. However, due to the lack of national policies and legislations, the recycling industry is now facing problems in recycling processes. Thus in this paper, mobile phone recycling industry in China is systematically analyzed and a Cloud-based approach is developed which integrates tracking, interaction and coordinator mechanism through the recycling processes. With the integration of various stakeholders, the system can provide integrated data system throughout the whole life cycle of the mobile phones for the policy maker, and provide guidance for the operations during recycling service for the recycling stakeholders.
Forecasting Obsolescence Risk Using Machine Learning
Authors: Jennings Connor , Wu Dazhong , Terpenny Janis
Published: September 2016

With rapid innovation in the electronics industry, product obsolescence forecasting has become increasingly important. More accurate obsolescence forecasting would have cost reduction effects in product design and part procurement over a product’s lifetime. Currently many obsolescence forecasting methods require manual input or perform market analysis on a part by part basis; practices that are not feasible for large bill of materials. In response, this paper introduces an obsolescence forecasting framework that is capable of being scaled to meet industry needs while remaining highly accurate. The framework utilizes machine learning to classify parts as active, in production, or obsolete and discontinued. This classification and labeling of parts can be useful in the design stage in part selection and during inventory management with evaluating the chance that suppliers might stop production. A case study utilizing the proposed framework is presented to demonstrate and validate the improved accuracy of obsolescence risk forecasting. As shown, the framework correctly identified active and obsolete products with an accuracy as high as 98.3%.
Development of Micro Pencil Grinding Tools via an Electroless Plating Process
Authors: Arrabiyeh Peter A. , Kirsch Benjamin , Aurich Jan C.
Published: September 2016

This paper presents the development process of a new coating method for Micro pencil grinding tools (MPGT). MPGTs, applied for micro grinding, consist of a base body, abrasives and a metallic bond. The manufacturing process of these micro tools presents two challenges. The first being in finding a method to embed the abrasives with a uniform grit distribution and the second finding the correct parameters, required for a bond with adequate grit retention forces. In this research an electroless plating process is presented. Both the abrasive grit distribution method and the plating parameters will be presented in this paper.
Agent Based Simulation Optimization of Waste Electrical and Electronics Equipment Recovery
Authors: Raihanian Mashhadi Ardeshir , Behdad Sara , Zhuang Jun
Published: September 2016

The profitability of Electronic waste (e-waste) recovery operations is quite challenging due to various sources of uncertainties in quantity, quality and timing of returns originating from consumers’ behavior. The cloud-based remanufacturing concept, data collection and information tracking technologies seems a promising solution toward proper collection and recovery of product life cycle data under uncertainty. A comprehensive model that takes every aspect of recovery systems into account will help policy makers perform better decisions over a planning horizon. The objective of this study is to develop an Agent Based Simulation (ABS) framework to model the overall product take-back and recovery system based on the product identity data available through cloud-based remanufacturing infrastructure. Socio-demographic properties of the consumers, attributes of the take-back programs, specific characteristics of the recovery process and product life cycle information have been considered to capture the optimum buyback price proposed for a product with the aim of controlling the timing and quality of incoming used products to collection sites for recovery. A numerical example of an electronic product take-back system and a simulation-based optimization are provided to illustrate the application of the model.
Design of a High Bandwidth Non-Resonant Tertiary Motion Generator for Elliptical Vibration Texturing
Authors: Chen Keyu , Guo Ping
Published: September 2016

This paper presents the design and characteristics of a new two-dimensional non-resonant tertiary motion generator which is based on the flextensional structure. A tool holder connects two perpendicularly-placed flextensional actuators with flexure hinges which decouple the motion outputs from the two actuators. Piezoelectric stacks, which are preloaded through precision screws, are used to provide input displacements. By balancing the requirements of driving current, stiffness, and the displacement amplification ratio, the proposed design is targeted to operate at above 10 kHz with two-dimensional vibrations amplitude of 10 μm in each directions. Technical difficulties in driving a non-resonant mode piezoelectric actuator at a high frequency are discussed. The solutions and optimization procedures are presented in this paper. The design is optimized by finite element simulation; and the results are presented.