Manufacturing Mechatronics Using Thermal Spray Shape Deposition

A new technology for manufacturing mechatronics is described. The technique is based on recursive masking and deposition of thermally sprayed materials. Using these methods, mechanical structures can be created that embed and interconnect electronic components. This results in highly integrated mechatronic devices. A simple, electromechanical artifact was designed and produced to assess the feasibility of these techniques. The details and limitations of this project will be discussed. Areas of future research are identified which are aimed at realizing the full potential of this emerging manufacturing process.Mechanical Engineerin

Pension Systems and Social Security: Trends and National Characteristics

This brief survey paper on the main characteristics of pension systems and social security systems in twelve European countries and Canada belongs to a series of papers originating from the project "Family, Household, and Social Security in Aging Societies." It provides a basis for comparing past and probable future trends in the thirteen countries currently participating in the project

T-cell modulation for the treatment of chronic plaque psoriasis with efalizumab (Raptiva (TM)): Mechanisms of action

Psoriasis is a chronic, incurable, auto-immune disorder with cutaneous manifestations. New evidence on the central role of the immune system in the pathogenesis of psoriasis increasingly provides insight into pathogenic steps that can be modulated to provide disease control. Numerous biological therapies are in various stages of clinical development, with expectation of providing enhanced safety and efficacy over currently available psoriasis therapies. Efalizumab, a recombinant humanized monoclonal IgG1 antibody, is a novel targeted T-cell modulator that inhibits multiple steps in the immune cascade that result in the production and maintenance of psoriatic plaques, including initial T-cell activation and T-cell trafficking into sites of inflammation, including psoriatic skin, with subsequent reactivation in these sites. This article reviews the pharmacodynamic, pharmacokinetic and clinical effects observed during phase I, II and III efalizumab trials in patients with moderate to severe chronic plaque psoriasis. Copyright (C) 2004 S. Karger AG, Basel

Effect of antimony on the eutectic reaction of heavy section spheroidal graphite castings

There is a strong demand for heavy section castings made of spheroidal graphite with a fully ferritic matrix, e.g. for manufacturing hubs for windmills. Such castings with slow solidification process are prone to graphite degeneration that leads to a dramatic decrease of the mechanical properties of the cast parts. Chunky graphite is certainly the most difficult case of graphite degeneracy, though it has long been known that the limited and controlled addition of antimony may help eliminate it. The drawback of this remedy is that too large Sb additions lead to other forms of degenerate graphite, and also that antimony is a pearlite promoter. As part of an investigation aimed at mastering low level additions to cast iron melts before casting, solidification of large blocks with or without Sb added was followed by thermal analysis. Comparison of the cooling curves and of the microstructures of these different castings gives suggestions to understand the controlling nucleation and growth mechanisms for chunky graphite cells

An extreme ultraviolet spectrometer experiment for the Shuttle Get Away Special Program

An extreme ultraviolet (EUV) spectrometer experiment operated successfully during the STS-7 mission in an experiment to measure the global and diurnal variation of the EUV airglow. The spectrometer is an F 3.5 Wadsworth mount with mechanical collimator, a 75 x 75 mm grating, and a bare microchannel plate detector providing a spectral resolution of 7 X FWHM. Read-out of the signal is through discrete channels or resistive anode techniques. The experiment includes a microcomputer, 20 Mbit tape recorder, and a 28V, 40 Ahr silver-zinc battery. It is the first GAS payload to use an opening door. The spectrometer's 0.1 x 4.2 deg field of view is pointed vertically out of the shuttle bay. During the STS-7 flight data were acquired continuously for a period of 5 hours and 37 minutes, providing spectra of the 570 A to 850 A wavelength region of the airglow. Five diurnal cycles of the 584 A emission of neutral helium and the 834 A emission of ionized atomic oxygen were recorded. The experiment also recorded ion events and pressure pulses associated with thruster firings. The experiment is to fly again on Mission 41-F

Apollo 15 rake sample microbreccias and non-mare rocks: Bulk rock, mineral and glass electron microprobe analyses

Quantitative electron microprobe data of Apollo 15 nonmare rake samples are presented. Bulk analyses of lithic fragments in the nomare rocks (expressed in oxide weight-percent) and the corresponding CIPW molecular norms are given. The mineralogy of the rocks and lithic fragments are also given; structural formulae for complete analyses and molecular end-members for all mineral analyses are included. The mineral analyses include pyroxene, olivine, plagioclase, barian K-feldspar, spinel and ilmenite, cobaltian metallic nickel-iron as well as SiO2-K2O-rich residual glass. Electron micropobe analyses (oxide weight percent) of glasses in loose fines and microbreccia samples and their CIPW molecular norms are presented along with electron microprobe data on bulk, mineral, and matrix glass from chondrules

Use of novel serum markers in clinical follow-up of Sertoli-Leydig cell turnours

Background: Sertoli-Leyclig cell tumours of the ovary account for only 0.2% of malignant ovarian tumours. Two-thirds of all patients become apparent due to the tumour's hormone production. Methods: A 41-year-old patient (gravida 4, para 4) presented with dyspnoea, enlarged abdominal girth and melaena. Diagnostic imaging was suspicious for an ovarian cancer. The standard tumour marker for ovarian cancer (CA 125) was elevated to 984 U/mL. Results: Surgical exploration of the abdomen revealed a mouldering tumour of both adnexes extending to the level of the navel. Frozen sections showed an undifferentiated carcinoma of unknown origin. Radical surgery was performed. The final histological report described a malignant sex-cord stroma tumour, a Sertoli-Leydig cell tumour, emanating from both ovaries. Analysis of preoperative blood serum showed elevated levels of CYFRA 21-1 (10.4 ng/mL), neuron-specific enolase (36.2 ng/mL), oestradiol (485 pg/mL) and CA-125 (984 U/mL). Adjuvant chemotherapy and regional hyperthermia were performed due to the malignant potential and incomplete resection of the tumour. Conclusions: Undifferentiated Sertoli-Leyclig cell tumours show a poor clinical course. As only two-thirds of patients with this rare disease present with elevated hormone levels, new markers deserve further investigation to offer more specific, individualised tumour monitoring

The Proper Motion of the Central Compact Object RX J0822-4300 in the Supernova Remnant Puppis A

Using the High Resolution Camera (HRC) aboard the Chandra X-ray Observatory, we have re-examined the proper motion of the central compact object RX J0822-4300 in the supernova remnant Puppis A. New data from 2010 August, combined with three archival data sets from as early as 1999 December, provide a baseline of 3886 days (more than 10 1/2 years) to perform the measurement. Correlating the four positions of RX J0822-4300 measured in each data set implies a projected proper motion of mu 71 \pm 12 masy. For a distance of 2 kpc this proper motion is equivalent to a recoil velocity of 672 \pm 115 km/s. The position angle is found to be 244 \pm 11 degrees. Both the magnitude and direction of the proper motion are in agreement with RX J0822-4300 originating near the optical expansion center of the supernova remnant. For a displacement of 371 \pm 31 arcsec between its birth place and today's position we deduce an age of (5.2 \pm 1.0) 10^3 yrs for RX J0822-4300. The age inferred from the neutron star proper motion and filament motions can be considered as two independent measurements of the same quantity. They average to 4450 \pm 750 yrs for the age of the supernova remnant Puppis A.Comment: Accepted for publication in the Astrophysical Journa

‘Mining the materials’: A framework for student-led self-study task creation

Meaningful independent learning is rightly viewed as a central component of successful study in L2. Given that the considerable majority of learners’ time is spent outside the classroom, the self-study space has become a source of great intrigue for English language teachers (Benson and Reinders, 2011). However, precisely because self-directed learning lies beyond the typical boundaries of the teacher’s gaze, it is influenced by a variety of factors, not least learners’ familiarity with effective independent learning practices. This summary article traces and evaluates the implementation of a framework for student-led self-study task creation with a group of 14 foundation pre-sessional students making the transition from secondary to tertiary study at the University of Glasgow with little or no existing concept of effective self-study practices. The trial aimed to provide a space for students to evaluate their strengths and weaknesses in English and establish independent learning priorities, as well as a more critical awareness (‘mining’) of regular classroom tasks as potential models for independent learning activities. Obtaining feedback at regular intervals, coupled with data from weekly reflection cycles, the investigation tracked developments in self-study practices while highlighting obstacles to enhanced independent learning. The trial also presented plentiful opportunities to reflect on the definition of effectiveness with regard to independent learning