J. Mohler¹, P. Moine¹, E. Azoulay-Dupuis¹, D. Henin², B. Fantin¹

European Cytokine Network, Vol.18, No.1, pp. 1-8, 2007, DOI:10.1684/ecn.2007.0082

Abstract We used a Balb/c mouse model of pneumococcal pneumonia to investigate the protection mechanisms induced by immunization with a polyvalent 23 epitope polysaccharide pneumonia vaccine. Groups of mice were injected x 4 times s.c. within one month, with this vaccine preparation. Mice were subsequently challenged at day 45, with a lethal, intratracheal inoculum of two strains of Streptococcus pneumoniae – either a highly virulent and strongly immunogenic serotype 3 strain (P4241), or a less virulent and weakly immunogenic serotype 19F strain (P15986). The intratracheal S. pneumoniae challenge-induced lethality, antibody response, bacterial clearance, and cytokine secretions were monitored… More >

M. Kumosa¹

Structural Durability & Health Monitoring, Vol.3, No.1, pp. 35-50, 2007, DOI:10.3970/sdhm.2007.003.035

Abstract This paper deals with the structural integrity and durability of suspension composite (non-ceramic, polymer) insulators widely used in power transmission systems around the world. Under certain conditions, the insulators can fail in-service both electrically and mechanically resulting in the drop of energized transmission lines and power outages. In this work, predominantly mechanical failures of the insulators are discussed. In particular, the most important characteristics of a catastrophic failure process called brittle fracture are described. Subsequently, two examples of insulator failures by brittle fracture are shown and their causes explained. Finally, several recommendations on how to More >

S. Okamoto¹, H. Noguchi²

The International Conference on Computational & Experimental Engineering and Sciences, Vol.2, No.4, pp. 131-136, 2007, DOI:10.3970/icces.2007.002.131

Abstract This paper presents a control of walking robot by using inverse dynamics of link mechanisms, which has already been proposed and applied in several in-plane motions. In this method, FEM is used for the discretization of equations of motion. This method calculates nodal forces by evaluating equations of motion in a matrix form, and thus information from the entire system can be handled efficiently, and the torques input to each joint of link mechanisms to achieve required motion are calculated easily. This method is suitable to the feed-forward control of closed-loop or continuously link mechanisms. More >

Y.F. Nie¹, S. Chang¹, X.K. Fan¹

CMES-Computer Modeling in Engineering & Sciences, Vol.19, No.2, pp. 135-144, 2007, DOI:10.3970/cmes.2007.019.135

Abstract A new parallel mechanism for Node-based Seamless Finite Element Method was proposed in this paper, which possessed the following three prominent points: realizing the workload balance for the parallel processes naturally, achieving synchronization of all the schedules under complex parallel environment, and filling up the gap between pre-processing and main processing. To support the scheme, three specific solutions of the parallel mechanism were proposed in this paper, all of which achieved the highly efficient parallel seamless connection between the FEM mesh generation process and structure analysis process. Two of the three schemes, i.e. dynamic scheme More >

European Cytokine Network, Vol.17, Suppl.1, pp. 6-7, 2006

Abstract This article has no abstract. More >

Dimitrije Stamenovic´ ¹

Molecular & Cellular Biomechanics, Vol.2, No.2, pp. 69-76, 2005, DOI:10.3970/mcb.2005.002.069

Abstract It is well established that adherent cells change their orientation in response to non-uniform substrate stretching. Most observations indicate that cells orient away from the direction of the maximal substrate strain, whereas in some cases cells also align with the direction of the maximal strain. Previous studies suggest that orientation and steering of the cell may be closely tied to cytoskeletal contractile stress but they could not explain the mechanisms that direct cell reorientation. This led us to develop a simple, mechanistic theoretical model that could predict a direction of cell orientation in response to More >

R. Matsumoto¹, M. Nakagaki¹, A. Nakatani², H. Kitagawa³

CMES-Computer Modeling in Engineering & Sciences, Vol.9, No.1, pp. 75-84, 2005, DOI:10.3970/cmes.2005.009.075

Abstract In this paper, the internal structure-changes around the crack-tip and the pertinent crack growth behavior in an amorphous metal were studied by a molecular dynamics (MD) simulation. In order to perform a large scale calculation, the domain decomposition method was used for parallel calculation. The Finnis-Sinclair potential for$\alpha$-iron was used to describe the interatomic potential. Computed results show that nano-scaled crystalline phase grows around the crack-tip. The distribution of deformation zones and deformation mechanism are significantly altered. While grains are relatively small, they are not deformed, and the most amorphous-crystal interfaces have a large strain More >

W. J. Ferguson¹, B. Palananthakumar²

CMES-Computer Modeling in Engineering & Sciences, Vol.8, No.3, pp. 201-216, 2005, DOI:10.3970/cmes.2005.008.201

Abstract Environmental and safety issues associated with landfill gas require the control of off-site migration. Mathematical modelling can assist in the understanding of the processes and mechanisms controlling gas migration from municipal waste disposal sites. This paper presents the development and application of a mathematical model that simulates landfill gas migration within a partially saturated soil. This model accounts for two-phase flow and incorporates multi-component (methane, carbon dioxide, dry air and moisture) transport in the gas and liquid phases together with concomitant heat migration. The governing system of fully coupled non-linear partial differential equations of the… More >

R. Matsumoto, M. Nakagaki

CMES-Computer Modeling in Engineering & Sciences, Vol.10, No.3, pp. 187-198, 2005, DOI:10.3970/cmes.2005.010.187

Abstract Large-scale molecular dynamics simulations of tensile deformation of amorphous metals containing a nano-crystalline particle were performed in order to clarify the effects of particle size and crystal volume fraction on the deformation mechanism and strength. It became clear that particle size has very little effect, while crystal volume fraction has a substantial influence. Elastic modulus and flow stress intensify as crystal volume fraction increases. Furthermore, the stress in the crystal phase continues to increase, even after yielding in the amorphous phase. Consequently, work-hardening effects appear, preventing localization of plastic deformation. Thus, the dispersed nano-crystalline particles… More >

E. Ferretti ¹

CMES-Computer Modeling in Engineering & Sciences, Vol.6, No.5, pp. 453-476, 2004, DOI:10.3970/cmes.2004.006.453

Abstract The Cell Method (CM) code with automatic remeshing for crack propagation analysis [Ferretti (2003)] is here used for modeling the pullout test. Particular emphasis is given to the analysis in the Mohr-Coulomb plane, since previous numerical models were not decisive in describing failure mechanism in pullout tests. The interpretations of experimental and analytical studies vary widely, and none of the existing explanations offer a complete description of the progressive failure of the concrete medium [Yener (1994)]. Nor do most existing interpretations appear to be totally compatible with the experimental evidence. Analysis of the failure mechanism… More >