3D BEM-based cooling-channel shape optimization for injection moulding processes

International audienceToday, around 30 % of manufactured plastic goods rely on injection moulding. The cooling time can represents more than 70 % of the injection cycle. Moreover, in order to avoid defects in the manufactured plastic parts, the temperature in the mould must be homogeneous. We propose in this paper a practical methodology to optimize both the position and the shape of the cooling channels in 3D injection moulding processes. For the evaluation of the temperature required both by the objective and the constraint functions, we must solve 3D heat-transfer problems via numerical simulation. We solve the heat-transfer problem using Boundary Element Method (BEM). This yields a reduction of the dimension of the computational space from 3D to 2D,avoiding full 3D remeshing: only the surface of the cooling channels needs to be remeshed at each evaluation required by the optimization algorithm. We propose a general optimization model that attempts at minimizing the desired overall low temperature of the plastic-part surface subject to constraints imposing homogeneity of the temperature. Encouraging preliminary results on two semi-industrial plastic parts show that our optimization methodology is viable

Optimization of 3D Cooling Channels in Injection Molding using DRBEM and Model Reduction

Issu de : ESAFORM 2009 - 12th ESAFORM Conference on material forming, Enschede, THE NETHERLANDS, 27-29 April 2009International audienceToday, around 30% of manufactured plastic goods rely on injection moulding. The cooling time can represent more than 70% of the injection cycle. In this process, heat transfer during the cooling step has a great influence both on the quality of the final parts that are produced, and on the moulding cycle time. In the numerical solution of three-dimensional boundary value problems, the matrix size can be so large that it is beyond a computer capacity to solve it. To overcome this difficulty, we develop an iterative dual reciprocity boundary element method (DRBEM) to solve Poisson’s equation without the need of assembling a matrix. This yields a reduction of the computational space dimension from 3D to 2D, avoiding full 3D remeshing. Only the surface of the cooling channels needs to be remeshed at each evaluation required by the optimisation algorithm. For more efficiency, DRBEM computing results are extracted stored and exploited in order to construct a model with very few degrees of freedom. This approach is based on a model reduction technique known as proper orthogonal (POD) or Karhunen-Loève decompositions. We introduce in this paper a practical methodology to optimise both the position and the shape of the cooling channels in 3D injection moulding processes. First, we propose an implementation of the model reduction in the 3D transient BEM solver. This reduction permits to reduce considerably the computing time required by each direct computation. Secondly, we present an optimisation methodology applied to different injection cooling problems. For example, we can minimize the maximal temperature on the cavity surface subject to a temperature uniformityconstraint. Thirdly, we compare our results obtained by our approach with experimental results to show that our optimisation methodology is viable

Absent B cells, agammaglobulinemia, and hypertrophic cardiomyopathy in folliculin-interacting protein 1 deficiency

Agammaglobulinemia is the most profound primary antibody deficiency that can occur due to an early termination of B-cell development. We here investigated 3 novel patients, including the first known adult, from unrelated families with agammaglobulinemia, recurrent infections, and hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM). Two of them also presented with intermittent or severe chronic neutropenia. We identified homozygous or compound-heterozygous variants in the gene for folliculin interacting protein 1 (FNIP1), leading to loss of the FNIP1 protein. B-cell metabolism, including mitochondria! numbers and activity and phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase/AKT pathway, was impaired. These defects recapitulated the Fnip1(-/-) animal model. Moreover, we identified either uniparental disomy or copy-number variants (CNVs) in 2 patients, expanding the variant spectrum of this novel inborn error of I immunity. The results indicate that FNIP1 deficiency can be caused by complex genetic mechanisms and support the clinical utility of exome sequencing and CNV analysis in patients with broad phenotypes, including agammaglobulinemia and HCM. FNIP1 deficiency is a novel inborn error of immunity characterized by early and severe B-cell development defect, agammaglobulinemia, variable neutropenia, and HCM. Our findings elucidate a functional and relevant role of FNIP1 in B-cell development and metabolism and potentially neutrophil activity.Molecular Technology and Informatics for Personalised Medicine and Healt

Transferências voluntárias e ciclo político-orçamentário no federalismo fiscal brasileiro

RESUMO Este artigo apresenta um estudo econométrico sugerindo que as transferências inter-governamentais no Brasil são significantemente influenciadas por motivações político-partidárias. Diante desse fato estilizado, desenvolve-se uma extensão do modelo de Rogoff (1990) para analisar o efeito dessas transferências politicamente motivadas sobre os equilíbrios eleitoral e fiscal subnacionais. Mostra-se que as transferências politicamente motivadas podem anular o principal aspecto positivo do ciclo político-orçamentário. De fato, essas transferências podem, por um lado, eliminar o ciclo políticoorçamentário, resolvendo o problema de risco moral, mas, por outro lado, elas podem colocar no poder um titular incompetente, gerando um problema de seleção adversa.<br>This article presents an econometric study suggesting that intergovernmental transfers to Brazilian municipalities are strongly partisan motivated. In light of that stylized fact, it develops an extension to Rogoff (1990)'s model to analyze the effect of partisan motivated transfers into sub-national electoral and fiscal equilibria. The main finding is that important partisan transfers may undo the positive selection aspect of political budget cycles. Indeed, partisan transfers may, on one hand, eliminate the political budget cycle, solving a moral hazard problem, but, on the other hand, they may retain an incompetent incumbent in office, bringing about an adverse selection problem

Senior High School Students’ Perception and Conceptual Understanding in Physics in a Flipped Classroom Environment

This quasi-experimental research investigates the impact of the Flipped Classroom Method on Senior High School Students' Conceptual Understanding in General Physics II, employing a match-pairing technique for respondent selection. The study, conducted at Bataan National High School Senior High School, focuses on students' perceptions in learning physics through the flipped classroom. Utilizing pre-and post-tests, along with statistical analyses such as independent-sample tests and t-tests, the findings reveal positive effects on motivation, conceptual understanding, and exam preparation in the flipped classroom group. The flipped classroom fosters active participation despite increased 'burden and pressure' due to heightened preparation time. While overall satisfaction and interest in physics remain unaffected, the nuanced benefits suggest that the flipped classroom model may not universally impact all aspects of students' physics learning experiences. Supporting the alternative hypothesis, the study affirms that the Flipped Classroom Approach enhances students' conceptual understanding, particularly at the evaluation level of Bloom's Taxonomy. The research highlights the importance of qualitative insights for a comprehensive understanding of students' perceptions in both learning environments, emphasizing positive influences on satisfaction levels, conceptual understanding, and certain aspects of student engagement in the flipped classroom

Characterization of some thermal degradation products of datura metel linnaeus

Datura metel Linnaeus, commonly known as Talampunay, is a local plant known for its medicinal purposes and its hallucinogenic properties. Talampunay, specifically its leaves and stems, have various uses such as cigarette for asthma attacks, juice extract for diarrhea, and boiled extracts for boils. From a previous study, the components of leaf extracts were mainly sugars, and small amounts of alkaloids. In this study, smoke condensates were assayed by GC-MS. Matured samples included sun-dried leaves (4-5 inches long) and stem of Datura metel Linnaeus obtained from Batangas. The experimental method involved the use of four different set-ups for collecting smoke condensates. These Set-ups employed variations of both open and closed systems (limited air supply), as well as direct and indirect utilization of flame. The indirect-open system and indirect-closed system were efficient in the collection of smoke condensate. Mass spectra of the products obtained were compared with the mass spectral data available in the Turbo Mass NIST/EPA/NIH Mass Spectral Database. Benzene derivatives, such as phenols and substituted phenols are the predominant compounds detected in the chromatogram obtained for the last three set-ups