Solution heat treatment, forming and in-die quenching of a commercial sheet magnesium alloy into a complex-shaped component: experimentation and FE analysis

Interest in lightweight materials, particularly magnesium alloys, has increased significantly with rising efficiency requirements in the automotive sector. Magnesium is the lightest available structural metal, with a density approximately 35% lower than that of aluminium. The potential is great for magnesium to become a primary material used in future low carbon vehicle structures; however, there are significant obstacles, namely low ductility and formability, particularly at room temperature. The aim of this work is to present the feasibility of using the solution Heat treatment, Forming, and in-die Quenching (HFQ) process to produce complex shapes from a sheet magnesium alloy, and to use the results to verify a simulation of the process developed using commercial FE software. Uniaxial tensile tests were initially conducted to establish the optimum parameters for forming the part. Stamping trials were then carried out using these parameters, and a simulation set up modelling the forming operation. It was shown that the HFQ process could be used to form a successful component from this alloy, and that a good match was achieved between the results of the forming experiments and the simulation.The authors gratefully acknowledge the support from the EPSRC (Grant Ref: EP/I038616/1) for TARF-LCV: Towards Affordable, Closed-Loop Recyclable Future Low Carbon Vehicle Structures

Kinetic profiling of therapeutic strategies for inhibiting the formation of amyloid oligomers

Protein self-assembly into amyloid fibrils underlies several neurodegenerative conditions, including Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases. It has become apparent that the small oligomers formed during this process constitute neurotoxic molecular species associated with amyloid aggregation. Targeting the formation of oligomers represents therefore a possible therapeutic avenue to combat these diseases. However, it remains challenging to establish which microscopic steps should be targeted to suppress most effectively the generation of oligomeric aggregates. Recently, we have developed a kinetic model of oligomer dynamics during amyloid aggregation. Here, we use this approach to derive explicit scaling relationships that reveal how key features of the time evolution of oligomers, including oligomer peak concentration and life-time, are controlled by the different rate parameters. We discuss the therapeutic implications of our framework by predicting changes in oligomer concentrations when the rates of the individual microscopic events are varied. Our results identify the kinetic parameters that control most effectively the generation of oligomers, thus opening the way for the systematic rational design of therapeutic strategies against amyloid-related diseases

Keberlanjutan Sistem Budi Daya Ternak Sapi Perah Pada Peternakan Rakyat Di Kabupaten Bogor

EnglishDairy farming system in Bogor Regency deals with threatening problems. This research aims to assess and to analyze sustainability of dairy farming system of smallholding farms in Bogor Regency. The respondents consisted of dairy farm area (Kunak) and smallholding farms in Cisarua District. Approach used in this study was a rapid appraisal for dairy farm system (Rap-Sibusape) using a multidimensional scaling (MDS) method. Results showed that smallholders in Cisarua and Kunak had index values of system dairy farms sustainability of 51.25 and 54.12, respectively. It indicated that the two areas are quite sustainable. Analysis five sustainable dimensions (ecology, economy, socio-culture, infrastructure technology, and institutional law) showed that ecology was sustainable on Kunak, and economy and socio-culture were not sustainable on both Kunak and dairy farm in Cisarua. Leverage analysis results showed that there were 15 out of 45 attributes influencing the sustainability index system. There were six key factors strongly influenced the system with low dependence among factors, i.e. (i) milk prices, (ii) feed carrying capacity, (iii) development cooperation, (iv) input subsidies, (v) micro finance, and (vi) socialization work. Improving dairy cattle farming in Bogor Regency requires sustainability index value enhancement of 15 sensitive attributes focused on 6 key factors affecting the dairy cattle farming system.IndonesianPeternakan sapi perah di Kabupaten Bogor menghadapi permasalahan yang mengancam keberlanjutan sistem, seperti (i) keterbatasan pakan hijauan, (ii) penurunan jumlah peternak, (iii) rendahnya mutu susu, (iv) penyakit ternak, dan (v) terbatasnya sarana-prasarana agribisnis. Oleh karena itu, perlu dikaji status keberlanjutan sistem peternakan sapi perah di Kabupaten Bogor untuk memperoleh manfaat optimal dari kinerja sistem. Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk menilai dan menganalisis keberlanjutan sistem peternakan sapi perah rakyat di Kabupaten Bogor yang diwakili oleh Kawasan Usaha Ternak (Kunak) dan peternakan rakyat Cisarua dengan metode rapid appraisal sistem peternakan sapi perah (Rap-Sibusape) menggunakan pendekatan multidimensional scaling (MDS). Penilaian Rap-Sibusape menunjukkan Kunak dan peternakan rakyat Cisarua memiliki rataan nilai indeks keberlanjutan sebesar 51,25 dan 54,12 sehingga berkategori cukup berkelanjutan. Analisis lima dimensi keberlanjutan (ekologi, ekonomi, sosial-budaya, teknologi-infrastruktur, dan hukum-kelembagaan) menunjukkan dimensi ekologi tidak berkelanjutan pada Kunak, dimensi ekonomi dan sosial-budaya tidak berkelanjutan pada Kunak dan peternakan rakyat Cisarua. Analisis leverage menunjukkan terdapat 15 atribut dari 45 atribut berpengaruh terhadap indeks keberlanjutan sistem peternakan sapi perah. Analisis prospektif menunjukkan terdapat 6 faktor kunci berpengaruh kuat terhadap sistem dengan tingkat ketergantungan antarfaktor yang rendah namun berpengaruh besar terhadap sistem. Enam faktor kunci tersebut yakni: (i) harga susu 5 tahun terakhir, (ii) daya dukung pakan, (iii) perkembangan koperasi, (iv) tingkat subsidi input, (v) lembaga keuangan mikro, dan (vi) sosialisasi pekerjaan. Pengembangan sistem peternakan sapi perah Kabupaten Bogor memerlukan peningkatan nilai indeks keberlanjutan melalui pengelolaan dan perbaikan 15 atribut sensitif dengan fokus pada perbaikan 6 faktor kunci yang berpengaruh terhadap sistem peternakan sapi perah

Urban climate multi-scale modelling in Bilbao (Spain): a review

Despite development of cities are including more sustainable aspects (e.g. reduction of energy consumption), urban climate still needs to be consolidated as an important variable in urban planning. In this sense, the analysis of urban climate requires a multiscale approach. This work presents a review of the results of the analysis of urban climate in Bilbao (Spain). In the meso-scale, an Urban Climate Map (UC-Map) is developed using a method based on GIS calculations, specific climatic measurements and urban climate expert knowledge. All the information is grouped in 5 information layers (building volume, building surface fraction, urban green areas, ventilation paths and slopes). The final UC-Map presents areas with relative homogeneous climate variables (i.e. climatopes) that are classified in terms of thermal comfort. Urban planning recommendations are defined. In the micro-scale, results extracted from ENVI-met model in four urban spaces show the influence in thermal comfort levels of the interaction of regional climate conditions with the urban development characteristics of each area and the location inside the whole city. In both spatial scales, climate modelling should be accompanied by specific measurement campaigns to validate results.Basque Science, Technology and Innovation Plan under the Project K-Egokitzen European Community's Seventh Framework Programme under, Project RAMSES - Reconciling Adaptation, Mitigation and Sustainable Development for Citie

Field studies of thermal comfort across multiple climate zones for the subcontinent: India Model for Adaptive Comfort (IMAC)

© 2015 The Authors. India is witnessing unprecedented growth trends in building construction, particularly office spaces. Indian offices are designed to operate at 22.5 ± 1 °C all year round to meet the stringent "Class A" specifications outlined by international standards in the absence of an India-specific comfort standard. This paper proposes an India Model for Adaptive Comfort - IMAC - based on the field surveys administered in 16 buildings in three seasons and five cities, representative of five Indian climate zones. A total of 6330 responses were gathered from naturally ventilated, mixed mode and air-conditioned office buildings using instantaneous thermal comfort surveys.Occupants in naturally ventilated Indian offices were found to be more adaptive than the prevailing ASHRAE and EN models would suggest. According to the IMAC model, neutral temperature in naturally ventilated buildings varies from 19.6 to 28.5 °C for 30-day outdoor running mean air temperatures ranging from 12.5 to 31 °C. This is the first instance where a study proposes a single adaptive model for mixed mode buildings asserting its validity for both naturally ventilated and air-conditioned modes of operation in the building, with neutral temperature varying from 21.5 to 28.7 °C for 13-38.5 °C range of outdoor temperatures. For air-conditioned buildings, Fanger's static PMV model was found to consistently over-predict the sensation on the warmer side of the 7-point sensation scale

Symptom improvement and remission in untreated adults seeking treatment for obsessive-compulsive disorder: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is a common psychiatric condition that results in significant distress and impairment, and high societal costs. OCD is widely considered to be a chronic condition, however, our understanding of the chronicity of the disorder, and the incidence of spontaneous remission, has largely relied on longitudinal studies of individuals who have received treatment. The aim of the current study is to examine symptom improvement and rate of spontaneous remission in individuals with OCD who were assigned to a no-treatment control group within a randomized controlled trial using a meta-analytic approach. Twelve studies (n = 282; mean age = 35.52; 60.03 % female) were included in the meta-analysis. The pooled within-group effect size was negligible (g = -0.14; 95 % CI [-0.25, -0.04]) and only 4 % of participants demonstrated spontaneous remission across an average of 10.92 weeks (event rate = 0.04; [95 % CI: 0.01, 0.11]). Sample size and duration of OCD symptoms significantly moderated the effect size for symptom change. No moderators were found for symptom remission. The findings add to the small body of literature demonstrating that OCD has a chronic and unremitting course without treatment

Fluctuating awareness of treatment goals amongst patients and their caregivers: a longitudinal study of a dynamic process

Background: Because increasing numbers of people now survive for months or years with advanced cancer, communication between patients, service providers, and family caregivers often continues over long periods. Hence, understanding of the goals of medical treatment may develop and change as time elapses and disease progresses. This understanding is closely related to the "awareness of dying," which has been studied in both qualitative and quantitative research. However, when both a patient and family caregiver are involved, the question of "awareness" becomes more complex. A recent longitudinal study reported on patient and caregiver knowledge of treatment goals, but no comparison of such knowledge using matched interview schedules and paired data analysis has been provided. This report examines patterns of awareness and factors associated with these patterns. Materials and methods: One hundred sixty-three patients with incurable cancer and their nominated principal family caregivers (136) were recruited from The Canberra Hospital Oncology Services. Participants' understanding of the treatment goals were measured by interview questions at weeks 1 and 12. Results: One-third of both patients and caregivers understood that the treatment goal was not curative; however, not all patient and caregiver pairs had the same understanding. In 15% of pairs, both patient and caregiver believed that the goal of treatment was curative, while another 13% said that they did not know the aim of the treatment. Thirty-nine percent of pairs registered incongruent responses in which only one member of the pair understood that the treatment was not intended to cure the disease. Over time, a few respondents changed their perception of the treatment goals toward accurate clarification. Bivariate analysis using an awareness variable, constructed for the purpose, showed that in 6 months before death, at least one person in 89% of pairs understood that the treatment was noncurative. Time-to-death, gender, and place of residence were also important predictors of knowledge. Conclusions: Discrepancies between patients and their caregivers may complicate the delivery of effective care when patients are seriously ill. Misunderstanding or uncertainty about treatment goals will obstruct proper informed consent. Health professionals providing care for families dealing with advanced cancer must recognize that the discussion of treatment goals is a dynamic process, which may require them to extend their communication skills