Boundary element based multiresolution shape optimisation in electrostatics

We consider the shape optimisation of high-voltage devices subject to electrostatic field equations by combining fast boundary elements with multiresolution subdivision surfaces. The geometry of the domain is described with subdivision surfaces and different resolutions of the same geometry are used for optimisation and analysis. The primal and adjoint problems are discretised with the boundary element method using a sufficiently fine control mesh. For shape optimisation the geometry is updated starting from the coarsest control mesh with increasingly finer control meshes. The multiresolution approach effectively prevents the appearance of non-physical geometry oscillations in the optimised shapes. Moreover, there is no need for mesh regeneration or smoothing during the optimisation due to the absence of a volume mesh. We present several numerical experiments and one industrial application to demonstrate the robustness and versatility of the developed approach.Web of Science29759858

Damage Location in Mechanical Structures by Multi-Objective Pattern Search

We propose a multi-objective global pattern search algorithm for the task of locating and quantifying damage in flexible mechanical structures. This is achieved by identifying eigenfrequencies and eigenmodes from measurements and matching them against the results of a finite element simulation model, which leads to a nonsmooth nonlinear bi-objective parameter estimation problem. A derivative-free optimization algorithm is required since the problem is nonsmooth and also because complex mechanical simulation models are often solved using commercial black-box software. Moreover, the entire set of non-dominated solutions is of interest to practitioners. Most solution approaches published to date are based on meta-heuristics such as genetic algorithms. The proposed multi-objective pattern-search algorithm provides a mathematically well-founded alternative. It features a novel sorting procedure that reduces the complexity in our context. Test runs on two experimental structures with multiple damage scenarios are used to validate the approach. The results demonstrate that the proposed algorithm yields accurate damage locations and requires moderate computational resources. From the engineer's perspective it represents a promising tool for structural health monitoring

Investigation of the efficacy of a genetically-stabile live Salmonella typhimurium vaccine for use in swine

Hybrid swine were immunized twice at an interval of 3 weeks to evaluate the efficacy of a liveS. typhimurium vaccine. The animals and a control group were challenged at the age of 8-10 weeks by oral test infection with a labelled S. typhimurium DT l 04 strain. An ELISA was used to establish the presence of antibodies to S. typhimurium in serum samples. The presence of the challenge strain in the ileal and caecal mucosa and in the ileocolic lymph nodes was investigated quantitatively using the Koch plating method. The vaccinated animals had significantly higher antibody titres after the second vaccination than the unvaccinated animals. The vaccinated animals had a significantly lower (p \u3c 0.05) colonization of the ileal and caecal mucosa as well as the ileocolic lymph nodes than the unvaccinated animals

Immunoprophylaxis as a method to help reduce the incidence of Salmonella infection in swine

Swine reared for fattening which were clinically proven to have salmonellosis (S. typhimuriwn) were immunized with a S. typhimurium live vaccine to prevent clinical disease and reduce the level of infection amongst the swine. To assess the outcome of vaccination the ileocaecal lymph nodes of the swine were removed at the time of slaughter and cultures set up to establish the presence of salmonella. In addition, serum samples were taken and assayed for antibodies to S. typhimurium. Use of the vaccine prevented animals from developing clinical disease and resulted in a marked reduction in the isolation of S. typhimurium from the ileocaecal lymph nodes of the swine at slaughter and in the number of animals with high antibody value (≥40 OD%)

Calidad microbiológica del agua del Embalse Los Molinos destinada a uso recreativo

Fil: Origlia, Florencia. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Físicas y Naturales. Ingeniería Química; Argentina.Fil: Brigante, Leandro Nicolás. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Físicas y Naturales. Ingeniería Química; Argentina.Fil: Frigerio, Santiago Luis. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Físicas y Naturales. Ingeniería Química; Argentina.Fil: Steinbach, Angélica. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Físicas y Naturales. Ingeniería Química; Argentina.Fil: Vogler, Erick Günther. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Físicas y Naturales. Ingeniería Química; Argentina.Durante los años 2012 y 2013 se participó como ayudantes de investigación en el proyecto financiado por SeCyT “Impacto de la contaminación microbiológica sobre fuentes de agua superficiales destinadas a diferentes usos”. El objetivo del mismo fue evaluar la aptitud de la calidad del agua para consumo humano, riego, producción de alimentos y recreación. En este trabajo se presentan particularmente los resultados obtenidos para el uso recreativo del embalse Los Molinos, Córdoba.http://microbiologia2014.com.ar/website/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/Libro-de-Res%C3%BAmenes-JAM-2014.pdfFil: Origlia, Florencia. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Físicas y Naturales. Ingeniería Química; Argentina.Fil: Brigante, Leandro Nicolás. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Físicas y Naturales. Ingeniería Química; Argentina.Fil: Frigerio, Santiago Luis. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Físicas y Naturales. Ingeniería Química; Argentina.Fil: Steinbach, Angélica. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Físicas y Naturales. Ingeniería Química; Argentina.Fil: Vogler, Erick Günther. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Físicas y Naturales. Ingeniería Química; Argentina.Otras Ingeniería Químic

Fifty years of the CERN Proton Synchrotron : Volume 2

This report sums up in two volumes the first 50 years of operation of the CERN Proton Synchrotron. After an introduction on the genesis of the machine, and a description of its magnet and powering systems, the first volume focuses on some of the many innovations in accelerator physics and instrumentation that it has pioneered, such as transition crossing, RF gymnastics, extractions, phase space tomography, or transverse emittance measurement by wire scanners. The second volume describes the other machines in the PS complex: the proton linear accelerators, the PS Booster, the LEP pre-injector, the heavy-ion linac and accumulator, and the antiproton rings.Comment: 58 pages, published as CERN Yellow Report https://cds.cern.ch/record/1597087?ln=e

Use and subjective experience of the impact of motor-assisted movement exercisers in people with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis: a multicenter observational study

Motor-assisted movement exercisers (MME) are devices that assist with physical therapy in domestic settings for people living with ALS. This observational cross-sectional study assesses the subjective experience of the therapy and analyzes users' likelihood of recommending treatment with MME. The study was implemented in ten ALS centers between February 2019 and October 2020, and was coordinated by the research platform Ambulanzpartner. Participants assessed symptom severity, documented frequency of MME use and rated the subjective benefits of therapy on a numerical scale (NRS, 0 to 10 points, with 10 being the highest). The Net Promotor Score (NPS) determined the likelihood of a participant recommending MME. Data for 144 participants were analyzed. Weekly MME use ranged from 1 to 4 times for 41% of participants, 5 to 7 times for 42%, and over 7 times for 17%. Particularly positive results were recorded in the following domains: amplification of a sense of achievement (67%), diminution of the feeling of having rigid limbs (63%), diminution of the feeling of being immobile (61%), improvement of general wellbeing (55%) and reduction of muscle stiffness (52%). Participants with more pronounced self-reported muscle weakness were more likely to note a beneficial effect on the preservation and improvement of muscle strength during MME treatment (p < 0.05). Overall, the NPS for MME was high (+ 61). High-frequency MME-assisted treatment (defined as a minimum of five sessions a week) was administered in the majority of participants (59%) in addition to physical therapy. Most patients reported having achieved their individual therapeutic objectives, as evidenced by a high level of satisfaction with MME therapy. The results bolster the justification for extended MME treatment as part of a holistic approach to ALS care