Reflection of Elastic Waves by an Array of Interface Cracks

An imperfect diffusion bond between two dissimilar materials may be modeled by an interface with an array of interface cracks. The analytical treatment of the reflection and transmission of elastic waves by an array of interface cracks provides the prerequisite for nondestructive characterization of the diffusion bond by ultrasonic techniques. This paper is to develop approximate solutions for the reflection and transmission coefficients from an array of interface cracks.</p

Pulse Echo Technique to Determine Bondline Reflection Coefficients

Using reflection coefficients to obtain bond strengths and other bondline characteristics has been proposed by previous researchers(1,2). For configurations where the bondline of interest is well separated from the specimen surface and adjacent boundaries, measuring the reflection coefficient using broadband, pulse-echo, ultrasound can be done by processing the bondline echo taken directly from the A-scan. For configurations where the bondline is close to a parallel surface however, reverberations in the layer between the bondline and surface will cause successive bondline echoes to overlap in the A-scan, so that individual echoes can not be processed to determine the reflection coefficient directly. This paper presents a technique for processing the A-scan to obtain the desired reflection coefficient for the case when the bondline is near a surface

Evaluation of Solid-Solid Bonds Nondestructively Using Ultrasound

The need for quantitative nondestructive characterization of solid-solid bonds has grown in response to the increasing industrial demand for production. The work to be reported here is restricted to diffusion bonds in metallic systems and is devoted to a correlation of the bond strength with ultrasonic results. Bond strength is defined as the ultimate stress in a uniaxial tensile test at slow strain rate. Reductions in strength are assumed to occur due to a lack of bonding over a fraction of the surfaces due to non-optimum bonding conditions. The voids produced in the unbonded areas are considered to be crack-like, containing a vacuum or at most a low-pressure gas. Diffusion of the species from the two sides to be bonded is the only process considered, thus neglecting for the moment such effects as precipitate reactions, phase transformations and grain growth. The initial work was performed using identical materials on either side, thus considering only the ultrasonic response of the voids produced at the bonded interface. This paper reports on initial studies using dissimilar materials, necessitating inclusion of the effect of the acoustic impedance mismatch. During the work on dissimilar materials, production of a brittle layer at the bond interface was examined. This brittle layer was caused by a thin layer of carbon present at the bond interface. The challenge of detection of this brittle layer is posed for the nondestructive evaluation community</p

Acoustic Response of a Layer of Spherical Inclusions with a Random or Periodic Arrangement

Starting with the classic work of Ying and Truell [1], the scattering of a plane elastic wave by an isolated elastic sphere embedded in an unbounded medium has been studied in great detail. Similarly, the propagation of an effective elastic wave in an elastic matrix containing a random or periodic distribution of inclusions has received considerable attention. By comparison, an intermediate level of microstructure — a single layer of inclusions in an elastic matrix — has received very little attention. Apart from the fact that this problem is worth studying in its own right because of its inherent value as a canonical problem in elastodynamics of materials with a microstructure, it has applications in geophysics and quantitative nondestructive evaluation

Models for synthetic biology

Synthetic biological engineering is emerging from biology as a distinct discipline based on quantification. The technologies propelling synthetic biology are not new, nor is the concept of designing novel biological molecules. What is new is the emphasis on system behavior

Measuring macroscopic brain connections in vivo

Decades of detailed anatomical tracer studies in non-human animals point to a rich and complex organization of long-range white matter connections in the brain. State-of-the art in vivo imaging techniques are striving to achieve a similar level of detail in humans, but multiple technical factors can limit their sensitivity and fidelity. In this review, we mostly focus on magnetic resonance imaging of the brain. We highlight some of the key challenges in analyzing and interpreting in vivo connectomics data, particularly in relation to what is known from classical neuroanatomy in laboratory animals. We further illustrate that, despite the challenges, in vivo imaging methods can be very powerful and provide information on connections that is not available by any other means

Variable, but not free-weight, resistance back squat exercise potentiates jump performance following a comprehensive task-specific warm-up

Studies examining acute, high-speed movement performance enhancement following intense muscular contractions (frequently called "post-activation potentiation"; PAP) often impose a limited warm-up, compromizing external validity. In the present study, the effects on countermovement vertical jump (CMJ) performance of back squat exercises performed with or without elastic bands during warm-up were compared. After familiarization, fifteen active men visited the laboratory on two occasions under randomized, counterbalanced experimental squat warm-up conditions: (a) free-weight resistance (FWR) and (b) variable resistance (VR). After completing a comprehensive task-specific warm-up, three maximal CMJs were performed followed by three back squat repetitions completed at 85% of 1-RM using either FWR or VR Three CMJs were then performed 30 seconds, 4 minutes, 8 minutes, and 12 minutes later. During CMJ trials, hip, knee, and ankle joint kinematics, ground reaction force data and vastus medialis, vastus lateralis, and gluteus maximus electromyograms (EMG) were recorded simultaneously using 3D motion analysis, force platform, and EMG techniques, respectively. No change in any variable occurred after FWR (P > 0.05). Significant increases (P < 0.05) were detected at all time points following VR in CMJ height (5.3%-6.5%), peak power (4.4%-5.9%), rate of force development (12.9%-19.1%), peak concentric knee angular velocity (3.1%-4.1%), and mean concentric vastus lateralis EMG activity (27.5%-33.4%). The lack of effect of the free-weight conditioning contractions suggests that the comprehensive task-specific warm-up routine mitigated any further performance augmentation. However, the improved CMJ performance following the use of elastic bands is indicative that specific alterations in force-time properties of warm-up exercises may further improve performance

Smooth Muscle miRNAs Are Critical for Post-Natal Regulation of Blood Pressure and Vascular Function

Phenotypic modulation of smooth muscle cells (SMCs) plays a key role in vascular disease, including atherosclerosis. Several transcription factors have been suggested to regulate phenotypic modulation of SMCs but the decisive mechanisms remain unknown. Recent reports suggest that specific microRNAs (miRNAs) are involved in SMC differentiation and vascular disease but the global role of miRNAs in postnatal vascular SMC has not been elucidated. Thus, the objective of this study was to identify the role of Dicer-dependent miRNAs for blood pressure regulation and vascular SMC contractile function and differentiation in vivo. Tamoxifen-inducible and SMC specific deletion of Dicer was achieved by Cre-Lox recombination. Deletion of Dicer resulted in a global loss of miRNAs in aortic SMC. Furthermore, Dicer-deficient mice exhibited a dramatic reduction in blood pressure due to significant loss of vascular contractile function and SMC contractile differentiation as well as vascular remodeling. Several of these results are consistent with our previous observations in SM-Dicer deficient embryos. Therefore, miRNAs are essential for maintaining blood pressure and contractile function in resistance vessels. Although the phenotype of miR-143/145 deficient mice resembles the loss of Dicer, the phenotypes of SM-Dicer KO mice were far more severe suggesting that additional miRNAs are involved in maintaining postnatal SMC differentiation

Quantifying the Link between Anatomical Connectivity, Gray Matter Volume and Regional Cerebral Blood Flow: An Integrative MRI Study

Background In the graph theoretical analysis of anatomical brain connectivity, the white matter connections between regions of the brain are identified and serve as basis for the assessment of regional connectivity profiles, for example, to locate the hubs of the brain. But regions of the brain can be characterised further with respect to their gray matter volume or resting state perfusion. Local anatomical connectivity, gray matter volume and perfusion are traits of each brain region that are likely to be interdependent, however, particular patterns of systematic covariation have not yet been identified. Methodology/Principal Findings We quantified the covariation of these traits by conducting an integrative MRI study on 23 subjects, utilising a combination of Diffusion Tensor Imaging, Arterial Spin Labeling and anatomical imaging. Based on our hypothesis that local connectivity, gray matter volume and perfusion are linked, we correlated these measures and particularly isolated the covariation of connectivity and perfusion by statistically controlling for gray matter volume. We found significant levels of covariation on the group- and regionwise level, particularly in regions of the Default Brain Mode Network. Conclusions/Significance Connectivity and perfusion are systematically linked throughout a number of brain regions, thus we discuss these results as a starting point for further research on the role of homology in the formation of functional connectivity networks and on how structure/function relationships can manifest in the form of such trait interdependency

The Human Connectome Project's neuroimaging approach

Noninvasive human neuroimaging has yielded many discoveries about the brain. Numerous methodological advances have also occurred, though inertia has slowed their adoption. This paper presents an integrated approach to data acquisition, analysis and sharing that builds upon recent advances, particularly from the Human Connectome Project (HCP). The 'HCP-style' paradigm has seven core tenets: (i) collect multimodal imaging data from many subjects; (ii) acquire data at high spatial and temporal resolution; (iii) preprocess data to minimize distortions, blurring and temporal artifacts; (iv) represent data using the natural geometry of cortical and subcortical structures; (v) accurately align corresponding brain areas across subjects and studies; (vi) analyze data using neurobiologically accurate brain parcellations; and (vii) share published data via user-friendly databases. We illustrate the HCP-style paradigm using existing HCP data sets and provide guidance for future research. Widespread adoption of this paradigm should accelerate progress in understanding the brain in health and disease