Development of an Innovative Torsional Vibration Damper with Magneto-Rheological Elastomers for Vehicle Driveline

The paper reports the stages of development of an innovative torsional vibration damper employing magnetorheological elastomers as spring elements. Such device could be adopted for reducing torsional vibrations of a vehicle powertrain. The device consists of two disks, a main flywheel and a damper disk, with interposed some spring elements, constituted by Magneto-Rheological Elastomeric (MRE) samples, working for transversal stress under relative angular displacements. The dynamical characteristics of the MRE samples can be properly tuned to mitigate the torsional vibrations which cause many undesired inconveniences as critical speeds or vibro-acoustic noise in gears. A numerical analysis, conducted on a simplified model of an automotive driveline, has been performed to evaluate the goodness of the device in reducing torsional resonances of the powertrain. An early experimental test rig to characterize the magnetorheological elastomer’s properties, is now under construction at the Dept. of Industrial Eng. of “Federico II” University. By a multibody code, developed in Adams® env., some simulations have been carried out with the aim to verify the behavior of the designed experimental test rig

Cetuximab and bevacizumab: preclinical data and phase II trial in recurrent or metastatic squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck

BackgroundWe evaluated combined targeting with cetuximab, an anti-epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) monoclonal antibody, and bevacizumab, an anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) monoclonal antibody, in squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (SCCHN).Patients and methodsThe combination was studied in human endothelial cells and head and neck and lung cancer xenograft model systems. Patients with recurrent or metastatic SCCHN were treated with weekly cetuximab and bevacizumab, 15 mg/kg on day 1 given intravenously every 21 days, until disease progression. Analysis of tumor biomarkers and related serum cytokines was performed.ResultsCetuximab plus bevacizumab enhanced growth inhibition both in vitro and in vivo, and resulted in potent reduction in tumor vascularization. In the clinical trial, 46 eligible patients were enrolled. The objective response rate was 16% and the disease control rate 73%. The median progression-free survival and overall survival were 2.8 and 7.5 months, respectively. Grade 3-4 adverse events were expected and occurred in less than 10% of patients. transforming growth factor alpha, placenta-derived growth factor, EGFR, VEGFR2 increased and VEGF decreased after treatment but did not correlate with treatment efficacy.ConclusionsCetuximab and bevacizumab are supported by preclinical observations and are well tolerated and active in previously treated patients with SCCHN

Business process re-engineering & management journal

Magnetorheological elastomers (MRE) are smart materials whose modulus or mechanical performances can be controlled by an external magnetic field. In this chapter, the current research on the MRE materials fabrication, performance characterisation, modelling and applications is reviewed and discussed. Either anistropic or isotropic or MRE materials are fabricated by different curing conditions where magnetic field is applied or not. Anistropic MREs exhibit higher MR effects than isotropic MREs. Both steady-state and dynamic performances were studied through both experimental and theoretical approaches. The modelling approaches were developed to predict mechanical performances of MREs with both simple and complex structures. The sensing capabilities of MREs under different loading conditions were also investigated. The review also includes recent representative MRE applications such as adaptive tuned vibration absorbers and novel force sensors