Endless diamond wire saw for monocrystalline silicon cutting

The multi-wire sawing of silicon using diamond coated wire is an important process in the semiconductor and photovoltaic industry. The process is performed by pushing the silicon ingot against a wire web that moves forwards and backwards. As the feed direction of the wire changes many times and the cutting speed is not constant, a proper investigation of the cutting process is very difficult to be performed. Aiming to experimentally investigate the multi-wire sawing of monocrystalline silicon (mono-Si), this work proposes a new test rig. For that, the requirements list is defined, and based on that, several conceptual solutions are proposed. The final solution is an endless wire saw that uses aerostatic bearing technology on its slides and rotatory bearings. Features of the built test rig are presented, as well as some results of experiments on process characterization and tracking the same diamond grains for wear analysis. The objective of tracking the same diamond grains for wear analysis is accomplished with the experimental setup

Ionic liquids at electrified interfaces

Until recently, “room-temperature” (<100–150 °C) liquid-state electrochemistry was mostly electrochemistry of diluted electrolytes(1)–(4) where dissolved salt ions were surrounded by a considerable amount of solvent molecules. Highly concentrated liquid electrolytes were mostly considered in the narrow (albeit important) niche of high-temperature electrochemistry of molten inorganic salts(5-9) and in the even narrower niche of “first-generation” room temperature ionic liquids, RTILs (such as chloro-aluminates and alkylammonium nitrates).(10-14) The situation has changed dramatically in the 2000s after the discovery of new moisture- and temperature-stable RTILs.(15, 16) These days, the “later generation” RTILs attracted wide attention within the electrochemical community.(17-31) Indeed, RTILs, as a class of compounds, possess a unique combination of properties (high charge density, electrochemical stability, low/negligible volatility, tunable polarity, etc.) that make them very attractive substances from fundamental and application points of view.(32-38) Most importantly, they can mix with each other in “cocktails” of one’s choice to acquire the desired properties (e.g., wider temperature range of the liquid phase(39, 40)) and can serve as almost “universal” solvents.(37, 41, 42) It is worth noting here one of the advantages of RTILs as compared to their high-temperature molten salt (HTMS)(43) “sister-systems”.(44) In RTILs the dissolved molecules are not imbedded in a harsh high temperature environment which could be destructive for many classes of fragile (organic) molecules

Episodic breathlessness: Translation and consenting of the international definition using the Delphi method

Background: Similar to pain, refractory breathlessness can occur episodically. Episodic Breathlessness is a distressing symptom in patients with advanced life-limiting disease. The lack of a universal definition impedes symptom understanding in clinical practice and effective management, respectively. The aim of the study was to formally consent a German translation of the English definition and terminology of episodic breathlessness. Methods: A web-based Delphi survey was conducted with German breathlessness experts (breathlessness working group of Germany's National Guideline (S3) for Palliative Care). Drafts of German-language definitions und terminology were assessed using structured questionnaires by binary rating or rankings, respectively. Optional comments were analysed by content analysis. Consensus was defined by >= 70 % agreement among participants. Results: In two resulting Delphi-rounds 8/16 (50 %) und 11/16 (69 %) experts, 30-59 years of age, 50 %/55 % female, participated. After the second round, consensus was reached for the symptom's description Atemnotattacke (73 %) and a German-language definition (90 %). The terms vorhersehbar vs. unvorhersehbar were directly consented for the categorization (88 %). Conclusion: The formally consented German definition and terminology of episodic breathlessness enable clearer symptom understanding and provide a precise basis for education and research on the symptom and its management also in Germany. Effective management options are warranted to improve quality of life of suffering patients and their relatives

Patient reported outcomes in randomized controlled cancer trials in advanced disease: a structured literature review

Introduction: In advanced cancer quality of life (QoL) is the most important goal of care. It is measured by patient-reported-outcomes (PRO). This structured review evaluated how randomized controlled trials (RCTs) on anti-cancer therapy in advanced cancer reported PRO.Methods: Search was performed in MEDLINE via PubMed for RCTs with median patient survival of 2years. Reporting was rated with the Consolidated Standards of Reporting Trials (CONSORT) PRO extension.Results: Of 370 retrieved publications, 117 were eligible, but only 30/117 (26%) reported PRO. QoL was most frequently measured (29/30). On average, 4.4 (SD 2.5) of the 14 CONSORT items were met.Conclusion: PRO are insufficiently reported in advanced cancer trials. Yet, this is paramount to enable an informed and patient-oriented decision making process

Contact AuthorEmergence of Multiagent Spatial Coordination Strategies through Artificial Coevolution

This paper describes research investigating the evolution of coordination strategies in robot soccer teams. Each player (viewed as an agent) is provided with a common set of skills and is assigned to perform over a delimited area inside a soccer field. The idea is to optimize the whole team behavior by means of a spatial coadaptation process in which new players are selected in such a way to comply with the already existing ones. The main results show that, through coevolution, we progressively create teams whose members act on complementary areas of the playing field, being capable of prevailing over a standard opponent team with a fixed formation. Keyword

Emergence of multiagent spatial coordination strategies through artificial coevolution

This paper describes research investigating the evolution of coordination strategies in robot soccer teams. Each player (viewed as an agent) is provided with a common set of skills and is assigned to perform over a delimited area inside a soccer field. The idea is to optimize the whole team behavior by means of a spatial coadaptation process in which new players are selected in such a way to comply with the already existing ones. The main results show that, through coevolution, we progressively create teams whose members act on complementary areas of the playing field, bein