Finite element analysis of transient thermomechanical rolling contact using an efficient arbitrary Lagrangian-Eulerian description

A theoretical and computational framework for the analysis of thermomechanically coupled transient rolling contact, based on an arbitrary Lagrangian-Eulerian (ALE) kinematical description, is developed. A finite element formulation featuring 2D cylinder-plate rolling contact is implemented. The implementation features penalty-type contact formulations for mechanical and thermal contact. It is noted that the ALE formulation allows for a simplified time description, a compact computational domain and localized mesh refinement. Numerical simulations considering stationary and transient rolling conditions are presented. Highlighted aspects include the influence of variations in thermal contact conductivity, rolling speed and external mechanical load on the contact interface heat flow. The model is shown to give predictions in qualitative agreement with results in the literature. For the velocity range studied, numerical issues such as spurious numerical dissipation/oscillations in the temperature field are noted to have a prominent influence. These phenomena are addressed using a Streamline-Upwind Petrov-Galerkin stabilization scheme together with a bubble function approach

A method for in-field railhead crack detection using digital image correlation

Railway infrastructure managers must decide when and how to maintain rails. However, they often have insufficient information about railhead cracks. Therefore, we propose a new method for rail crack detection using a train-mounted digital image correlation (DIC) camera system. The measurement train\u27s weight cause rail bending, allowing the DIC to measure strain concentrations caused by surface-breaking cracks. In this study, we evaluate the method under laboratory conditions. The detected cracks correlate to the actual crack network in the analysed rail field sample. Furthermore, finite element simulations show the method\u27s high sensitivity to crack depths. Existing methods, such as ultra-sonic and eddy-current, produce damage severity indications. The proposed method complements these techniques by providing a discrete description of the surface-breaking cracks and their depth. This information enables infrastructure managers to optimize rail maintenance. Additionally, such detailed measurements can be valuable for research in railhead damage evolution

C-Peptide and Its C-Terminal Fragments Improve Erythrocyte Deformability in Type 1 Diabetes Patients

Aims/hypothesis. Data now indicate that proinsulin C-peptide exerts important physiological effects and shows the characteristics of an endogenous peptide hormone. This study aimed to investigate the influence of C-peptide and fragments thereof on erythrocyte deformability and to elucidate the relevant signal transduction pathway. Methods. Blood samples from 23 patients with type 1 diabetes and 15 matched healthy controls were incubated with 6.6 nM of either human C-peptide, C-terminal hexapeptide, C-terminal pentapeptide, a middle fragment comprising residues 11–19 of C-peptide, or randomly scrambled C-peptide. Furthermore, red blood cells from 7 patients were incubated with C-peptide, penta- and hexapeptides with/without addition of ouabain, EDTA, or pertussis toxin. Erythrocyte deformability was measured using a laser diffractoscope in the shear stress range 0.3–60 Pa. Results. Erythrocyte deformability was impaired by 18–25% in type 1 diabetic patients compared to matched controls in the physiological shear stress range 0.6–12 Pa (P < .01–.001). C-peptide, penta- and hexapeptide all significantly improved the impaired erythrocyte deformability of type 1 diabetic patients, while the middle fragment and scrambled C-peptide had no detectable effect. Treatment of erythrocytes with ouabain or EDTA completely abolished the C-peptide, penta- and hexapeptide effects. Pertussis toxin in itself significantly increased erythrocyte deformability. Conclusion/interpretation. C-peptide and its C-terminal fragments are equally effective in improving erythrocyte deformability in type 1 diabetes. The C-terminal residues of C-peptide are causally involved in this effect. The signal transduction pathway is Ca2+-dependent and involves activation of red blood cell Na+, K+-ATPase

The SACSESS Hydrometallurgy Domain — An Overview

The EURATOM FP7 project SACSESS (Safety of Actinide Separation Processes) is in continuity of a long line of preceding EURATOM projects. SACSESS is organised along four domains, one of them related to the development of hydrometallurgical (i.e. solvent extraction based) actinide separations processes. Within this domain, the most promising processes developed in previous projects are further developed, improving their technology readiness level (TRL) towards the point at which safe industrial implementation will be achievable

Improvement of personality functioning among people treated within personality disorder mental health services. A longitudinal, observational study

Objective: Evidence-based personality disorder (PD) treatments are dominated by interventions targeting Borderline PD, although clinical populations characteristically include different PD features and severity. Personality functioning is a new concept intended to capture common features across PDs. This study aimed to investigate longitudinal improvement of personality functioning in a clinical sample assigned to PD treatment. Method: An observational, large, longitudinal study of patients in PD treatments on specialist mental health service levels (N = 1,051). DSM-5 PDs were systematically assessed on referral. Personality functioning was repeatedly assessed (LPFS-BF-2.0), supplemented by symptom distress (anxiety: PHQ-GAD-7, depression: PHQ-9), and social/occupational activity (WSAS, work/study activity). Statistics were linear mixed models. Results: Thirty per cent had personality difficulties below PD threshold. Among PDs, 31% had Borderline (BPD), 39% Avoidant (AvPD), 15% not otherwise specified, 15% other PDs, and 24% > one PD. More severe initial LPFS-BF was associated with younger age, presence of PD and increasing number of total PD criteria. Across PD conditions, LPFS-BF, PHQ-9 and GAD-7 improved significantly (overall effect size 0.9). Mean duration of PD treatment was 15 (SD 9) months. Drop-out rates were low (12%). LPFS-BF improvement-rates were higher for BPD. Younger age was moderately associated with slower PHQ-9 improvement. Work/study activity was initially poor, poorer levels associated with AvPD and younger age, and improvement was non-significant across PD conditions. AvPD was associated with slower WSAS improvement-rates. Conclusion: Personality functioning improved across PD conditions. The results highlight BPD improvements. The study points to challenges concerning AvPD treatment, poor occupational activity and age-related differences

Highly efficient separation of actinides from lanthanides by a phenanthroline-derived bis-triazine ligand

The synthesis, lanthanide complexation, and solvent ex- traction of actinide(III) and lanthanide(III) radiotracers from nitric acid solutions by a phenanthroline-derived quadridentate bis-triazine ligand are described. The ligand separates Am(III) and Cm(III) from the lanthanides with remarkably high efficiency, high selectivity, and fast extraction kinetics compared to its 2,2'-bipyridine counterpart. Structures of the 1:2 bis-complexes of the ligand with Eu(III) and Yb(III) were elucidated by X-ray crystallography and force field calculations, respec-tively. The Eu(III) bis-complex is the first 1:2 bis-complex of a quadridentate bis-triazine ligand to be characterized by crystallography. The faster rates of extraction were verified by kinetics measurements using the rotating membrane cell technique in several diluents. The improved kinetics of metal ion extraction are related to the higher surface activity of the ligand at the phase interface. The improvement in the ligand's properties on replacing the bipyridine unit with a phenanthroline unit far exceeds what was anticipated based on ligand design alone

Betalt samarbete med… -En kvalitativ studie av hur influerare kommunicerar i marknadsförande inlägg på Instagram

Influencer marketing is one of the fastest growing trends within marketing in Sweden. By using a semiotic analysis, this study aims to analyze how influencers communicate through sponsored posts on Instagram. Two posts each posted by six different influencers were selected for the study. The influencers were divided into three categories, parental influencers, fashion influencers and fitness influencers. The analysis showed that influencers describe the product as an essential part of their everyday life by telling how much they like it. The posts also reproduce certain stereotypes, as it for example displays women as engaged mothers and consumers of beauty products. The fashion and the fitness influencers Instagram posts both display stereotypes concerning thin and well-shaped bodies. The captions function for the viewers understanding of the posts meaning is anchoring more often than relay