A Study on the Mechanical Properties of an Automobile Part Additively Printed through Periodic Layer Rotation Strategies

In metal product manufacturing, additive manufacturing (AM) is a method that has the advantage of fabricating complex shapes and customized production, unlike existing machining methods. However, owing to the characteristics of the AM process, anisotropy of macrostructure occurs because of various causes such as the scan direction, melting, fusion, and cooling of the powdered material. The macrostructure anisotropy is realized from the scan direction, and when a single layer is stacked in one direction, it is expressed as orthogonal anisotropy. Here, the classical lamination theory is applied to simply calculate the individual orthotropic layers by superimposing them. Through this, the authors analyzed whether the mechanical properties of the product are isotropically expressed with a periodic layer rotation strategy. To determine if the mechanical properties can be reasonably considered to be isotropic, a shock absorber mount for a vehicle was manufactured by AM. The tensile and vibration test performed on the product was compared with the finite element analysis and experimental results. As a result of the comparison, it was confirmed that the macroscopically of the product was considered isotropic as the load-displacement diagram and the fracture location coincided, as well as the natural frequency and mode shape.

The Influence of Mental Imagery Expertise of Pen and Paper Players versus Computer Gamers upon Performance and Electrocortical Correlates in a Difficult Mental Rotation Task

We investigated the influence of mental imagery expertise in 15 pen and paper role-players as an expert group compared to the gender-matched control group of computer role-players in the difficult Vandenberg and Kuse mental rotation task. In this task, the participants have to decide which two of four rotated figures match the target figure. The dependent measures were performance speed and accuracy. In our exploratory investigation, we further examined midline frontal theta band activation, parietal alpha band activation, and parietal alpha band asymmetry in EEG as indicator for the chosen rotation strategy. Additionally, we explored the gender influence on performance and EEG activation, although a very small female sample section was given. The expected gender difference concerning performance accuracy was negated by expertise in pen and paper role-playing women, while the gender-specific difference in performance speed was preserved. Moreover, gender differences concerning electro-cortical measures revealed differences in rotation strategy, with women using top-down strategies compared to men, who were using top-down strategies and active inhibition of associative cortical areas. These strategy uses were further moderated by expertise, with higher expertise leading to more pronounced activation patters, especially during successful performance. However, due to the very limited sample size, the findings of this explorative study have to be interpreted cautiously.

An investigation of flux characteristic in direct torque control using sector rotation strategy

Stator flux fails to regulate at low operating speed condition is a common drawback for the conventional DTC. It is due to the inevitable of voltage drop across the stator resistance that interrupts the controlling of stator flux in DTC. Hence, a fixed sector rotation strategy is one of the solutions to rectify the raised issue. The strategy is based on the decreasing stator flux droop, which is an easy technique to change the sector of flux locus at a specific angle. However, this strategy only focuses at low operating speed. Thus, the stator flux droop effect at the various speed needs to be analysed. In this paper, an investigation is conducted by using simulation (MATLAB/Simulink) and experimental setup (dSPACE board) where a good agreement has been achieved between the predicted and measured results. The analysis taking into account between the conventional method (without strategy) and the proposed method (with strategy). In conclusion, the influence of stator flux droop is inversely proportional to the operating speed.

Alfalfa Rotation Strategy and Soil Type Influence Soil Characteristics and Replanted Alfalfa Yield in the Irrigated Semiarid, Subtropical Southwestern USA

Alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) establishment failure is often attributed to autotoxicity when alfalfa is reseeded shortly after termination of the previous alfalfa stand, but renovation/rotation strategies for irrigated semiarid, subtropical environments have not been studied. Two identical studies were initiated at the New Mexico State University Rex E. Kirksey Agricultural Science Center at Tucumcari, NM, USA to compare continuous alfalfa (ALF), a single year of rotation to sorghum-sudangrass (SS1; Sorghum bicolor × S. sudanense (Piper) Stapf), two years of rotation with sorghum-sudangrass (SS2), and winter wheat forage (Triticum aestivum L.) followed by a single season of sorghum-sudangrass (WW/SS). Soil type and renovation/rotation strategy may influence soil fertility prior to replanting alfalfa, but soil fertility did not appear to influence alfalfa re-establishment or first production year yields. With a Test x Rotation interaction due to differences between tests for WW/SS for first production year yield after September alfalfa replanting, the main effect of Rotation was significant for yield (6.43AB, 5.3B0, 6.92A, and 3.54C Mg ha−1 for ALF, SS1, SS2, and WW/SS, respectively; 5% LSD = 1.22). Alfalfa stand destruction and replanting with no intervening crop rotation may be feasible in sandy soils with irrigation in the semiarid, subtropical southwestern USA and similar environments.

Evaluating match running performance in elite Australian football: a narrative review

During Australian football (AF) matches, players are subjected to high running loads, which are intermittent in nature. There is a growing body of research that highlights factors which can both positively and negatively affect this match running performance (e.g., the total distance travelled by a player during match-play). In order to appropriately evaluate these factors, a thorough search of MEDLINE, SportDiscus and Web of Science databases was performed, with a total of 17 manuscripts included within the final evaluation. The main findings from this review highlighted that match running performance is increased amongst those playing in midfield and half back/forward positions, in players with lower playing experience, as well as in matches against higher quality opponents, and in losing quarters. Additionally, a well-design interchange-rotation strategy may be able to positively affect match running performance. A decrease in match running performance was evident amongst more experienced players, during periods of acute fatigue (e.g., following periods of high intensity activity), during matches played in higher temperatures and matches with an increased number of stoppages. However, no effect of ground hardness or size, as well as responses to self-reported wellness questionnaires was found. Other factors such as finals series matches, pre-season training load and elements related to the schedule have been shown to have substantial conflicting results within the literature, increasing the difficulty in making generalisable conclusions to their effect on match running performance. Developing a thorough understanding of these factors which affect match running performance can aid practitioners and coaches to gain a greater understanding of a player’s performance as well as inform the development of strategies for its improvement.

Portfolio Analysis Using the Single Index Method in the COVID-19 Pandemic Period

The COVID-19 outbreak that occurred in early 2020 put pressure on economic activity in many countries, including Indonesia. The pressure on economic activity can be seen from the index movement in the capital market. The JCI as a composite index that reflects transaction activity in the Indonesian capital market has weakened due to the impact of the COVID-19 outbreak in a number of business sectors. The decline in the index is a warning for investors to rearrange the composition of assets in their portfolios so that returns can remain optimal during a pandemic. The single index model (SIM) can be used by investors to make investment decisions, including to rearrange their investment portfolios. The share price data analyzed covers the period from 2 September 2019 to 7 December 2020, where the government confirmed the first positive case of COVID-19 in Indonesia on 3 March 2020. The Single Index Model is used to select assets to form an optimal portfolio. Portfolio performance is measured using the Sharpe, Treynor and Jensen index. The sector rotation strategy results in five selected sectors whose assets will be selected to form an optimal portfolio, namely the consumption sector (JKCONS), the basic and chemical industry sector (JKBIND), the infrastructure sector (JKINFA), the mining sector (JKMING) and the financial sector (JKFINA). The listed companies for analysis were 25 out of 184 issuers in the five sectors. The Single Index Model selects 3 issuers for the pre-COVID period and 10 issuers for the COVID period. The allocation of portfolio funds for the pre-COVID period showed BTPS of 44.94%; CPIN 47.61% and BYAN 7.46%. 2.8% allocation of portfolio funds during the COVID period to BTPS issuers; PBID 22.57%; TKIM 15.96%; BYAN 5.86%; ITMG 17.89%; MYOH 1.56%; PTBA 1.76%; ADRO 12.54% and PPRE 19.05%. The portfolio's expected return is positive, which means that the portfolio formed has the potential to generate profits. The Sharpe, Treynor and Jensen indexes are positive, which means that portfolios formed using a single index model have the potential to have good performance. Keywords: investors, IHSG, portfolio performance, single index model, optimal portfolio.

Nano-Mechanical Properties and Creep Behavior of Ti6Al4V Fabricated by Powder Bed Fusion Electron Beam Additive Manufacturing

Effects of scanning strategy during powder bed fusion electron beam additive manufacturing (PBF-EB AM) on microstructure, nano-mechanical properties, and creep behavior of Ti6Al4V alloys were compared. Results show that PBF-EB AM Ti6Al4V alloy with linear scanning without rotation strategy was composed of 96.9% α-Ti and 2.7% β-Ti, and has a nanoindentation range of 4.11–6.31 GPa with the strain rate ranging from 0.001 to 1 s−1, and possesses a strain-rate sensitivity exponent of 0.053 ± 0.014. While PBF-EB AM Ti6Al4V alloy with linear and 90° rotate scanning strategy was composed of 98.1% α-Ti and 1.9% β-Ti and has a nanoindentation range of 3.98–5.52 GPa with the strain rate ranging from 0.001 to 1 s−1, and possesses a strain-rate sensitivity exponent of 0.047 ± 0.009. The nanohardness increased with increasing strain rate, and creep displacement increased with the increasing maximum holding loads. The creep behavior was mainly dominated by dislocation motion during deformation induced by the indenter. The PBF-EB AM Ti6Al4V alloy with only the linear scanning strategy has a higher nanohardness and better creep resistance properties than the alloy with linear scanning and 90° rotation strategy. These results could contribute to understanding the creep behavior of Ti6Al4V alloy and are significant for PBF-EB AM of Ti6Al4V and other alloys.

A multi-enzyme cascade for efficient production of d-p-hydroxyphenylglycine from l-tyrosine

In this study, a four-enzyme cascade pathway was developed and reconstructed in vivo for the production of d-p-hydroxyphenylglycine (D-HPG), a valuable intermediate used to produce β-lactam antibiotics and in fine-chemical synthesis, from l-tyrosine. In this pathway, catalytic conversion of the intermediate 4-hydroxyphenylglyoxalate by meso-diaminopimelate dehydrogenase from Corynebacterium glutamicum (CgDAPDH) was identified as the rate-limiting step, followed by application of a mechanism-guided “conformation rotation” strategy to decrease the hydride-transfer distance d(C6HDAP−C4NNADP) and increase CgDAPDH activity. Introduction of the best variant generated by protein engineering (CgDAPDHBC621/D120S/W144S/I169P with 5.32 ± 0.85 U·mg−1 specific activity) into the designed pathway resulted in a D-HPG titer of 42.69 g/L from 50-g/L l-tyrosine in 24 h, with 92.5% conversion, 71.5% isolated yield, and > 99% enantiomeric excess in a 3-L fermenter. This four-enzyme cascade provides an efficient enzymatic approach for the industrial production of D-HPG from cheap amino acids.

A multi-enzyme cascade for efficient production of D-p-hydroxyphenylglycine from L-tyrosine

In this study, we designed and in vivo reconstructed a novel four-enzyme cascade pathway for the production of D-HPG, a valuable intermediate used to produce β-lactam antibiotics and for fine-chemical synthesis, from L-tyrosine. In this pathway, we identified catalytic conversion of the substrate 4-hydroxyphenylglyoxylic acid by meso-diaminopimelate dehydrogenase from Corynebacterium glutamicum (CgDAPDH) as the rate-limiting step, followed by application of a mechanism-guided “conformation rotation” strategy to decrease the hydride-transfer distance d(C6HDAP−C4NNADP) and increase CgDAPDH activity. Introduction of the best variant generated by protein engineering (CgDAPDHBC621/D120S/W144S/I169P with 5.32 ± 0.85 U·mg− 1 specific activity) into the designed pathway resulted in a D-HPG titer of 42.69 g/L from 50 g/L L-tyrosine in 24 h with 92.5% conversion and > 99% ee in a 3-L fermenter, representing the highest reported D-HPG titer to date. This four-enzyme cascade provides a novel and effective enzymatic approach to industrial production of D-HPG from cheap amino acids.