Research on Hex Programmable Interconnect Points Test in Island-Style FPGA

With the decreasing size of manufacturing process, the scale of island-style field programmable gate array (FPGA) becomes larger, which leads to the increasing complexity of FPGA routing resources, especially hex programmable interconnect points (PIPs). Hex PIPs which span six tiles of the island-style FPGA have complex interconnect rules. Accordingly, research on complete hex PIPs test is rarely involved in the study of routing resources test. Therefore, this paper analyzes the hex PIPs architecture of the island-style FPGA, summarizes the interconnect rules of the hex PIPs mathematically in a two-dimensional coordinate system, and presents two proper test algorithms at the same time. The hex PIPs are divided into three directions, that is, horizontal, vertical, and oblique. According to the proposed coordinate equations, a cycle test structure in the horizontal and vertical directions and a test structure with partial-cascade patterns in the oblique direction are designed respectively. It is concluded that the proposed methods can achieve 100% fault coverage for the hex PIPs test in all directions, and the configuration number for hex lines test with the same methods is significantly decreased than previous researches.

INFLUENCE OF GATE SHAPE AND DIRECTION DURING CENTRIFUGAL CASTING ON ARTIFICIAL LUMBAR DISC MODEL OF CP-TI

<p class="AMSmaintext">Shape and direction of gate in centrifugal casting affected the microstructures and defects in castings. The purpose of this research was to determine the effects of gate shape and direction in centrifugal casting toward on porosity, density, roughness, and microstructures on the artificial lumbar disc model. The main shapes of the gate were circular and rectangular cross-section. The circular cross-section gate shape was used for two different directions of artificial lumbar discs; vertical, and horizontal. Furthermore, the rectangular cross-section gate shape consisted of three different directions; oblique clockwise, oblique counter-clockwise and perpendicular towards the mold. The rotational mold was conducted at a speed of 60 rpm. The results showed that the rectangular cross-section gate shape with the oblique direction same with the rotation of the mold produced artificial lumbar disc model that had the smallest porosity area among the other directions. It was the best shape and direction of the gate among the others which had the smallest porosity area (0,68%), highest density (4,517 g/cm³), and smoothest roughness (8,76 µm). In the sub-surface, the microstructure of α-case was formed. The thickness and hardness of the α-case in this design were 50-100 µm and 760 VHN, respectively. Hence, the rectangular cross-section gate shape with the oblique direction same with the rotation of the mold was appropriate to be applied in the manufacture of an artificial lumbar disc model.</p>

An animal tissue simulation assessing three directional displacement forces on five common tracheostomy securing techniques

Introduction Several methods of securing a tracheostomy tube have been described in the literature including using ties or tapes around the neck and suturing the plastic flange to the neck in various ways. However, there are no wet lab-based studies to objectively determine the force required to displace the tracheostomy tube using different securing techniques. Ours is the first animal tissue simulation study published in the literature. Methods A simulated tracheostomy stoma was created on a sheep neck model. A tracheostomy tube was inserted into the stoma and secured using various methods. Tension tests were conducted to significantly displace the tube from the stoma. Each technique was repeated six times on different sheep necks. All results were analysed using SPSS®. Results Repeat measurements indicated that the largest displacement forces come from an oblique direction while the lowest force values were found at the lateral angle. Averages of displacement showed that medially placed sutures required the largest forces in comparison with other securing methods. Wilcoxon signed-rank testing indicated that medial and continuous suture security resists displacement at forces that otherwise displace flange and interrupted sutures. Conclusions This study has shown that any type of securing suture requires a greater displacement force than the strap of the tracheostomy tube holder alone. Medially placed sutures require a greater displacement force than those placed laterally. Displacement in the lateral direction requires the least force in comparison with movement at perpendicular or oblique angles.

The Effect of Muscle Direction on the Predictions of Finite Element Model of Human Lumbar Spine

The normal physiological loads from muscles experienced by the spine are largely unknown due to a lack of data. The aim of this study is to investigate the effects of varying muscle directions on the outcomes predicted from finite element models of human lumbar spine. A nonlinear finite element model of L3–L5 was employed. The force of the erector spinae muscle, the force of the rectus abdominis muscle, follower loads, and upper body weight were applied. The model was fixed in a neural standing position and the direction of the force of the erector spinae muscle and rectus abdominis muscle was varied in three directions. The intradiscal pressure, reaction moments, and intervertebral rotations were calculated. The intradiscal pressure of L4-L5 was 0.56–0.57 MPa, which agrees with the in vivo pressure of 0.5 MPa from the literatures. The models with the erector spinae muscle loaded in anterior-oblique direction showed the smallest reaction moments (less than 0.6 Nm) and intervertebral rotations of L3-L4 and L4-L5 (less than 0.2 degrees). In comparison with loading in the vertical direction and posterior-oblique direction, the erector spinae muscle loaded in the anterior-oblique direction required lower external force or moment to keep the lumbar spine in the neutral position.

Bonding of plywood

The contribution contains results of bonded joints strength tests. The tests were carried out according to the modified standard ČSN EN 1465 (66 8510):2009. The spruce three-ply wood of 4 mm thickness was used for bonding according to ČSN EN 636 (49 2419):2013. The test samples of 100 × 25 mm size were cut out from a semi-product of 2,440 × 1,220 mm size in the direction of its longer side (angle 0°), in the oblique direction (angle 45°) and in the direction of its shorter side (crosswise – angle 90°). The bonding was carried out using eight different domestic as well as foreign adhesives according to the technology prescribed by the producer. All used adhesives were designated for wood bonding. At the bonding the consumption of the adhesive was determined. After curing, the bonded assemblies were loaded using a universal tensile-strength testing machine up to the rupture. The rupture force and the rupture type were registered. Finally, the technical-economical evaluation of the experiments was carried out.

Research Progress on Bending Strength Calculation of Biaxial Compression-Bending Reinforced Concrete Column

Lots of bulidings had collapsed in Wenchuan big earthquake in 2008, one important reason is that the structure design has been launched only in X or Y axis of the building respectively, which means the oblique direction compression-bending characteristic has not been fully considered in the actual structure design process. In addition, the moment bearing strength in oblique direction is smaller than the moment strength about the principle axis of the column, so the research on bending strength calculation of biaxial/oblique compression-bending RC column is important to improve the aseismic safty of the buildings under actual earthquake effects. In this paper research achievements about bearing capacity calculation of column under oblique compression-bending action are summarized and analyzed. At last the advice for actual application has also been given.