Ceramic component reliability with the restructured NASA/CARES computer program

The Ceramics Analysis and Reliability Evaluation of Structures (CARES) integrated design program on statistical fast fracture reliability and monolithic ceramic components is enhanced to include the use of a neutral data base, two-dimensional modeling, and variable problem size. The data base allows for the efficient transfer of element stresses, temperatures, and volumes/areas from the finite element output to the reliability analysis program. Elements are divided to insure a direct correspondence between the subelements and the Gaussian integration points. Two-dimensional modeling is accomplished by assessing the volume flaw reliability with shell elements. To demonstrate the improvements in the algorithm, example problems are selected from a round-robin conducted by WELFEP (WEakest Link failure probability prediction by Finite Element Postprocessors)

Reliability analysis of laminated CMC components through shell subelement techniques

An updated version of the integrated design program Composite Ceramics Analysis and Reliability Evaluation of Structures (C/CARES) was developed for the reliability evaluation of ceramic matrix composites (CMC) laminated shell components. The algorithm is now split into two modules: a finite-element data interface program and a reliability evaluation algorithm. More flexibility is achieved, allowing for easy implementation with various finite-element programs. The interface program creates a neutral data base which is then read by the reliability module. This neutral data base concept allows easy data transfer between different computer systems. The new interface program from the finite-element code Matrix Automated Reduction and Coupling (MARC) also includes the option of using hybrid laminates (a combination of plies of different materials or different layups) and allows for variations in temperature fields throughout the component. In the current version of C/CARES, a subelement technique was implemented, enabling stress gradients within an element to be taken into account. The noninteractive reliability function is now evaluated at each Gaussian integration point instead of using averaging techniques. As a result of the increased number of stress evaluation points, considerable improvements in the accuracy of reliability analyses were realized

Genetic analysis of cognitive failures (CFQ); A study of Dutch adolescent twins and their parents

A substantial part of the inter-individual variation in everyday cognitive failures in memory, perception and motor control can be attributed to genetic factors. Cognitive failures were assessed with the Cognitive Failures Questionnaire (Broadbent, Cooper, FitzGerald and Parkes, 1982) in a large sample of Dutch adolescent twin pairs and their biological parents. The heritability for CFQ scores was around 50 per cent. There was no association between CFQ scores and age or educational level. Both in the parental generation (aged 46 years on average) and in the o€spring generation (aged 17.7 years on average) women had somewhat higher mean CFQ scores than men. There were no sex di€erences in heritabilities. The part of the variance that could not be attributed to genetic factors was best explained by environmental in¯uences unique to the individual. There was no evidence for the in¯uence of shared environment on CFQ scores. CFQ scores of husband and wife were correlated (r ˆ 0.22) and this association was modeled as phenotypic assortment. The correlations between parents and o€spring were somewhat lower than the correlations between dizygotic twins. Under a model with equal heritabilities in parents and o€spring, there was some evidence that the genetic factors that in¯uence cognitive failures in the two generations are partly di€erent. # 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd

Transfer Payment Systems and Financial Distress: Insights from Health Insurance Premium Subsidies

How should payment systems of means-tested benefits be designed to improve the financial situation of needy recipients most effectively? We study this question in the context of mandatory health insurance in Switzerland, where recipients initially received either a cash transfer or subsidized insurance premiums (a form of in-kind transfer). A federal reform in 2014 forced cantons (i.e. states) to universally switch to in-kind provision. We exploit this setting based on a difference-in-differences design, analyzing rich individual-level accounting data and applying a machine learning approach to identify cash recipients prior to the reform. We find that switching from cash to in-kind transfers reduces the likelihood of late premiums payments by about 20% and of government debt collection for long-term missed payments by approximately 16%. There is no evidence for a negative spillover effect on the timely payment of the non-subsidized coinsurance bills for health services after the regime change

Anisotropic Exchange in LiCu2O2{\bf LiCu_2O_2}

We investigate the magnetic properties of the multiferroic quantum-spin system LiCu$_2$O$_2$ by electron spin resonance (ESR) measurements at $X$- and $Q$-band frequencies in a wide temperature range $(T_{\rm N1} \leq T \leq 300$\,K). The observed anisotropies of the $g$ tensor and the ESR linewidth in untwinned single crystals result from the crystal-electric field and from local exchange geometries acting on the magnetic Cu$^{2+}$ ions in the zigzag-ladder like structure of LiCu$_2$O$_2$. Supported by a microscopic analysis of the exchange paths involved, we show that both the symmetric anisotropic exchange interaction and the antisymmetric Dzyaloshinskii-Moriya interaction provide the dominant spin-spin relaxation channels in this material.Comment: 10 pages, 10 Figure

Expression patterns of intestinal calcium transport factors and ex-vivo absorption of calcium in horses

BACKGROUND: In many species, the small intestine is the major site of calcium (Ca(2+)) absorption. The horse differs considerably from most other species with regard to the physiology of its Ca(2+) metabolism and digestion. Thus, this study was performed to get more information about the transcellular Ca(2+) absorption in the horse.Two mechanisms of intestinal Ca(2+) absorption are described: the passive paracellular pathway and the active, vitamin D-dependent transcellular pathway. The latter involves the following elements: vitamin D receptors (VDR), transient receptor potential vanilloid channel members 5 and 6 (TRPV5/6), calbindin-D9k (CB), the Na/Ca exchanger (NCX1) and the plasma membrane Ca-ATPase (PMCA). The aim of the present study was to investigate the protein and mRNA expression patterns of VDR, CB and TRPV6 and the ex-vivo Ca(2+) absorption in horses, assessed by qualitative and quantitative RT-PCR, western blot, immunohistochemistry and the Ussing chamber technique. RESULTS: Highest CB and TRPV6 mRNA levels were detected in the duodenum as compared to the middle parts of the jejunum and ileum and several sites of the large intestine. VDR mRNA levels did not change significantly throughout the intestine. TRPV5 mRNA was not detectable in the horse intestine. The highest VDR and CB protein levels were measured in the duodenum. Ussing chamber studies revealed ex-vivo Ca(2+) absorption only in the duodenum, but not in cecum and specific sites of the colon. CONCLUSION: The present findings suggest that TRPV6, CB and VDR may be involved in active intestinal Ca(2+) absorption in horses, as described for other mammals. TRPV5 may not play a major role in this process. Furthermore, the expression patterns of these Ca(2+) transport elements and the results of the Ussing chamber procedure indicate that a significant part of active intestinal Ca(2+) absorption occurs in the duodenum in this species

Integrating Nanomembrane Separation with Plasmonic Detection for Real-Time Cell Culture Monitoring

To further understand cellular responses to drug treatment the dynamics of a reduced secretome shall be investigated. Currently there is no method for the detection of secreted small molecules in real time, label-free and with a high resolution. We present a novel design, which integrates nanopore filtration technology with highly sensitive plasmonic detection that allows real time monitoring of filtered molecules with a high spatial resolution and label free. The cell culture chamber is separated from the site of detection only by our biocompatible nanomembrane filter with a thickness of less than 100 nm to exclude the majority of background signals from the cell culture. The fast filtration of the cell culture constituents through the nanomembrane to the detector allows the observation of the dynamics of secreted molecules during cell culture and/or drug application. The setup offers new possibilities for drug screening and cell assays and may reveal new insights into cell signaling and drug responses. This setup shall be used to monitor cell culture or tissue culture without the necessity of labeling. This can be particularly important for the very popular “organ-on-a-chip” or “patient-on-a-chip” approaches to monitor tissue reactions to drug treatments with a high spatial resolution. Please click Additional Files below to see the full abstract

Placental Origin of Prostaglandin F 2 α

In the present study, the question was addressed whether the feline placenta can synthesize prostaglandin F2 α (PGF2 α ). The PGFS protein was elevated, particularly at 2.5-3 weeks of pregnancy compared to 7-8 (P < 0.05) and 8.5-9 weeks (P < 0.001). Transcripts for PGFS were significantly upregulated at 2.5-3 weeks of pregnancy and then gradually declined towards the end of gestation (P < 0.001). Transcripts for PTGS2 were only upregulated in placentas from queens close to term (P < 0.001) compared with earlier phases. Staining of PTGS2 showed distinct positive signals in placentas obtained during the last week before labor, particularly in the strongly invading trophoblast surrounding blood vessels, and also in decidual cells. Shortly after implantation, signals for PGFS were localized in the trophoblast cells. Near term, PGFS staining was seen mainly in decidual cells. Both placental PGF2 α and plasma PGFM were elevated towards the end of pregnancy (P < 0.001) compared with earlier weeks of pregnancy. The content of PGF2 α in extracted placenta mirrored the PGFM level in plasma of pregnant females. During late gestation there is a significant increase in PGFM levels in maternal blood and of PGF2 α levels in placental tissue concomitant with an upregulation of placental PTGS2