Artificial Intelligence Approaches to Determine Graphite Nodularity in Ductile Iron

The complex metallurgical interrelationships in the production of ductile cast iron can lead to enormous differences in graphite formation and local microstructure by small variations during production. Artificial intelligence algorithms were used to describe graphite formation, which is influenced by a variety of metallurgical parameters. Moreover, complex physical relationships in the formation of graphite morphology are also controlled by boundary conditions of processing, the effect of which can hardly be assessed in everyday foundry operations. The influence of relevant input parameters can be predetermined using artificial intelligence based on conditions and patterns that occur simultaneously. By predicting the local graphite formation, measures to stabilise production were defined and thereby the accuracy of structure simulations improved. In course of this work, the most important dominating variables, from initial charging to final casting, were compiled and analysed with the help of statistical regression methods to predict the nodularity of graphite spheres. We compared the accuracy of the prediction by using Linear Regression, Gaussian Process Regression, Regression Trees, Boosted Trees, Support Vector Machines, Shallow Neural Networks and Deep Neural Networks. As input parameters we used 45 characteristics of the production process consisting of the basic information including the composition of the charge, the overheating time, the type of melting vessel, the type of the inoculant, the fading, and the solidification time. Additionally, the data of several thermal analysis, oxygen activity measurements and the final chemical analysis were included.Initial programme designs using machine learning algorithms based on neural networks achieved encouraging results. To improve the degree of accuracy, this algorithm was subsequently adapted and refined for the nodularity of graphite

Laser Surface Scanning Analysis in Reconstructive Rhytidectomy

The implementation of laser surface scanning to assess facial symmetry after unilateral face-lift procedures used to reconstruct defects after skin tumor resection is presented. Six patients who had undergone defect reconstruction with a flap raised from the subcutaneous plane were included in the study. Immediate postoperative photographic evaluation confirmed facial asymmetry because of unilateral skin tension. After a minimum follow-up period of 1 year, photographic and laser surface scanning analysis showed restored facial symmetry. In conclusion, laser surface scanning is a promising technology for objectifying results obtained and could be implemented for evaluation of the immediate and long-term effects from rhytidectomy procedures. Subcutaneous flaps without duplication or resection of the superficial musculoaponeurotic system are ideal for unilateral procedures because facial symmetry is restored after 1 yea

Infection of cells with replication deficient adenovirus induces cell cycle alterations and leads to downregulation of E2F-1

AbstractGene products of recombinant replication-deficient adenovirus vectors of the first generation (Ad vector) can induce cell cycle dysregulation and apoptosis after infection in eukaryotic cells. The mechanisms underlying this complex process are largely unknown. Therefore, we investigated the regulation of the pRb/E2F-1 complex, which controls transition from G0/G1 to S phase of the cell cycle. As Ad vector infection results in a decrease in the number of cells in G0/G1 phase of the cell cycle, we observed a decline of the pRb protein level and, surprisingly, also a decrease of the E2F-1 protein and mRNA level in infected cell lines. Furthermore, in contrast to the reduction of cells in the G0/G1 phase we observed increased protein levels of p53 and p21 proteins. However, as experiments in p53 deficient cell lines indicated, the decrease of pRb and E2F-1 is independent of p53 and p21 expression. Moreover, results obtained with Rb deficient cell lines indicated that the reduced E2F-1 expression is independent of pRb. These results suggest that Ad vector-induced cell cycle dysregulation is associated with a specific downregulation of E2F-1 independent of Rb and p53 genomic status of cells

Quarterly vs. yearly clinical follow-up of remotely monitored recipients of prophylactic implantable cardioverter-defibrillators: results of the REFORM trial

Aims The rapidly increasing number of patients with implantable cardioverter-defibrillators (ICD) places a large burden on follow-up providers. This study investigated the possibility of longer in-office follow-up intervals in primary prevention ICD patients under remote monitoring with automatic daily data transmissions from the implant memory. Methods and results Conducted in 155 ICD recipients with MADIT II indications, the study compared the burden of scheduled and unscheduled ICD follow-up visits, quality of life (SF-36), and clinical outcomes in patients randomized to either 3- or 12-month follow-up intervals in the period between 3 and 27 months after implantation. Remote monitoring (Biotronik Home Monitoring) was used equally in all patients. In contrast to previous clinical studies, no calendar-based remote data checks were performed between scheduled in-office visits. Compared with the 3-month follow-up interval, the 12-month interval resulted in a minor increase in the number of unscheduled follow-ups (0.64 vs. 0.27 per patient-year; P = 0.03) and in a major reduction in the total number of in-office ICD follow-ups (1.60 vs. 3.85 per patient-year; P < 0.001). No significant difference was found in mortality, hospitalization rate, or hospitalization length during the 2-year observation period, but more patients were lost to follow-up in the 12-month group (10 vs. 3; P = 0.04). The SF-36 scores favoured the 12-month intervals in the domains ‘social functioning' and ‘mental health'. Conclusion In prophylactic ICD recipients under automatic daily remote monitoring, the extension of the 3-month in-office follow-up interval to 12 months appeared to safely reduce the ICD follow-up burden during 27 months after implantation. ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier NCT00401466 (http://www.clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT00401466

Die Rolle der Wärme im Energiesystem : Systemaspekte

Der zentrale Treiber des Endenergiebedarfs in Deutschland ist die Wärmenachfrage in Form von Raumwärme (29,2 %), Warmwasser (5,5 %) und Prozesswärme (21,1 %). Mit insgesamt 5.179 PJ (1.439 TWh) ist Wärme verantwortlich für rund 56 % des gesamten Endenergiebedarfs von 9.268 PJ im Jahr 2013 1. Hinzu kommt eine weitere Nachfrage von 2,1% für Klimakälte (0,4 %) und sonstige Prozesskälte (1,7 %). In der Endenergiebilanz für Deutschland verringerte sich in den Jahren von 1990 bis 2012 der Brennstoffverbrauch für die Wärmebereitstellung um 13 %. Im Vergleich zum Kraftstoffverbrauch beispielsweise, welcher sich im gleichen Zeitraum sogar geringfügig erhöhte (+ 3 %), fällt die Bilanz im Wärmebereich deutlich positiver aus, gleichwohl bleibt der größte Teil des bestehenden Effizienzpotenzials bis dato nicht ausgeschöpft

Charge Transfer-Induced Lattice Collapse in Ni-Rich NCM Cathode Materials during Delithiation

Ni-rich LiNixCoyMnzO2 (NCM) cathode materials have great potential for application in next-generation lithium-ion batteries owing to their high specific capacity. However, they are subjected to severe structural changes upon (de)lithiation, which adversely affects the cycling stability. Herein, we investigate changes in crystal and electronic structure of NCM811 (80% Ni) at high states of charge by a combination of operando X-ray diffraction (XRD), operando hard X-ray absorption spectroscopy (hXAS), ex situ soft X-ray absorption spectroscopy (sXAS), and density functional theory (DFT) calculations, and correlate the results with data from galvanostatic cycling in coin cells. XRD reveals a large decrease in unit cell volume from 101.38(1) Å3 to 94.26(2) Å3 due to collapse of the interlayer spacing when x(Li) < 0.5 (decrease in c-axis from 14.469(1) Å at x(Li) = 0.6 to 13.732(2) Å at x(Li) = 0.25). hXAS shows that the shrinkage of the transition metal-oxygen layer mainly originates from nickel oxidation. sXAS, together with DFT-based Bader charge analysis, indicates that the shrinkage of the interlayer, which is occupied by lithium, is induced by charge transfer between O 2p and partially filled Ni eg orbitals (resulting in decrease of oxygen-oxygen repulsion). Overall, the results demonstrate that high-voltage operation of NCM811 cathodes is inevitably accompanied by charge transfer-induced lattice collapse

Activated fibronectin-secretory phenotype of mesenchymal stromal cells in pre-fibrotic myeloproliferative neoplasms

We characterized bone marrow stromal cells (BMSC) from patients with pre-fibrotic myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPN). MPN-BMSC showed decreased capacity to stimulate the proliferation of colony-forming units of normal hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells and displayed increased matrix remodelling (in particular fibronectin deposition) compared to control BMSC. This finding was confirmed in pre-fibrotic MPN bone marrow biopsies in a tissue microarray (n = 34), which stained positive for fibronectin in the absence of reticulin as a standard myelofibrosis marker. Fibronectin expression correlated significantly with reduced haemoglobin levels in MPN-patients (p = 0.007; R2 = 0.42). Our data show significant cell-intrinsic alterations in MPN-MSC and suggest that Fibronectin expression might be applicable as a biomarker for the identification of early myelofibrotic transformation in reticulin-negative MPN