Substituting Ti-64 with Aa2099 as material of a commercial aircraft pylon

The aircraft industry is striving to reduce the weight of aircraft to save fuel and hence reduce total cost. New alloys and composites with properties such as low weight and high strength are continuously developed. Titanium alloys have the best strength-to-weight ratio among metals which makes them very suitable for aircraft applications. Ti-64 is the most common Titanium alloy used in aircraft. AA2099 is a 3rd generation Al-Li alloy and has the lowest density among all Aluminium alloys making it very attractive for aircraft applications. Pylons of commercial aircraft are currently made primarily with Ti-64 and this study focused on the replacement of Ti-64 with AA2099. Loading conditions, operating temperature, corrosion resistance, manufacturability and recyclability of the pylon were analysed of both Ti-64 and AA2099. Three critical scenarios were chosen for the loading conditions of the pylon. These were simulated using finite element analysis first using Ti-64 and then AA2099. From the results, it is evident that using AA2099 as the material of the pylon instead of Ti-64 offered weight savings. The operating temperature, manufacturability and recyclability also showed advantages when using AA2099 whereas corrosion factors favoured Ti-64, since AA2099 was found to be very prone to galvanic corrosion

3D multiphysics model for the simulation of electrochemical machining of stainless steel (SS316)

In Electrochemical Machining (ECM) - a method that uses anodic dissolution to remove metal - it is extremely difficult to predict material removal and resulting surface finish due to the complex interaction between the numerous parameters available in the machining conditions. In this paper, it is argued that a 3D coupled multiphysics finite element model is a suitable way to further develop the ability to model the ECM process. This builds on the work of previous researchers and further claims that the over-potential available at the surface of the workpiece is a crucial factor in ensuring satisfactory results. As a validation example, a real world problem for polishing via ECM of SS316 pipes is modelled and compared to empirical tests. Various physical and chemical effects, including those due to electrodynamics, fluid dynamic, and thermal and electrochemical phenomena were incorporated in the 3D geometric model of the proposed tool, workpiece and electrolyte. Predictions were made for current density, conductivity, fluid velocity, temperature, and crucially, with estimates of the deviations in over-potential. Results revealed a good agreement between simulation and experiment and these were sufficient to solve the immediate real problem presented but also to ensure that future additions to the technique could in the longer term lead to a better means of understanding a most useful manufacturing process

Possible Patient Early Diagnosis by Ultrasonic Noninvasive Estimation of Thermal Gradients into Tissues Based on Spectral Changes Modeling

To achieve a precise noninvasive temperature estimation, inside patient tissues, would open promising research fields, because its clinic results would provide early-diagnosis tools. In fact, detecting changes of thermal origin in ultrasonic echo spectra could be useful as an early complementary indicator of infections, inflammations, or cancer. But the effective clinic applications to diagnosis of thermometry ultrasonic techniques, proposed previously, require additional research. Before their implementations with ultrasonic probes and real-time electronic and processing systems, rigorous analyses must be still made over transient echotraces acquired from well-controlled biological and computational phantoms, to improve resolutions and evaluate clinic limitations. It must be based on computing improved signal-processing algorithms emulating tissues responses. Some related parameters in echo-traces reflected by semiregular scattering tissues must be carefully quantified to get a precise processing protocols definition. In this paper, approaches for non-invasive spectral ultrasonic detection are analyzed. Extensions of author's innovations for ultrasonic thermometry are shown and applied to computationally modeled echotraces from scattered biological phantoms, attaining high resolution (better than 0.1°C). Computer methods are provided for viability evaluation of thermal estimation from echoes with distinct noise levels, difficult to be interpreted, and its effectiveness is evaluated as possible diagnosis tool in scattered tissues like liver

Desarrollo de un modelo de simulación estocástica para evaluar costos de programas de control de cisticercosis porcina

The aim of this study was to develop a stochastic simulation model to estimate implementation costs of porcine cysticercosis (CP) control programmes. Three scenarios were proposed: (1) use of a commercial recombinant vaccine (RV), (2) mixed use of RV plus oxfendazole (OFZ), and (3) dosing with OFZ. To establish the efficacy of the interventions, the probabilities of elimination of cysticercosis were obtained through the “cystiSim” agent-based model. The cost model was developed in R with 10 000 iterations. It was found that the mixed scenario offered a probability of 0.987 eliminating cysticercosis in 6.5 years and with an annual cost of S/. 335,208 (95% CI: S/ 309,922 – 368,698) (1 US = S/. 3.75). In contrast, the dosing strategy with OFZ proved to be less expensive with S/. 260,518 (95% CI: S/ 237,559 – 293,704) per year and a probability of elimination of 0.951 in the same evaluation period. In scenarios 1 and 2, the drug cost category is the highest, representing about 50% of the final cost, while in scenario 3, the highest cost is personnel, followed by drugs. The work concludes that the dosing strategy with OFZ is the least expensive alternative of the proposed scenarios.El objetivo del estudio fue desarrollar un modelo de simulación estocástica para estimar costos de implementación de programas de control de cisticercosis porcina (CP). Se plantearon tres escenarios: (1) utilización de una vacuna recombinante (VR) comercial, (2) uso mixto de la VR más oxfendazol (OFZ), y (3) dosificación con OFZ. Para establecer la eficacia de las intervenciones se obtuvieron las probabilidades de eliminación de la cisticercosis a través del modelo basado en agentes “cystiSim”. El modelo de costo fue desarrollado en R con 10 000 iteraciones. Se encontró que el escenario mixto, con probabilidad de eliminación del 0.987 en 6.5 años, tuvo con costo anual de S/. 335,208 (95% IC: S/ 309,922 – 368,698) (1 US = S/. 3.75). En contraparte, la estrategia de dosificación con OFZ mostró ser menos costosa con S/. 260,518 (95% IC: S/ 237,559 – 293,704) por año y una probabilidad de eliminación de 0.951 en el mismo periodo de evaluación. En los escenarios 1 y 2 la categoría costo de fármacos es la mayor, representando cerca del 50% del costo final, mientras que en el escenario 3 el mayor costo es el personal seguido de los fármacos. El trabajo concluye que la estrategia de dosificación con OFZ es la alternativa menos costosa de los escenarios planteados

The Netrin-1-Neogenin-1 signaling axis controls neuroblastoma cell migration via integrin-β1 and focal adhesion kinase activation

Neuroblastoma is a highly metastatic tumor that emerges from neural crest cell progenitors. Focal Adhesion Kinase (FAK) is a regulator of cell migration that binds to the receptor Neogenin-1 and is upregulated in neuroblastoma. Here, we show that Netrin-1 ligand binding to Neogenin-1 leads to FAK autophosphorylation and integrin β1 activation in a FAK dependent manner, thus promoting neuroblastoma cell migration. Moreover, Neogenin-1, which was detected in all tumor stages and was required for neuroblastoma cell migration, was found in a complex with integrin β1, FAK, and Netrin-1. Importantly, Neogenin-1 promoted neuroblastoma metastases in an immunodeficient mouse model. Taken together, these data show that Neogenin-1 is a metastasis-promoting protein that associates with FAK, activates integrin β1 and promotes neuroblastoma cell migration.This work was supported by the Comisión Nacional de Investigación Científica y Tecnológica [21130521]; Fondo Nacional de Desarrollo Científico y Tecnológico [1140697]; Fondo Nacional de Desarrollo Científico y Tecnológico [1180495]; Red Temática de Investigación Cooperativa en Cancer [RD12/0036/0027]; SAF [SAF2015-65175-R]; Red Temática de Investigación Cooperativa en Cancer [RD12/0036/0027]; PSG: Ministerio de Ciencia, Innovación y Universidades and FEDER funds (RTI2018-093596); JGC: Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad of Spain (PI17CIII/00013), Consejería de Educación, Juventud y Deporte, Comunidad de Madrid (P2017/BMD-3692), Fundación Oncohematología Infantil, AFANION, and Asociación Pablo Ugarte.S

Probing invisible neutrino decay with KM3NeT-ORCA

In the era of precision measurements of the neutrino oscillation parameters, upcoming neutrino experiments will also be sensitive to physics beyond the Standard Model. KM3NeT/ORCA is a neutrino detector optimised for measuring atmospheric neutrinos from a few GeV to around 100 GeV. In this paper, the sensitivity of the KM3NeT/ORCA detector to neutrino decay has been explored. A three-flavour neutrino oscillation scenario, where the third neutrino mass state $\nu_3$ decays into an invisible state, e.g. a sterile neutrino, is considered. We find that KM3NeT/ORCA would be sensitive to invisible neutrino decays with $1/\alpha_3=\tau_3/m_3 < 180$~$\mathrm{ps/eV}$ at $90\%$ confidence level, assuming true normal ordering. Finally, the impact of neutrino decay on the precision of KM3NeT/ORCA measurements for $\theta_{23}$, $\Delta m^2_{31}$ and mass ordering have been studied. No significant effect of neutrino decay on the sensitivity to these measurements has been found.Comment: 27 pages, 14 figures, bibliography updated, typos correcte

The Power Board of the KM3NeT Digital Optical Module: design, upgrade, and production

The KM3NeT Collaboration is building an underwater neutrino observatory at the bottom of the Mediterranean Sea consisting of two neutrino telescopes, both composed of a three-dimensional array of light detectors, known as digital optical modules. Each digital optical module contains a set of 31 three inch photomultiplier tubes distributed over the surface of a 0.44 m diameter pressure-resistant glass sphere. The module includes also calibration instruments and electronics for power, readout and data acquisition. The power board was developed to supply power to all the elements of the digital optical module. The design of the power board began in 2013, and several prototypes were produced and tested. After an exhaustive validation process in various laboratories within the KM3NeT Collaboration, a mass production batch began, resulting in the construction of over 1200 power boards so far. These boards were integrated in the digital optical modules that have already been produced and deployed, 828 until October 2023. In 2017, an upgrade of the power board, to increase reliability and efficiency, was initiated. After the validation of a pre-production series, a production batch of 800 upgraded boards is currently underway. This paper describes the design, architecture, upgrade, validation, and production of the power board, including the reliability studies and tests conducted to ensure the safe operation at the bottom of the Mediterranean Sea throughout the observatory's lifespa

Embedded Software of the KM3NeT Central Logic Board

The KM3NeT Collaboration is building and operating two deep sea neutrino telescopes at the bottom of the Mediterranean Sea. The telescopes consist of latices of photomultiplier tubes housed in pressure-resistant glass spheres, called digital optical modules and arranged in vertical detection units. The two main scientific goals are the determination of the neutrino mass ordering and the discovery and observation of high-energy neutrino sources in the Universe. Neutrinos are detected via the Cherenkov light, which is induced by charged particles originated in neutrino interactions. The photomultiplier tubes convert the Cherenkov light into electrical signals that are acquired and timestamped by the acquisition electronics. Each optical module houses the acquisition electronics for collecting and timestamping the photomultiplier signals with one nanosecond accuracy. Once finished, the two telescopes will have installed more than six thousand optical acquisition nodes, completing one of the more complex networks in the world in terms of operation and synchronization. The embedded software running in the acquisition nodes has been designed to provide a framework that will operate with different hardware versions and functionalities. The hardware will not be accessible once in operation, which complicates the embedded software architecture. The embedded software provides a set of tools to facilitate remote manageability of the deployed hardware, including safe reconfiguration of the firmware. This paper presents the architecture and the techniques, methods and implementation of the embedded software running in the acquisition nodes of the KM3NeT neutrino telescopes

Prospects for combined analyses of hadronic emission from γ\gamma-ray sources in the Milky Way with CTA and KM3NeT

The Cherenkov Telescope Array and the KM3NeT neutrino telescopes are major upcoming facilities in the fields of $\gamma$-ray and neutrino astronomy, respectively. Possible simultaneous production of $\gamma$ rays and neutrinos in astrophysical accelerators of cosmic-ray nuclei motivates a combination of their data. We assess the potential of a combined analysis of CTA and KM3NeT data to determine the contribution of hadronic emission processes in known Galactic $\gamma$-ray emitters, comparing this result to the cases of two separate analyses. In doing so, we demonstrate the capability of Gammapy, an open-source software package for the analysis of $\gamma$-ray data, to also process data from neutrino telescopes. For a selection of prototypical $\gamma$-ray sources within our Galaxy, we obtain models for primary proton and electron spectra in the hadronic and leptonic emission scenario, respectively, by fitting published $\gamma$-ray spectra. Using these models and instrument response functions for both detectors, we employ the Gammapy package to generate pseudo data sets, where we assume 200 hours of CTA observations and 10 years of KM3NeT detector operation. We then apply a three-dimensional binned likelihood analysis to these data sets, separately for each instrument and jointly for both. We find that the largest benefit of the combined analysis lies in the possibility of a consistent modelling of the $\gamma$-ray and neutrino emission. Assuming a purely leptonic scenario as input, we obtain, for the most favourable source, an average expected 68% credible interval that constrains the contribution of hadronic processes to the observed $\gamma$-ray emission to below 15%.Comment: 18 pages, 15 figures. Submitted to journa