Standardized Classification and Interfaces of Complex Behaviour Models in Virtual Commissioning

AbstractToday's increasing use of Virtual Commissioning during the development process of automated manufacturing plants paired with the increasing request towards better control quality leads to the need of improved virtual plants with more effortless set ups. The common techniques of simulating the plant within Virtual Commissioning do no longer fulfil these needs, new approaches have to be developed. This paper examines ways to standardize Functional Mock-Up Unit based behaviour models of mechatronic components of such automated manufacturing plants. It is argued how such components can be classified to reach a distinction between different types to be able to develop standardized interfaces for every type. Therefore a standardized framework of how these interfaces can look like is proposed. Based on this framework as well as the classification of the components two examples, a pneumatic valve cylinder combination and an industrial robot are exemplarily implemented. Besides the standard interfaces to the control program and the visualisation of the simulation a special effort to implement energetically considerations were made. Therefore the presented work shows a way of how to standardize the interfaces of behaviour models of different classes of mechatronic components while increasing the quality of these behaviour models for more complex and accurate behaviour simulation of production plants for Virtual Commissioning as well as related applications

EFFECT OF MENTAL DEMAND ON KNEE FORCES IN PROFESSIONAL YOUTH SOCCER PLAYERS

Soccer is one of the most popular sports all around the world. It is an injurious type of sport with a focus on lower extremities and high psychological pressure during matches. The stressor is linked with injuries and an increased musculoskeletal loading. This study investigates the influence of cognitive stress on the load profile of the knee joint. Twelve professional youth soccer players performed highly dynamic runs with and without additional cognitive stress. The runs were analysed with a musculoskeletal simulation software. The data analysis shows no difference in knee joint reaction loading under additional mental stress compared to the baseline. Yet running times are significantly lower in the baseline. While there is no increase in the joint loads, the running times indicate an altered movement behaviour when the subjects are exposed to additional mental demand

Quantifying surface properties of silica particles by combining Hansen Parameters and Reichardt's Dye indicator data

To obtain quantitative understanding of the effects of a chemisorbed organic modification on the surface of particles, the use of Reichardt's dye (RD) and Hansen solubility parameter (HSP) is discussed, whereby the S should be understood in terms of “similarity” rather than solubility as dispersibility is in focus. Silica nanoparticles modified to different extents with a medium chain silane including completely hydrophilic and hydrophobic particles are chosen. During spray‐drying such particles form fully redispersible micro‐raspberry superstructures. After qualitative estimations of the particles' polarity based on measuring both immersion time and ability of modified particles to stabilize oil–water emulsions, surface properties are quantified by HSP and RD. With increasing hydrophobicity, i.e., increasing amount of silane at the surface, all three contributions to HSP change. At the same time, RD analysis reveals that the normalized solvent polarity parameter decreases progressively. HSP and RD analysis are in good agreement, giving strong confidence on each method applied individually. This work demonstrates that after noticeable attempts for combined solubility parameters in case of molecules, carbon allotropes, and gelators, such studies can be extended toward functional (nano)particles and that a full picture of particle surface properties is possible via the combination of different, quantitative techniques

Selective intra-carotid blood cooling in acute ischemic stroke : a safety and feasibility study in an ovine stroke model

Selective therapeutic hypothermia (TH) showed promising preclinical results as a neuroprotective strategy in acute ischemic stroke. We aimed to assess safety and feasibility of an intracarotid cooling catheter conceived for fast and selective brain cooling during endovascular thrombectomy in an ovine stroke model. Transient middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO, 3 h) was performed in 20 sheep. In the hypothermia group (n = 10), selective TH was initiated 20 minutes before recanalization, and was maintained for another 3 h. In the normothermia control group (n = 10), a standard 8 French catheter was used instead. Primary endpoints were intranasal cooling performance (feasibility) plus vessel patency assessed by digital subtraction angiography and carotid artery wall integrity (histopathology, both safety). Secondary endpoints were neurological outcome and infarct volumes. Computed tomography perfusion demonstrated MCA territory hypoperfusion during MCAO in both groups. Intranasal temperature decreased by 1.1 °C/3.1 °C after 10/60 minutes in the TH group and 0.3 °C/0.4 °C in the normothermia group (p < 0.001). Carotid artery and branching vessel patency as well as carotid wall integrity was indifferent between groups. Infarct volumes (p = 0.74) and neurological outcome (p = 0.82) were similar in both groups. Selective TH was feasible and safe. However, a larger number of subjects might be required to demonstrate efficacy

Evaluation of musculoskeletal modelling parameters of the shoulder complex during humeral abduction above 90°

Based on electromyographic data and force measurements within the shoulder joint, there is an indication that muscle and resulting joint reaction forces keep increasing over an abduction angle of 90. In inverse dynamics models, no single parameter could be attributed to simulate this force behaviour accordingly. The aim of this work is to implement kinematic, kinetic and muscle model modifications to an existing model of the shoulder (AnyBodyTM) and assess their single and combined effects during abduction up to 140 humeral elevation. The kinematics and the EMG activity of 10 test subjects were measured during humeral abduction. Six modifications were implemented in the model: alternative wrapping of the virtual deltoid muscle elements, utilization of a three element Hill model, strength scaling, motion capture driven clavicle elevation/protraction, translation of the GH joint in dependency of the acting forces and an alteration of the scapula/clavicle rhythm. From the six modifications, 16 different combinations were considered. Parameter combinations with the Hill model changed the resultant GH joint reaction force and led to an increase in force during abduction of the humerus above 90. Under the premise of muscle activities and forces within the GH joint rising after 90 of humeral abduction, we propose that the Hill type muscle model is a crucial parameter for accurately modelling the shoulder. Furthermore, the outcome of this study indicates that the Hill model induces the co-contraction of the muscles of the shoulder without the need of an additional stability criterion for an inverse dynamics approach

Parallel Macro Pipelining on the Intel SCC Many-Core Computer

Abstract—In this paper we present how Intel’s Single-Chip-Cloud processor behaves for parallel macro pipeline applications. Subsets of the SCC’s available cores can be arranged as a pipeline where each core processes one stage of the overall workload. Each of the independent cores processes a small part of a larger task and feeds the following core with new data after it finishes its work. Our case-study is a parallel rendering system which renders successive images and applies different filters on them. On normal graphics adapters this is usually done in multiple cycles, we do this in a single pipeline pass. We show that we can achieve a significant speedup by using multiple parallel pipelines on the SCC. We show that we can further improve performance by using SCC’s controlling PC in conjunction with the SCC. We also identify aspects of the SCC that hinder the overall performance, mainly the lack of local memory banks for each core on the SCC. The results presented in this paper are not limited to only image processing, but users could expect similar experiences where macro pipelining is used in other applications on the SCC. Keywords-Heterogeneous; Single-Chip-Cloud; parallel; macro pipelining; I

Mental stress reduces performance and changes musculoskeletal loading in football-related movements

Purpose: Football players have a high risk of leg muscle injuries, especially when exposed to mental stress. Hence, this study investigated the musculoskeletal response of elite youth football players during highly dynamic movements under stress. The hypothesis is that mental stress reduces performance and changes the muscular forces exerted. Materials & methods: Twelve elite youth football players were subjected to mental stress while performing sports-specific change-of-direction movements. A modified version of the d2 attention test was used as stressor. The kinetics are computed using inverse dynamics. Running times and exerted forces of injury-prone muscles were analysed. Results: The stressor runs were rated more mentally demanding by the players (p = 0.006, r(s) = 0.37) with unchanged physical demand (p = 0.777, r(s) = 0.45). This resulted in 10% longer running times under stress (p < 0.001, d = -1.62). The musculoskeletal analysis revealed higher peak muscle forces under mental stress for some players but not for others. Discussion: The study shows that motion capture combined with musculoskeletal computation is suitable to analyse the effects of stress on athletes in highly dynamic movements. For the first time in football medicine, our data quantifies an association between mental stress with reduced football players' performance and changes in muscle force

Study on the Capability Gaps Concerning European Space Situation Awareness - Architecture Report

During the study, the User Group, set up by ESA to get a wide field of potential users representatives all over Europe, involving specialists from European space faring nations, from EDA and from the European Commission has defined high-level objectives for a European SSA system. Based on the given threats and needs the assessment of the possibilities and the performance of already available assets lead to the current capability gaps. Those gaps and possible solutions are examined during this study

CD20 as a gatekeeper of the resting state of human B cells

CD20 is a B cell-specific membrane protein and represents an attractive target for therapeutic antibodies. Despite widespread usage of anti-CD20 antibodies for B cell depletion therapies, the biological function of their target remains unclear. Here, we demonstrate that CD20 controls the nanoscale organization of receptors on the surface of resting B lymphocytes. CRISPR/Cas9-mediated ablation of CD20 in resting B cells resulted in relocalization and interaction of the IgM-class B cell antigen receptor with the coreceptor CD19. This receptor rearrangement led to a transient activation of B cells, accompanied by the internalization of many B cell surface marker proteins. Reexpression of CD20 restored the expression of the B cell surface proteins and the resting state of Ramos B cells. Similarly, treatment of Ramos or naive human B cells with the anti-CD20 antibody rituximab induced nanoscale receptor rearrangements and transient B cell activation in vitro and in vivo. A departure from the resting B cell state followed by the loss of B cell identity of CD20-deficient Ramos B cells was accompanied by a PAX5 to BLIMP-1 transcriptional switch, metabolic reprogramming toward oxidative phosphorylation, and a shift toward plasma cell development. Thus, anti-CD20 engagement or the loss of CD20 disrupts membrane organization, profoundly altering the fate of human B cells.ISSN:0027-8424ISSN:1091-649

Probable Autoimmune Depression in a Patient With Multiple Sclerosis and Antineuronal Antibodies

Background In a subgroup of patients with mood disorders, clear-cut organic disorders are responsible for depressive symptoms (e.g., autoimmune diseases such as multiple sclerosis or systemic lupus erythematosus). In these cases, an organic affective disorder can be diagnosed. Case Presentation The authors present the case of a 59-year-old male patient who developed a severe depressive episode over approximately 6 months and was, therefore, admitted to the hospital. In retrospect, he reported that, at age 39, he suffered from self-limiting sensory disturbances and muscle weakness in both legs. The current magnetic resonance imaging of his brain showed several conspicuous FLAIR-hyperintense supratentorial white matter lesions compatible with chronic inflammatory brain disease. Imaging of the spinal axis revealed no clear spinal lesions. Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) analyses showed CSF-specific oligoclonal bands. Therefore, multiple sclerosis was diagnosed. Further CSF analyses, using tissue-based assays with indirect immunofluorescence on unfixed murine brain tissue, revealed a (peri-)nuclear signal and a strong neuritic signal of many neurons, especially on granule cells in the cerebellum, hippocampus, and olfactory bulb, as well as in the corpus callosum. Additionally, antinuclear antibody (ANA) titers of 1:12,800 and a lymphopenia were detected in blood tests. Further system clarification showed no suspicion of rheumatic or oncological disease. Anti-inflammatory treatment led to rapid and sustained improvement. Conclusion The present patient suffered from a probable “autoimmune depression” in the context of newly diagnosed multiple sclerosis with typical MRI and CSF pathologies, alongside mild concomitant latent systemic autoimmune process (with high-titer ANAs and lymphopenia) and unknown antineuronal antibodies. The case report illustrates that a depressive syndrome suggestive of primary idiopathic depressive disorder may be associated with an autoimmune brain involvement. The detection of such organic affective disorders is of high clinical relevance for affected patients, as it enables alternative and more causal treatment approaches