Form-fit joining of hybrid busbars using a flexible tool demonstrator

This paper is focused on hybrid busbars made from copper and aluminum strips and presents a flexible tool demonstrator capable of replicating material flow in the lancing, bending and compression stages of a new joining by forming process without auxiliary elements. The flexible tool demonstrator is defined by its modular concept that allows the active tool components to be easily interchanged for testing and exploring different materials and thickness combinations, surface conditions and cross-section areas of the strips under laboratory conditions. Experimental and numerical simulation with a selected hybrid busbar geometry validates the overall concept and fabrication of the demonstrator and shows that the new joining by forming process can produce permanent form-fit joints with smooth upper and lower surfaces containing all the plastically deformed material within the thickness of the two strips. Complete filling of the free volume left in-between the thickness of the two strips allows obtaining an electric resistance lower than that of fastened hybrid busbars.

Applying of system models in the progress of formation and implementation of programs for innovative development of regions

The paper presents a model of the economic space for the innovative development of a region, based on the notation and principles of the modern theory of economic systems, which allows the transition process from the program-target method of management to the innovative development program-project management. Such a model is necessary to concretize the ways and stages of solving the problems of innovative development programs and the use of the modular concept of building a DSS, according to which the functionality of each module is based on a system of instrumental methods and models for data analysis, which make it possible to determine and formalize the goals of innovative development, directions growth, forecast and make optimal management decisions in the formation and implementation of the region innovative development program (F&IRIDP). This approach makes it possible to identify imbalances in the regions development and eliminate the shortcomings of the used methods of program-targeted management of innovative development of the region (IDR) in the implementation of state programs, as well as concretize the required program indicators based on the proposed three-vector paradigm of innovative development. Also proposed a systemic dynamic economic-cybernetic model of a region with discrete variables.

spaceAPPS – A modular approach for on-board software

Software modularity and partial qualification capabilities are key enablers to produce cost efficient software in highly regulated domains. The modular concept (called spaceAPPS) described in this paper has been developed in the frame of the OPS-SAT project aiming at missions where flexibility is one of the success factors. spaceAPPS implements a novel software architecture for satellites inspired by the Apps concept of modern smartphones. In the European space domain the operation of a satellite is based on a set of 18 services. Accordingly, in spaceApps these services are mapped to individual Apps. This is not a one-to-one mapping which means that one App implements one or more services. During OPS-SAT ground testing it was demonstrated that functionality could be easily added through a new App or updated through replacing an existing App. Also during OPS-SAT ground testing it could be shown that a failing UserApp did not impact the basic apps to operate the satellite. Thus, it is possible to run applications of different criticality on the same platform. With operating systems supporting time and space separation the risk of failure propagation can be further reduced. The implementation of a partial validation approach, i. e. testing of third-party Apps in a representative environment and not running the validation on the target platform is feasible but was not demonstrated.

A Surfactant Concentration Model for the Systematic Determination of the Critical Micellar Concentration and the Transition Width

The critical micellar concentration (cmc) is a fundamental property of surfactant solutions. Many proposed methods for the definition and determination of the cmc from property-concentration plots yield values, which depend on the studied property, on the specific technique used for its analysis and in many cases on the subjective choice of the chosen type of plot and concentration interval. In this focus review, we revise the application of a surfactant concentration model we proposed earlier that defines the cmc directly based on the surfactant concentration. Known equations for the concentration-dependence of different surfactant properties can then be combined with this concentration model and fitted to experimental data. This modular concept makes it possible to determine the cmc and the transition width in a systematic and unambiguous way. We revise its use in the literature in different contexts: the determination of the cmc of surfactants and their mixtures from different properties (electrical conductivity, NMR chemical shift, self-diffusion, surface tension, UV-Vis absorption, fluorescence intensity and fluorescence correlation). We also revise the dependence of the width of the transition region on composition, detailed studies of the properties of fluorescent probes and the aggregation of non-surfactant systems, namely amyloid peptides.

A Modular Approach to Combine Postmarket Clinical Follow-Up Studies and Postmarket Surveillance Studies

Background The European Medical Device Regulation 2017/745 (MDR) has its date of application in May 2021. This new legislation has refined and expanded the need of manufacturers to have a postmarket surveillance (PMS) system. According to this legislation, a postmarket clinical follow-up (PMCF) plan is also required. Manufacturers of high-risk medical devices are obliged to conduct both PMCF and PMS studies. There is thus the need to generate evidence from clinical data. Objectives The conduct of several studies for PMS and PMCF can be cumbersome. We therefore aim to present a modular approach to combine PMS and PMCF studies into a single study. Materials and Methods We extracted the topics listed in the MDR, especially Annex XV, Section 3, the Good Clinical Practice for medical devices (EN 14155:2020, Annex A). In addition, we added topics according to the SPIRIT and the SPIRIT-PRO statement and created a draft clinical investigation plan (CIP). Results The CIP template is provided as part of the manuscript. The modular concept has passed the required regulatory and legal requirements for one specific study. Conclusion A modular approach for combining PMCF and PMS studies in a single CIP has been developed and implemented, and it is ready for use. The provided CIP template should enable other researchers and groups to adopt this concept according to their needs.

Bedeutung und Weltwissen in der Konstruktionsgrammatik. Holistik oder Modularität?

Empirical and theoretical arguments are presented against a framesemantic grounding of construction grammar and thus against a holistic unification of meaning and world knowledge. A modular conception is the basis of the interplay between construction and projection in Goldberg (1995). Goldberg’s attempt to include frame semantics is at odds with this foundation and must be considered a failure. The same is true for the continuation by Boas (2003). The argumentation is supplemented, among other things, by the reference to the contrast of a perceptual system and a linguistic system of cognition in cognitive psychology and by the necessity to take a modular concept as a basis in the area of syntactic-semantic ambiguity of sentences.

Multi-Detailed 3D Architectural Framework for Sound Perception Research in Virtual Reality

The presentation of architectural design in simulation environments demands strong 3D modeling abilities. Architects usually demonstrate presentation skills that mostly address researchers in the building simulation field. However, there is still a gap between the architect’s deliverable and the contextual scenario for overarching research purposes, mainly caused by the lack of knowledge in the areas where research disciplines overlap. This dilemma is particularly present in the practice of 3D modeling for sound perception research in virtual reality since the building modelers must also gather diverse pieces of knowledge into a contained scenario: ranging from sound sources, sound propagation models to physically based material models. Grounded on this need, this article presents a comprehensive framework, defined by the visual and acoustic cues—geometries, materials, sources, receivers, and postprocessing—on one side and three levels of detail on the other. In this way, very specific research application needs can be covered, as well as a modular concept for future modeling demands. The interconnection between every model element is particularly designed, enabling the assembly among different modalities at different levels of detail. Finally, it provides targeted modeling strategies for architects, depicted in one indoor and one outdoor demonstration for auditory-visual research.

Applications of Smart Helmet in Applied Sciences: A Systematic Review

A smart helmet is a wearable device that has attracted attention in various fields, especially in applied sciences, where extensive studies have been conducted in the past decade. In this study, the current status and trends of smart helmet research were systematically reviewed. Five research questions were set to investigate the research status of smart helmets according to the year and application field, as well as the trend of smart helmet development in terms of types of sensors, microcontrollers, and wireless communication technology. A total of 103 academic research articles published in the past 11 years (2009–2020) were analyzed to address the research questions. The results showed that the number of smart helmet applications reported in literature has been increasing rapidly since 2018. The applications have focused mostly on ensuring the safety of motorcyclists. A single-board-based modular concept unit, such as the Arduino board, and sensor for monitoring human health have been used the most for developing smart helmets. Approximately 85% of smart helmets have been developed to date using wireless communication technology to transmit data obtained from smart helmets to other smart devices or cloud servers.

A modular framework for distributed model predictive control of nonlinear continuous-time systems (GRAMPC-D)

The modular open-source framework GRAMPC-D for model predictive control of distributed systems is presented in this paper. The modular concept allows to solve optimal control problems in a centralized and distributed fashion using the same problem description. It is tailored to computational efficiency with the focus on embedded hardware. The distributed solution is based on the alternating direction method of multipliers and uses the concept of neighbor approximation to enhance convergence speed. The presented framework can be accessed through C++ and Python and also supports plug-and-play and data exchange between agents over a network.

A Mero-Plesiotype Series of Vanadates, Arsenates, and Phosphates with Blocks Based on Densely Packed Octahedral Layers as Repeating Modules

The family of layered vanadates, arsenates, and phosphates is discussed in terms of a modular concept. The group includes minerals vésignéite and bayldonite, and a number of synthetic analogous and modifications which are not isotypic, but their crystal structures comprise similar blocks (modules) consisting of a central octahedral layer filled by atoms of d elements (Mn, Ni, Cu, or Co) and adjacent [VO4], [AsO4], or [PO4] tetrahedra. The octahedral layers are based on the close-packing of oxygen atoms. Within these layers having the same anionic substructure, the number and distribution of octahedral voids are different. In the crystal structures of compounds participating in the polysomatic series, these blocks alternate with various other structural fragments. These circumstances define the row of structurally-related vanadates, arsenates, and phosphates as a mero-plesiotype series. Most of the series members exhibit magnetic properties, representing two-dimensional antiferromagnets or frustrated magnets.