Design of an aircraft generator with radial force control.

With the increasing electrical energy demands in aviation propulsion systems, the increase in the onboard generators’ power density is inevitable. During the flight, forces coming from the gearbox or gyroscopic forces generated by flight manoeuvres like take-off and landing can act on the generators’ bearings, which can lead to wear and fatigue in the bearings. Utilizing the radial force control concept in the electrical machine can relieve loads from the bearings that not only minimize the bearing losses but also increase bearing life. The objective of the MAGLEV project (Measurement and Analysis of Generator bearing Loads and Efficiency with Validation) is to study, demonstrate, and test a new class of high-speed generators with radial force control. In this paper, design steps of this type of generator and its test rig are presented and the measurement methodology used for radial force control is explained. The concept is developed in an electrical machine and is validated on a test rig by measuring required parameters like shaft displacement, vibrations and bearing temperature. Additionally, the friction moment of each generator’s bearings is measured and validated in a separate test rig under comparable conditions to the bearing loads in the generator. Therefore, a novel approach to determine precisely the bearing friction in a radial load unit, rotatably supported by an additional needle bearing is used, which shows a good agreement with the calculated friction. Furthermore, new calculation methods for the operating behavior of cylindrical roller bearings with clearance are presented, which are utilized in the generator test rig

Habitat properties are key drivers of Borrelia burgdorferi (s.l.) prevalence in Ixodes ricinus populations of deciduous forest fragments

Background: The tick Ixodes ricinus has considerable impact on the health of humans and other terrestrial animals because it transmits several tick-borne pathogens (TBPs) such as B. burgdorferi (sensu lato), which causes Lyme borreliosis (LB). Small forest patches of agricultural landscapes provide many ecosystem services and also the disservice of LB risk. Biotic interactions and environmental filtering shape tick host communities distinctively between specific regions of Europe, which makes evaluating the dilution effect hypothesis and its influence across various scales challenging. Latitude, macroclimate, landscape and habitat properties drive both hosts and ticks and are comparable metrics across Europe. Therefore, we instead assess these environmental drivers as indicators and determine their respective roles for the prevalence of B. burgdorferi in I. ricinus. Methods: We sampled I. ricinus and measured environmental properties of macroclimate, landscape and habitat quality of forest patches in agricultural landscapes along a European macroclimatic gradient. We used linear mixed models to determine significant drivers and their relative importance for nymphal and adult B. burgdorferi prevalence. We suggest a new prevalence index, which is pool-size independent. Results: During summer months, our prevalence index varied between 0 and 0.4 per forest patch, indicating a low to moderate disservice. Habitat properties exerted a fourfold larger influence on B. burgdorferi prevalence than macroclimate and landscape properties combined. Increasingly available ecotone habitat of focal forest patches diluted and edge density at landscape scale amplified B. burgdorferi prevalence. Indicators of habitat attractiveness for tick hosts (food resources and shelter) were the most important predictors within habitat patches. More diverse and abundant macro- and microhabitat had a diluting effect, as it presumably diversifies the niches for tick-hosts and decreases the probability of contact between ticks and their hosts and hence the transmission likelihood.[br/] Conclusions: Diluting effects of more diverse habitat patches would pose another reason to maintain or restore high biodiversity in forest patches of rural landscapes. We suggest classifying habitat patches by their regulating services as dilution and amplification habitat, which predominantly either decrease or increase B. burgdorferi prevalence at local and landscape scale and hence LB risk. Particular emphasis on promoting LB-diluting properties should be put on the management of those habitats that are frequently used by humans. In the light of these findings, climate change may be of little concern for LB risk at local scales, but this should be evaluated further

Eligibility of passive safety roadside equipment to protect motorcyclists according to the current European standards

In Deutschland kommen an exponierten Stellen sowie an bei Motorradfahrern beliebten Strecken seit längerem auf den Anprall von Motorradfahrern hin optimierte Schutzeinrichtungen zum Einsatz. Damit sollen insbesondere das Hindurchrutschen unter den Schutzplankenholmen oder der Anprall gegen die Pfosten verhindert werden. Mangels nationaler und internationaler Standards zur Prüfung solcher Unterfahrschutzsysteme wurden die verwendeten Systeme nach einem eigens definierten Verfahren getestet. Seit Veröffentlichung der Technischen Spezifikation CEN/TS 1317-8:2012 (mittlerweile DIN CEN/TS 17342:2019-10; DIN SPEC 18193:2019-10) existiert eine Technische Regel, die zumindest den rutschenden Anprall von Motorradfahrern abdeckt. In wie weit die darin enthaltenen Prüfkriterien von den in Deutschland verbauten Systemen erfüllt werden, ist bislang nicht bekannt. Bei den Schutzeinrichtungen ist grundsätzlich zu unterscheiden, zwischen Herstellerentwicklungen und patentfreien Bestandssystemen, die nach Vorgaben früherer Regelwerke gebaut wurden. Die Betrachtung beschränkt sich in diesem Projekt auf die Ausrüstung von Bestandssystemen, in diesem Fall der einfachen Stahlschutzplanke (ESP). Der bereits häufig verwendete Unterfahrschutz der ESP 4.0 UFS wurde bereits erfolgreich nach dem Teil 8 der DIN EN 1317 getestet und aufgrund der gewonnenen Erkenntnisse weiterentwickelt. Zusätzliche Komponenten, die die Anprallheftigkeit reduzieren sollten, wurden entwickelt und getestet. Es war nicht möglich im begrenzten Projektrahmen eine positiv getestete Lösung zu entwickeln. Versagenskriterien konnten jedoch identifiziert und aufgezeigt werden. Hilfreiche Erkenntnisse wurden gewonnen, die für zukünftige Projekte als Basis dienen können.Passive safety roadside equipment optimized for impacting motorcyclists is used since quite some time at exposed spots to protect potentially impacting motorcyclists. Especially sliding underneath guardrails or impacting at the post is to be prevented. Due to the lack of national and international standards those devices have been tested according to self-defined procedures. Since the publication of the Technical Standard CEN/TS 1317-8:2012 (now DIN CEN/TS 17342:2019-10; DIN SPEC 18193:2019-10) there is a technical regulation which at least covers the sliding impact of a motorcyclist. Until now it is unknown, if the used devices fulfil those test requirements. Basically it has to be distinguished between OEM solutions and not patented solutions which has been built according to former regulations. Within this project the focus is laid on the retrofit of the standard passive safety device ESP (simple steel guardrail). Aim of this project was to design, assess and modify additional components for the ESP in regard to pass the Technical Standard CEN/TS 13117-8:2012. The nowadays commonly used underride protection of the ESP 4.0 UFS as well as additional components to reduce the impact severity have been tested and designed. However it was not possible to achieve a solution which passed the tests. Problems and fail criteria were identified which can be used as a basis for further projects

Human Induced Pluripotent Stem-Cell-Derived Cardiomyocytes as Models for Genetic Cardiomyopathies

In the last few decades, many pathogenic or likely pathogenic genetic mutations in over hundred different genes have been described for non-ischemic, genetic cardiomyopathies. However, the functional knowledge about most of these mutations is still limited because the generation of adequate animal models is time-consuming and challenging. Therefore, human induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) carrying specific cardiomyopathy-associated mutations are a promising alternative. Since the original discovery that pluripotency can be artificially induced by the expression of different transcription factors, various patient-specific-induced pluripotent stem cell lines have been generated to model non-ischemic, genetic cardiomyopathies in vitro. In this review, we describe the genetic landscape of non-ischemic, genetic cardiomyopathies and give an overview about different human iPSC lines, which have been developed for the disease modeling of inherited cardiomyopathies. We summarize different methods and protocols for the general differentiation of human iPSCs into cardiomyocytes. In addition, we describe methods and technologies to investigate functionally human iPSC-derived cardiomyocytes. Furthermore, we summarize novel genome editing approaches for the genetic manipulation of human iPSCs. This review provides an overview about the genetic landscape of inherited cardiomyopathies with a focus on iPSC technology, which might be of interest for clinicians and basic scientists interested in genetic cardiomyopathies

The Friction of Radially Loaded Hybrid Spindle Bearings under High Speeds

Friction losses are an important parameter for evaluating the operational behaviour of high-speed rolling bearings. Specifically, in machine tool applications, the bearings are subjected to high radial loads and high speeds, which lead to increased forces in the rolling contact and, as a result, increased bearing friction. In this high-speed application, hybrid spindle bearings, typically made of ceramic balls and steel raceways, show better frictional behaviour compared to full steel-made bearings. Therefore, precise knowledge of the friction characteristics of high-speed hybrid bearings can improve friction models and generalise them to spindle bearings with different types, geometries, and operating conditions. In this article, a new straightforward and cost-efficient method for measuring the frictional torque in spindle bearings is presented. A rigidly arranged 7008 hybrid spindle bearing pair was tested up to rotational speeds of 24,000 rpm and high radial loads of 3 kN. The effects of oil–air and grease lubrication are discussed in characteristic diagrams of the tested bearings. Then, based on the test results, a friction calculation model is presented and validated for the outer race control and minimised power dissipation regarding the influence of radial forces

The Friction of Radially Loaded Hybrid Spindle Bearings under High Speeds

Friction losses are an important parameter for evaluating the operational behaviour of high-speed rolling bearings. Specifically, in machine tool applications, the bearings are subjected to high radial loads and high speeds, which lead to increased forces in the rolling contact and, as a result, increased bearing friction. In this high-speed application, hybrid spindle bearings, typically made of ceramic balls and steel raceways, show better frictional behaviour compared to full steel-made bearings. Therefore, precise knowledge of the friction characteristics of high-speed hybrid bearings can improve friction models and generalise them to spindle bearings with different types, geometries, and operating conditions. In this article, a new straightforward and cost-efficient method for measuring the frictional torque in spindle bearings is presented. A rigidly arranged 7008 hybrid spindle bearing pair was tested up to rotational speeds of 24,000 rpm and high radial loads of 3 kN. The effects of oil–air and grease lubrication are discussed in characteristic diagrams of the tested bearings. Then, based on the test results, a friction calculation model is presented and validated for the outer race control and minimised power dissipation regarding the influence of radial forces

Fluctuations of the Universidad Glacier in the Andes of central Chile (34° S) during the latest Holocene derived from a 10Be moraine chronology

The reconstruction of glacier fluctuations during the latest Holocene (<1000 years) is necessary for understanding the climate context preceding the warmer conditions of the 20th and 21st centuries. The glacier records in the Andes of central Chile are suitably located to track former latitudinal changes of the Southern Westerly Winds (SSW), which are mostly unknown at this middle latitude region. Here, we present a reconstruction of the glacial fluctuations using Terrestrial Cosmogenic Nuclides (10Be) dating of boulders resting on moraines and other glacial landforms that make up the moraine complex in the forefield of the Universidad Glacier (34° S). This massive and chaotic-looking moraine was built during the latest Holocene ice advances and subsequent decay of the Universidad Glacier to its present position. Geomorphological mapping and 10Be surface exposure ages (n = 20) show that the Universidad Glacier advanced at least twice to nearly the same maximum extent, first by the 13th to 16th centuries and then by the early to the mid-19th century. Since then, eight moraine ridges denote a rather active and gradual ice demise. We interpret the glacier advances as a response to an equatorward shift of the SWW linked to a long-term negative phase of the Southern Annular Mode (SAM), which embraced net humid and cold atmospheric conditions in central Chile between the 13th century and the mid-19th century. Our glacier chronology is comparable to others from Patagonia and New Zealand, altogether exposing the culmination of the latest Holocene glacial maximum by the mid-19th century, before overall ice decay in a global warming world, with accelerated ice loss since the mid-20th century