Thermocompression assembling device used to connect together a wire with an IC

The conical diamond is retained in material of specific thermal expansion coefficient to ensure that it is not loosened when the temperature rises. The tool comprises a head which includes a small diamond (2) fixed to a support body (3). The diamond has a conical shape with its base retained in the support body, and its tip projecting freely. The diamond is fastened by a system which avoids the diamond becoming unseated as a result of different thermal expansion of the diamond and base material. This may comprise a seating in the block which is also conical in shape, or may comprises a welding material (5) surrounding the base of the cone, within a recess formed in the block. Materials are chosen such that their respective degrees of thermal expansion do not allow the diamond to become loose when the device is heated

A numerical framework for simulating progressive failure in composite laminates under high-cycle fatigue loading

In this work, a recently proposed high-cycle fatigue cohesive zone model, which covers crack initiation and propagation with limited input parameters, is embedded in a robust and efficient numerical framework for simulating progressive failure in composite laminates under fatigue loading. The fatigue cohesive zone model is enhanced with an implicit time integration scheme of the fatigue damage variable which allows for larger cycle increments and more efficient analyses. The method is combined with an adaptive strategy for determining the cycle increment based on global convergence rates. Moreover, a consistent material tangent stiffness matrix has been derived by fully linearizing the underlying mixed-mode quasi-static model and the fatigue damage update. The enhanced fatigue cohesive zone model is used to describe matrix cracking and delamination in laminates. In order to allow for matrix cracks to initiate at arbitrary locations and to avoid complex and costly mesh generation, the phantom node version of the eXtended finite element method (XFEM) is employed. For the insertion of new crack segments, an XFEM fatigue crack insertion criterion is presented, which is consistent with the fatigue cohesive zone formulation. It is shown with numerical examples that the improved fatigue damage update enhances the accuracy, efficiency and robustness of the numerical simulations significantly. The numerical framework is applied to the simulation of progressive fatigue failure in an open-hole [$\pm$45]-laminate. It is demonstrated that the numerical model is capable of accurately and efficiently simulating the complete failure process from distributed damage to localized failure.Comment: 40 pages, 21 figure

Strong inhibition of TNF-α production and inhibition of IL-8 and COX-2 mRNA expression in monocyte-derived macrophages by RWJ 67657, a p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) inhibitor

In inflammatory processes, the p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signal transduction route regulates production and expression of cytokines and other inflammatory mediators. Tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α) is a pivotal cytokine in rheumatoid arthritis and its production in macrophages is under control of the p38 MAPK route. Inhibition of the p38 MAPK route may inhibit production not only of TNF-α, but also of other inflammatory mediators produced by macrophages, and indirectly of inflammatory mediators by other cells induced by TNF-α stimulation. Here we investigate the effects of RWJ 67657, a p38 MAPK inhibitor, on mRNA expression and protein production of TNF-α and other inflammatory mediators, in monocyte-derived macrophages. A strong inhibition of TNF-α was seen at pharmacologically relevant concentrations of RWJ 67657, but also inhibition of mRNA expression of IL-1β, IL-8, and cyclooxygenase-2 was shown. Furthermore, it was shown that monocyte-derived macrophages have a high constitutive production of matrix metalloproteinase 9, which is not affected by p38 MAPK inhibition. The results presented here may have important implications for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis

Hands4U:the effects of a multifaceted implementation strategy on hand eczema prevalence in a healthcare setting. Results of a randomized controlled trial

Background. Healthcare workers have an increased risk of developing hand eczema. A multifaceted implementation strategy was developed to implement a guideline to prevent hand eczema among healthcare workers.Objectives. To investigate the effects of the implementation strategy on self-reported hand eczema and preventive behaviour.Methods. A randomized controlled trial was performed. A total of 48 departments (n = 1649) were randomly allocated to the multifaceted implementation strategy or the control group. The strategy consisted of education, participatory working groups, and role models. Outcome measures were self-reported hand eczema and preventive behaviour. Data were collected at baseline, and 3, 6, 9 and 12 months of follow-up.Results. Participants in the intervention group were significantly more likely to report hand eczema [odds ratio (OR) 1.45; 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.03-2.04], and they reported significantly less hand washing (B, -0.38; 95% CI: -0.48 to -0.27), reported significantly more frequent use of a moisturizer (B, 0.30; 95% CI: 0.22-0.39) and were more likely to report wearing cotton undergloves (OR 6.33; 95% CI: 3.23-12.41) than participants in the control group 12 months after baseline.Conclusions. The strategy implemented can be used in practice, as it showed positive effects on preventive behaviour. More research is needed to investigate the unexpected effects on hand eczema.</p