A new methodology for the determination of the workspace of six-DOF redundant parallel structures actuated by nine wires

The WiRo-6.3 is a six-degrees of freedom (six-DOF) robotic parallel structure actuated by nine wires, whose characteristics have been thoroughly analyzed in previous papers in reference. It is thought to be a master device for teleoperation; thus, it is moved by an operator through a handle and can convey a force reflection on the operator's hand. A completely new method for studying the workspace of this device, and of virtually any nine-wire parallel structure actuated by wire is presented and discussed, and its results are given in a graphical for

Flow rate test bench: automated and compliant to ISO standards

he issue of measuring the flow rate through a pneumatic component is a critical one. Several methods exist, each with its own pros and cons regarding the type of gas, measurement range, and accuracy. ISO Standards, however, consider only a few of them: orifice plates, nozzles, Venturi nozzles, Venturi tubes. Although amenable to possible criticism, the International Organization for Standardization is an important reference. Designing a test bench according to its Standards is often more than reasonable: advantages include certification, assessment of test methods and accuracy, worldwide recognition. On the other hand, however detailed the Standards may be, they often lack the designer's (and perhaps the user's) point of view. This aspect leads to complicated realizations, low usability or long test execution times. This article proposes a flow rate test bench compliant to ISO Standards allowing a partially automated testing, rational installation, high configurability, user-friendliness, and accuracy. © 2012, Society for Experimental Mechanics

Synthesis and high-throughput testing of multilayered supported ionic liquid catalysts for the conversion of CO2 and epoxides into cyclic carbonates

Multilayered covalently supported ionic liquid catalysts achieve excellent TON and productivity in the reaction of CO2 with various epoxides to produce cyclic carbonates

Regulation of TCL1 expression in B- and T-cell lymphomas and reactive lymphoid tissues

Chromosomal rearrangements observed in T-cell prolymphocytic leukemia involve the translocation of one T-cell receptor gene to either chromosome 14q32 or Xq28, deregulating the expression of cellular proto-oncogenes of unknown function, such as TCL1 or its homologue, MTCP1. In the human hematopoietic system, TCL1 expression is predominantly observed in developing B lymphocytes, whereas its overexpression in T cells causes mature T-cell proliferation in transgenic mice. In this study, using a newly generated monoclonal antibody against recombinant TCL1 protein, we extended our analysis mainly by immunohistochemistry and also by fluorescence-activated cell sorting and Western blot to a large tumor lymphoma data bank including 194 cases of lymphoproliferative disorders of B- and T-cell origin as well as reactive lymphoid tissues. The results obtained show that in reactive lymphoid tissues, TCL1 is strongly expressed by a subset of mantle zone B lymphocytes and is expressed to a lesser extent by follicle center cells and by scattered interfollicular small lymphocytes. In B-cell neoplasia, TCL1 was expressed in the majority of the cases, including lymphoblastic lymphoma, chronic lymphocytic leukemia, mantle cell lymphoma, follicular lymphoma, Burkitt lymphoma, diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (60%), and primary cutaneous B cell lymphoma (55%). TCL1 expression was observed in both the cytoplasmic and nuclear compartments, as confirmed by Western blot analysis. Conversely, TCL1 was not expressed in Hodgkin/Reed-Sternberg cells, multiple myelomas, marginal zone B-cell lymphomas, CD30+ anaplastic large cell lymphoma, lymphoblastic T-cell lymphoma, peripheral T-cell lymphoma, and mycosis fungoides. These data indicate that TCL1 is expressed in more differentiated B cells, under both reactive and neoplastic conditions, from antigen committed B cells and in germinal center B cells and is down-regulated in the latest stage of B-cell differentiation