Reciprocity of linear systems with smart materials utilized for precise measurement techniques

In electromechanical measurement techniques, passive transducers and passive electrical networks often interact. In some applications, continua are considered as part of the system, where fields are formed and waves are propagated. In this article, networks, continua, and electromechanical transducers feature sufficient amplitude linear behavior in their environment (e.g. for operation around a bias) and are reciprocal. In addition, all elements of the system have constant parameters during the measurement. Then, the skillful application of the inherent reciprocity of these systems can lead to surprisingly useful benefits. This is shown by actual examples from metrology. The examples include the precise determination of transduction coefficients. It is also shown how the linearity of a system is checked by utilizing reciprocityrelations. Although the facts of the matter are well known, its potential is often overlooked or disregarded in measurement techniques

Zurich Consensus: Statement of German Experts on St. Gallen Conference 2011 on Primary Breast Cancer (Zurich 2011)

Every 2 years, the International Consensus Conference on the Treatment of Primary Breast Cancer takes place in St. Gallen. Given that the concept of the St. Gallen Consensus Conference mainly reflects an international opinion, it appears useful to adapt the results of the vote for everyday therapy in Germany. A German working group comprising 28 breast cancer experts, amongst whom there are 3 members of the international St. Gallen panel, has therefore commented on this year's St. Gallen Consensus Conference (2011) from the German viewpoint. The focus of interest of this year's St. Gallen Conference was tumour biology as the starting point for decisions regarding individual therapy. There was an intensive discussion in relation to the clinical relevance of predictive and prognostic factors and possible consequences for decisions regarding therapy. Therefore, questions concerning the indication for adjuvant chemotherapy focused especially on the significance of the molecular phenotype of the tumour. In addition, important points for discussion were also the value of complete axillary dissection and the use of accelerated complete breast irradiation

Advanced Edge Roughness Measurement Application for Mask Metrology

ABSTRACT With decreasing C qD dimensions the negative influence of line edge roughness (LER) and linewidth roughness (LWR) on CD uniformity and mean-to-target CD becomes more pronounced, since there is no corresponding reduction of roughness with dimension reduction. This applies to wafer metrology as well as to mask metrology. In order to better understand the types of roughness as well as the impact of the CD-SEM roughness measurement capabilities on the control of the mask process, the sensitivity and accuracy of the roughness analysis were qualified by comparing the measured mask roughness to the design for a dedicated LER test mask. This comparison is done for different LER amplitude and periodicity values and for reference structures without nominal LER using the built-in CD-SEM algorithms for LER characterization

14th St. Gallen International Breast Cancer Conference 2015: Evidence, Controversies, Consensus - Primary Therapy of Early Breast Cancer: Opinions Expressed by German Experts

The key topics of this year's 14th St. Gallen Consensus Conference on the diagnosis and therapy of primary breast cancer were again questions about breast surgery and axillary surgery, radio-oncology and systemic therapy options in consideration of tumor biology, and the clinical application of multigene assays. This year, the consensus conference took place in Vienna. From a German perspective, it makes sense to substantiate the results of the vote of the international panel representing 19 countries in light of the updated national therapy recommendations of the AGO (Arbeitsgemeinschaft Gynäkologische Onkologie). Therefore, 14 German breast cancer experts, 3 of whom are members of the International St. Gallen Panel, have commented on the voting results of the St. Gallen Consensus Conference 2015 in relation to clinical routine in Germany

Multiphysics equivalent circuit of a thermally controlled hydrogel microvalve

Temperature-responsive hydrogels are polymer particles whose equilibrium size depends on the temperature of the water they are immersed in. Here we present an equivalent circuit model of a temperature-controlled microvalve based on hydrogel particles. The resulting network model consists of three physical subsystems. The thermal subsystem considers the heat capacities and thermal resistances of the layers of the valve and the coupling to the ambient environment. The polymeric subsystem describes the relaxation of the hydrogel particles to the temperature-dependent equilibrium size. The fluidic subsystem consists of the supply channel and a chamber whose cross section varies according to the size of the hydrogel particles. All subsystems are described and coupled within one single circuit. Thus the transient behavior of the valve can be calculated using a circuit simulator. Simulation results for a setup are presented and compared with experiments

A new imaging approach for in situ and ex situ inspections of conductive fiber–reinforced composites by magnetic induction tomography

Fiber-reinforced plastics for industrial applications face constantly increasing demands regarding efficiency, reliability, and economy. Furthermore, it was shown that fiber-reinforced plastics with tailored reinforcements are superior to metallic or monolithic materials. However, a trustworthy description of the load-specific failure behavior and damage evolution of composite structures can hardly be given, because these processes are very complex and are still not entirely understood. Among other things, several research groups have shown that material damages like fiber fracture, delamination, matrix cracking, or flaws can be discovered by analyzing the electrical properties of conductive composites, for example, carbon fiber–reinforced plastics. Furthermore, it was shown that this method could be used for structural health monitoring or nondestructive evaluation. Within this study, magnetic induction tomography, which is a new imaging approach, is introduced in the topic of nondestructive evaluation of carbon fiber–reinforced plastics. This non-contacting imaging method gains the inner spatial distribution of conductivity of a specimen and depicts material inhomogeneity, like damages, not only in two-dimensional images but also in three-dimensional images. Numerical and experimental investigations are presented, which give a first impression of the performance of this technique. It is demonstrated that magnetic induction tomography is a promising approach for nondestructive evaluation. Potentially, it can be used for fabrication quality control of conductive fiber–reinforced plastics and as a structural health monitoring system using an integrated or superficially applied magnetic induction tomography setup

Special Issue: 2015 ASME Conference on Smart Materials, Adaptive Structures and Intelligent Systems (SMASIS), Symposium on Modeling, Simulation and Control of Adaptive Systems

The 2015 ASME Conference on Smart Materials, Adaptive Structures and Intelligent Systems (SMASIS) was held from 21 to 23 September 2015, in Colorado Springs, Colorado. The scope of the conference covers intelligent, flexible, adaptive materials and systems that respond to changes in the environment to perform in the most profitable way. Scientific strides and technological maturity in the field are linked to the interdisciplinary efforts at universities, government and industry. SMASIS aims at assembling world experts across engineering and scientific disciplines such as mechanical, aerospace, electrical, materials, and civil engineering, as well as biology, physics and chemistry, to discuss the latest findings and trends in this fruitful area of research

Special Issue: ASME 2014 Conference on Smart Materials, Adaptive Structures and Intelligent Systems (SMASIS), Symposium on Modeling, Simulation and Control

The ASME 2014 Conference on Smart Materials, Adaptive Structures and Intelligent Systems (SMASIS) was held from 8-10 September 2014 in Newport, Rhode Island. The scope of the Conference covers intelligent, flexible, adaptive materials and systems that respond to changes in the environment to perform in the most profitable way. Scientific strides and technological maturity in the field are linked to the interdisciplinary efforts at universities, government and industry. SMASIS aims at assembling world experts across engineering and scientific disciplines such as mechanical, aerospace, electrical, materials, and civil engineering, as well as biology, physics and chemistry, to discuss the latest findings and trends in this fruitful area of research