Effect of plug-filling, Testing velocity and temperature on the tensile strength of strap repairs on aluminium structures

In this work, an experimental study was performed on the influence of plug-filling, loading rate and temperature on the tensile strength of single-strap (SS) and double-strap (DS) repairs on aluminium structures. Whilst the main purpose of this work was to evaluate the feasibility of plug-filling for the strength improvement of these repairs, a parallel study was carried out to assess the sensitivity of the adhesive to external features that can affect the repairs performance, such as the rate of loading and environmental temperature. The experimental programme included repairs with different values of overlap length (L O = 10, 20 and 30 mm), and with and without plug-filling, whose results were interpreted in light of experimental evidence of the fracture modes and typical stress distributions for bonded repairs. The influence of the testing speed on the repairs strength was also addressed (considering 0.5, 5 and 25 mm/min). Accounting for the temperature effects, tests were carried out at room temperature (���23��C), 50 and 80��C. This permitted a comparative evaluation of the adhesive tested below and above the glass transition temperature (T g), established by the manufacturer as 67��C. The combined influence of these two parameters on the repairs strength was also analysed. According to the results obtained from this work, design guidelines for repairing aluminium structures were

Distributed Energy Resources Management using Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicles as a Fuel-Shifting Demand Response Resource

In the smart grids context, distributed energy resources management plays an important role in the power systems��� operation. Battery electric vehicles and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles should be important resources in the future distribution networks operation. Therefore, it is important to develop adequate methodologies to schedule the electric vehicles��� charge and discharge processes, avoiding network congestions and providing ancillary services. This paper proposes the participation of plug-in hybrid electric vehicles in fuel shifting demand response programs. Two services are proposed, namely the fuel shifting and the fuel discharging. The fuel shifting program consists in replacing the electric energy by fossil fuels in plug-in hybrid electric vehicles daily trips, and the fuel discharge program consists in use of their internal combustion engine to generate electricity injecting into the network. These programs are included in an energy resources management algorithm which integrates the management of other resources. The paper presents a case study considering a 37-bus distribution network with 25 distributed generators, 1908 consumers, and 2430 plug-in vehicles. Two scenarios are tested, namely a scenario with high photovoltaic generation, and a scenario without photovoltaic generation. A sensitivity analyses is performed in order to evaluate when each energy resource is required.

An agent based architecture to support monitoring in plug and produce manufacturing systems using knowledge extraction

In recent years a set of production paradigms were proposed in order to capacitate manufacturers to meet the new market requirements, such as the shift in demand for highly customized products resulting in a shorter product life cycle, rather than the traditional mass production standardized consumables. These new paradigms advocate solutions capable of facing these requirements, empowering manufacturing systems with a high capacity to adapt along with elevated flexibility and robustness in order to deal with disturbances, like unexpected orders or malfunctions. Evolvable Production Systems propose a solution based on the usage of modularity and self-organization with a fine granularity level, supporting pluggability and in this way allowing companies to add and/or remove components during execution without any extra re-programming effort. However, current monitoring software was not designed to fully support these characteristics, being commonly based on centralized SCADA systems, incapable of re-adapting during execution to the unexpected plugging/unplugging of devices nor changes in the entire system���s topology. Considering these aspects, the work developed for this thesis encompasses a fully distributed agent-based architecture, capable of performing knowledge extraction at different levels of abstraction without sacrificing the capacity to add and/or remove monitoring entities, responsible for data extraction and analysis, during runtime.

Desenvolvimento de um M��dulo Habitacional ���embrion��rio��� ���Plug-in��� de habita����o unifamiliar

Disserta����o de mestrado integrado em Arquitectura

Oclus��o do ap��ndice atrial esquerdo com o Amplatzer Cardiac Plug em pacientes com fibrila����o atrial

FUNDAMENTO: A oclus��o percut��nea do ap��ndice atrial esquerdo (OAAE) surgiu como alternativa �� anticoagula����o oral (AO) para preven����o do acidente vascular cerebral (AVC) em pacientes com fibrila����o atrial n��o-valvular (FANV). OBJETIVO: Relatar os resultados imediatos e o seguimento cl��nico de pacientes submetidos a OAAE com o Amplatzer Cardiac Plug (ACP) em um ��nico centro de refer��ncia. M��TODOS: Oitenta e seis pacientes consecutivos com FANV, contra-indica����o �� AO e escore CHADS2= 2,6��1,2 foram submetidos a OAAE com implante de ACP. Realizou-se seguimento cl��nico e ecocardiogr��fico no m��nimo 4 meses ap��s o implante. RESULTADOS: Todos os implantes foram guiados apenas por angiografia. O sucesso do procedimento foi de 99% (1 insucesso por tamponamento card��aco e consequente suspens��o da OAAE). Houve 4 complica����es maiores (o tamponamento j�� referido, 2 AVCs transit��rios e uma emboliza����o com retirada percut��nea da pr��tese) e duas menores (um derrame peric��rdico sem tamponamento e uma pequena comunica����o interatrial evidenciada no seguimento). Houve 1 ��bito hospitalar ap��s 6 dias, n��o relacionado �� interven����o. Todos os outros pacientes receberam alta sem AO. Ap��s seguimento de 25,9 pacientes-ano (69 pacientes) n��o houve AVCs nem emboliza����es tardias de pr��teses. O AAE estava completamente oclu��do em 97% dos casos. Seis pacientes apresentaram evid��ncia de trombo sobre a pr��tese, que desapareceram ap��s reinstitui����o de AO por 3 meses. CONCLUS��O: OAAE se associa a um alto ��ndice de sucesso, um ��ndice aceit��vel de complica����es e resultados promissores a m��dio prazo, podendo ser considerada uma alternativa v��lida �� OA na preven����o do AVC em pacientes com FANV.

Creaci�� d'un plug-in de Prot��g�� per a podar ontologies

La creaci�� d'una ontologia partint de zero ��s una feina llarga i feixuga que pot simplificar-se si, partint d'una ontologia m��s general, es poden podar les parts que no formen part del domini de context. Aquesta mem��ria t�� una doble vessant: d'un costat l'estudi de l'estat de l'art de les ontologies (hist��ria, aplicacions, l��nies de treball, etc) i de l'altra l'an��lisi i disseny d'un plug-in en java per a Prot��g�� que implementi l'algorisme de poda.

Combined laparoscopic-endoscopic method using an omental plug for therapy of gastroduodenal ulcer perforation.

BACKGROUND: Laparoscopic techniques have been proposed as an alternative to open surgery for therapy of peptic ulcer perforation. They provide better postoperative comfort and absence of parietal complications, but leakage occurs in 5% of cases. We describe a new method combining laparoscopy and endoluminal endoscopy, designed to ensure complete closure of the perforation. METHODS: Six patients with anterior ulcer perforations (4 duodenal, 2 gastric) underwent a concomitant laparoscopy and endoluminal endoscopy with closure of the orifice by an omental plug attracted into the digestive tract. RESULTS: All perforations were sealed. The mean operating time was 72 minutes. The mean hospital stay was 5.5 days. There was no morbidity and no mortality. At the 30-day evaluation all ulcers but one (due to Helicobacter pylori persistence) were healed. CONCLUSIONS: This method is safe and effective. Its advantages compared with open surgery or laparoscopic patching as well as its cost-effectiveness should be studied in prospective randomized trials.

PixFRET, an ImageJ plug-in for FRET calculation that can accommodate variations in spectral bleed-throughs.

Fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) allows the user to investigate interactions between fluorescent partners. One crucial issue when calculating sensitized emission FRET is the correction for spectral bleed-throughs (SBTs), which requires to calculate the ratios between the intensities in the FRET and in the donor or acceptor settings, when only the donor or acceptor are present. Theoretically, SBT ratios should be constant. However, experimentally, these ratios can vary as a function of fluorophore intensity, and assuming constant values may hinder precise FRET calculation. One possible cause for such a variation is the use of a microscope set-up with different photomultipliers for the donor and FRET channels, a set-up allowing higher speed acquisitions on very dynamic fluorescent molecules in living cells. Herein, we show that the bias introduced by the differential response of the two PMTs can be circumvented by a simple modeling of the SBT ratios as a function of fluorophore intensity. Another important issue when performing FRET is the localization of FRET within the cell or a population of cells. We hence developed a freely available ImageJ plug-in, called PixFRET, that allows a simple and rapid determination of SBT parameters and the display of normalized FRET images. The usefulness of this modeling and of the plug-in are exemplified by the study of FRET in a system where two interacting nuclear receptors labeled with ECFP and EYFP are coexpressed in living cells.

Cell size in trays for the production of strawberry plug transplants

The objective of this work was to evaluate the influence of cell sizes used for strawberry plug production in trays compared to bare root transplants, regarding initial plant size, harvest timing, and total strawberry fruit yield. Plug transplants were produced from runner tips rooted in trays with cell sizes of 26.5, 50, 100 and 150 cm�� filled with Plantmax HA organic substrate. Bare root transplants (control) were produced in a closed soilless system using sand as substrate. A randomized block design was used, with four replicates with 16 plants per plot. Bare root transplants and plug transplants from 100-cm�� cells had larger crown and higher leaf and root dry mass. Early fruit yield was higher in plants propagated from plugs than in those propagated from bare root transplants. Spring and total fruit yield did not differ among treatments, with an average yield of 435 and 874 g per plant, respectively. Earlier strawberry fruit yield was obtained by using plug transplants, even from trays with small cells of 26.5 or 50 cm��.

A double role of sperm in scorpions: the mating plug of Euscorpius italicus (Scorpiones: Euscorpiidae) consists of sperm.

Mating plugs occluding the female gonopore after mating are a widespread phenomenon. In scorpions, two main types of mating plugs are found: sclerotized mating plugs being parts of the spermatophore that break off during mating, and gel-like mating plugs being gelatinous fluids that harden in the female genital tract. In this study, the gel-like mating plug of Euscorpius italicus was investigated with respect to its composition, fine structure, and changes over time. Sperm forms the major component of the mating plug, a phenomenon previously unknown in arachnids. Three parts of the mating plug can be distinguished. The part facing the outside of the female (outer part) contains sperm packages containing inactive spermatozoa. In this state, sperm is transferred. In the median part, the sperm packages get uncoiled to single spermatozoa. In the inner part, free sperm is embedded in a large amount of secretions. Fresh mating plugs are soft gelatinous, later they harden from outside toward inside. This process is completed after 3-5 days. Sperm from artificially triggered spermatophores could be activated by immersion in insect Ringer's solution indicating that the fluid condition in the females' genital tract or females' secretions causes sperm activation. Because of the male origin of the mating plug, it has likely evolved under sperm competition or sexual conflict. As females refused to remate irrespective of the presence or absence of a mating plug, females may have changed their mating behavior in the course of evolution from polyandry to monandry.

FlexiHopper XC Plug-In -yksikk��testeri : testausp��yd��n jatkokehitys

T��m�� insin����rity�� tehtiin Nokia Siemens Networksille. Ty��ss�� tehtiin jatkokehityst�� FlexiHopper XC -mikroaaltoradion Plug-In Unit -testerille. Ty�� aloitettiin tutustumalla FlexiHopper XC -mikroaaltoradioon, sen toimintaan ja sen sis��yksik��n osien testaukseen. T��m��n j��lkeen mietittiin, kuinka testausta voisi parantaa. Sen pohjalta tehtiin lista kehityst�� vaativista asioista. Ty��ss�� kerrotaan yleisesti mikroaaltoradioista ja niiden toiminnasta, jonka j��lkeen siirryt����n FlexiHopper XC -mikroaaltoradioon. Ty��ss�� kerrotaan FlexiHopper XC:n ulko- ja sis��yksik��n rakenteesta ja siit��, kuinka ne toimivat yhdess��. Niiden toimintaa havainnollistetaan periaatteellisten esimerkkien avulla. Kun FlexiHopper XC:n toiminta ja rakenne on k��sitelty, siirryt����n sis��yksik��n eli FlexiHub Noden Plug-In-yksik��iden testaukseen. Siin�� kerrotaan testausj��rjestelm��st��, sen toiminnasta ja rakenteesta. Plug-In-yksik��iden testausosiossa kerrotaan joitain testattavista asioista. Kun testausj��rjestelm�� on k��sitelty, k��yd����n testausta l��pi testaajan n��k��kulmasta, eli miten tuote laitetaan testeriin ja mit�� tuotteeseen kytket����n ennen testauksen aloittamista. N��iden asioiden saattelemana siirryt����n testausj��rjestelm��n jatkokehitysosioon. Jatkokehitysosiossa kerrotaan testaukseen liittyvist�� asioista, jotka vaativat parannusta. Osiossa kerrotaan jokaisen Plug-In-yksik��n testaukseen liittyvist�� ongelmista ja niille tehdyist�� parannuksista. Lis��ksi kerrotaan kaikkia yksik��it�� koskevista ongelmista ja niille kehitetyist�� ratkaisuista.

An outcome and cost analysis of anal fistula plug insertion vs endorectal advancement flap for complex anal fistulae.

AIM: The study aimed to compare the rate of success and cost of anal fistula plug (AFP) insertion and endorectal advancement flap (ERAF) for anal fistula. METHOD: Patients receiving an AFP or ERAF for a complex single fistula tract, defined as involving more than a third of the longitudinal length of of the anal sphincter, were registered in a prospective database. A regression analysis was performed of factors predicting recurrence and contributing to cost. RESULTS: Seventy-one patients (AFP 31, ERAF 40) were analysed. Twelve (39%) recurrences occurred in the AFP and 17 (43%) in the ERAF group (P = 1.00). The median length of stay was 1.23 and 2.0 days (P < 0.001), respectively, and the mean cost of treatment was euro5439 �� euro2629 and euro7957 �� euro5905 (P = 0.021), respectively. On multivariable analysis, postoperative complications, underlying inflammatory bowel disease and fistula recurring after previous treatment were independent predictors of de novo recurrence. It also showed that length of hospital stay &#8804; 1 day to be the most significant independent contributor to lower cost (P = 0.023). CONCLUSION: Anal fistula plug and ERAF were equally effective in treating fistula-in-ano, but AFP has a mean cost saving of euro2518 per procedure compared with ERAF. The higher cost for ERAF is due to a longer median length of stay.

Plug-in de procesado visual (OpenCV) en OpenDomo OS

Este proyecto consiste en el dise��o y desarrollo de un plug-in que permita usar el sistema de procesado de imagen OpenCV desde el sistema operativo OpenDomo OS.

Plug-in : educaci??n art??stica y nuevos contextos tecnol??gicos

Resumen basado en el de la publicaci??n

Plug-and-play remote portlet publishing

Web Services for Remote Portlets (WSRP) is gaining attention among portal developers and vendors to enable easy development, increased richness in functionality, pluggability, and flexibility of deployment. Whilst currently not supporting all WSRP functionalities, open-source portal frameworks could in future use WSRP Consumers to access remote portlets found from a WSRP Producer registry service. This implies that we need a central registry for the remote portlets and a more expressive WSRP Consumer interface to implement the remote portlet functions. This paper reports on an investigation into a new system architecture, which includes a Web Services repository, registry, and client interface. The Web Services repository holds portlets as remote resource producers. A new data structure for expressing remote portlets is found and published by populating a Universal Description, Discovery and Integration (UDDI) registry. A remote portlet publish and search engine for UDDI has also been developed. Finally, a remote portlet client interface was developed as a Web application. The client interface supports remote portlet features, as well as window status and mode functions. Copyright (c) 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.