Cap Design Research Articles

Design and implementation of the price cap on Russian oil exports

Basic economics teaches that price caps are bad – limiting the price of a good distorts demand and discourages producers from supplying the market. So why did the Biden Administration, led by Janet Yellen, the consummate economist, champion a price cap on oil from Russia after it invaded Ukraine in 2022? The answer is that this price cap, implemented for crude oil in December 2022 and oil products in February 2023, differs significantly from the standard cap discussed in introductory economics classes. This paper explains these differences and describes the first six months this policy has been in existence. We provide background on Russian oil trade and describe the goals, structure, enforcement and economics of the price cap. We review the main concerns and contrast them with the outcomes observed to date.

Life cycle assessment of injection moulding tools and multicomponent plastic cap production

Long-term product improvement requires detailed analysis that includes information from the entire product life cycle. Life cycle assessment according to the standards ISO 14040 and ISO 14044 provides information on the environmental impact of products throughout their life cycle. The aim of the study is to analyze the environmental impact of a multicomponent plastic product in two variants and the associated customized tools using life cycle assessment. The subject of this analysis is the previous and the improved design of a multicomponent plastic cap for 19 l water bottles and the associated custom-manufactured tools. The main improvements of the custom-made tools are in the larger number of cores, and the new cap design was improved with fewer components and mass. The results show that the production and packaging of the improved multicomponent plastic cap has more than two times lower environmental impacts in the categories of global warming potential, freshwater eutrophication, terrestrial acidification ozone formation, human health and non reneweable, fossil. The environmental impact of custom injection moulding tools is strongly influenced by the capacity of the injection moulding machine and the number of cores or number of products that can be produced in a batch. In addition, the results of the improved 19 l multicomponent plastic cap showed a lower environmental impact compared to previous studie of the 5 l plastic cap.

Abstract 3092: Optimization of deferiprone for the treatment of triple-negative breast cancer

Abstract Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is the leading cause of new cancer cases and the second leading cause of cancer deaths in American women. TNBC is one of the most difficult cancers to treat due to the lack of three receptors, estrogen receptor (ER), progesterone receptor (PR), and human epidermal growth factor receptor (HER2), found in regular forms of breast cancer (BCa). Currently, there is no targeted therapy for TNBC and treatment options to manage this lethal disease include surgery, adjuvant chemotherapy and radiotherapy. A better understanding of TNBC etiology has aided in unraveling the roles of two additional cellular targets - androgen receptor (AR) and histone lysine demethylase (KDM) - in the viability and survival of TNBC. Interestingly, AR overexpression is the most important driver of prostate cancer (PCa). A class of current medications used to treat PCa act as androgen receptor (AR) antagonists (or antiandrogens). It is therefore plausible to repurpose and optimize these antiandrogens for TNBC therapy. The proposed therapeutics are dual-acting antiandrogen-KDM inhibitors. The antiandrogen moiety of these agents will enable TNBC cell-targeting and translocation of the drug into the nucleus where inhibition of KDM will prevent transcription of KDMs that promote tumor. The three pharmacophores of these agents are (i) a surface recognition cap, (ii) a linker, and (iii) an Fe2+-binding group. Two classes of these compounds, alkyl-derivative and benzyl-derivative, vary in the design of the surface recognition cap. To optimize these agents, the linker length is varied from 2-7 methylene groups in each class and the optimal length will be determined through in vitro studies. The compounds are tested on five cancer cell lines: TNBC cell lines (MDA-MB-231, low AR+; and MDA-MB-453, high AR+), and ER+ BCa (MCF-7) while PCa cell lines (LNCaP PCa, AR+; and DU 145, PCa, AR-) serve as controls for AR dependency of the effects of test compounds. Longer linker length compounds exhibited low micromolar cytotoxicity and selectivity for MDA-MB-231 (TNBC) and LNCaP (PCa) cell lines due to the presence of the AR. Western blot analysis on lead compounds supported significant downregulation of AR in MDA-MB-231 cells confirming the predicted mechanism of action. Thus far, the designed dual-acting therapeutics have potential to revolutionize the design of anticancer drugs and improve treatment outcome for TNBC patients. Citation Format: Alexis Johnston, Adegboyega K. Oyelere. Optimization of deferiprone for the treatment of triple-negative breast cancer [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2023; Part 1 (Regular and Invited Abstracts); 2023 Apr 14-19; Orlando, FL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2023;83(7_Suppl):Abstract nr 3092.

Design of Bridge Substructure Construction Measures Based on European Standards

In order to solve the difficulties in the construction design of pile foundation and cushion cap of bridge substructure caused by marsh geology and tidal environment abroad, according to the European standard EN 1997, a new form of integrated design of retaining wall and cofferdam construction is creatively proposed. The whole process of structural design is studied in detail from the aspects of structural selection, determination of load and load partial coefficient, checking calculation of component design details. Taking the Brunei project as a case, the results show that the integrated design method of retaining wall and cofferdam construction can effectively improve the performance of the pile foundation of the beam substructure, meet the requirements of European standard EN 1997, and provide technical reserves for the construction of similar bridge projects abroad.

Research on the application of improved NSGA-II in the structure design of wind turbine blade spar cap

Introduction: The blade is one of the most important parts of a wind turbine. Blade design is a complicated process involving many design links and mutual couplings. To efficiently obtain the Pareto Front and optimal blade, a novel methodology combined the improved NSGA-II with Thin-Walled Beam Theory and Classic Laminated Theory has been developed.Methods: In the optimization study, the design parameters are the thickness distribution of the spar cap and a parametric model based on blade production process is developed. The objective function is on the minimization of mass and the maximization of flap-wise stiffness. As a practical engineering application research, a 15 MW wind turbine IEA-15-240-RWT developed by NREL is used as a reference model.Results: Laws on the number of variables, blade profiles, design loads and natural frequencies present in the design have been studied through Pareto fronts obtained from multi-objective optimization results.Discussion: These laws have important implications for practical engineering design work. Meanwhile, the results show that the new methodology is effective for blade structure design, and that this approach can be easily extended to study the design of influence laws for more design parameters or more complex blade design problems.

Normative Data on the Maximum Twisting Force for an Elderly Person’s Sustainable Life

Most elderly people have difficulty opening a new bottle cap due to the insufficient torque to be applied. The study aims at obtaining normative data on the hand dimensions and the maximum torque that could be generated by elderly persons. This study was conducted on 30 elderly people aged 60 and over. A digital torque meter, digital caliper, and tissue tape were used to measure the maximum torque on a dummy bottle and hand dimensions. SPSS software was used for all statistical analyses. Older men have been found to have larger hand dimensions than older women. However, no significant differences in hand dimensions were found between different age groups. A statistically significant difference was observed between the age group 60–69 years vs. 80–89 years and the age group 70–79 years vs. 80–89 years in maximum torque. The correlation between hand dimensions (thumb width and index finger length) and maximum torque was highly correlated (r = 0.63 and r = 0.62, respectively). Knowledge of the relationship between hand dimensions and maximum torque can be used for future bottle cap designs to meet the needs of the elderly.

Long-term effects of low and high temperatures on the mechanical performance of hybrid FRP composite laminates: Experimental and model assessment

The present paper investigates the long-term effects of low and high temperatures on the mechanical performance of hybrid composite laminates applicable to the structural design of spar caps of the blade. The top and bottom layers of hybrid laminates were specified as carbon fibre-reinforced polymer and the middle layer as glass fibre-reinforced polymer. Hybrid laminates were prepared using resin transfer molding methods. Compressive strength, tensile strength, and stiffness parameters such as storage modulus, loss modulus, and damping factors of hybrid laminates were tested under low and high temperatures. The experimental results confirmed that the compressive and tensile properties of the hybrid laminates were not affected significantly at low temperatures. This may be due to the closely compacted epoxy chain segments that delay the elastic deformation of the materials. Additionally, degradation in the storage and loss modulus of the laminates was observed in the glass transition regions due to the mobilization of the epoxy molecules. The relationships between glass transition temperature and frequency were assessed. The glass transition temperature shifts to higher temperatures as the frequency increases due to a reduction in the gaps between the crosslinking of the epoxy network. The accuracy of the storage modulus results was compared with the empirical models. The model developed using the Arrhenius law provided the closest correlation. The model developed by Gibson et al. [1] needs further research to be used to predict when gamma and beta relaxation occur before the glass transition temperature of the epoxy matrix turns into a glassy state.

Analysis methodology and design verification for strengthening moment-resisting caisson foundations

Many existing monopole towers rely on caisson foundations to resist the effects of large overturning moments. Increased loading on these towers, coupled with material deterioration and more stringent code requirements, often results in the overloading of the existing caissons. The strengthening of these caissons for additional overturning resistance presents many challenges and typically requires the installation of new piles. A pile cap is commonly used to connect the existing caisson to the new piles. The proper design of the pile cap has a critical importance in ensuring an effective stress transfer and creating a resilient foundation system. While a number of strengthening design approaches are repeatedly used in industry, there is a dearth of guidance and proven analysis methods to verify the performance achieved with these approaches. This study proposes a well-defined analysis methodology for the system-level structural design verification of the strengthened foundation systems. The methodology provides two routes, using either the strut-and-tie or nonlinear finite element analysis methods, to quantify the load, deformation, cracking, and failure responses. The methodology helps expose and address the weak aspects of the design using an iterative design improvement process. A common strengthening design approach from industry, involving a moment-resisting caisson strengthened with four concrete piles and a pile cap, is used as a case study to demonstrate the application of the methodology. The results demonstrate that the methodology provides significant insight into the system-level behavior both at the serviceability and ultimate limit states. The analysis results are found useful in identifying the locations where modified bar detailing could significantly improve the system performance. The improved design from the methodology provided a 56 % increase in the load capacity for the case-study foundation while still using the same amounts of reinforcing steel and concrete as compared to the initial design before the application of the proposed methodology. This paper presents the studies undertaken, conclusions reached, and recommendations made for developing resilient pile cap designs for strengthening moment-resisting caisson foundations.

An Endoscopic Cap Electrode for Posterior Cricoarythenoid Muscle Stimulation in a Porcine Model.

Laryngeal pacing (LP) is a highly anticipated therapeutic option for patients suffering from bilateral vocal fold paralysis with synkinesis. Identification of candidate patients requires confirmation of a stimulable posterior cricoidarythenoid muscle (PCA) by neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES). A silicone endoscopic cap electrode (ECE50) was designed to be operated as an endoscopic extension tip for selective PCA stimulation and confirmation of a glottic opening movement in a setting comparable to a gastroscopy procedure. A porcine animal model (n=6) was applied to develop and test endoscopic cap prototypes in general anesthesia and sedation at a biomedical research center. Two ENT endoscopy experts evaluated and refined the cap design and performance in regard to procedure safety, endoscope handling, accessibility of the PCA by the transoral approach and selective muscle stimulation. Vocal fold opening movements could be evoked by the investigators in 9 of 12 PCA muscles to stimulate with similar electric parameters. The endoscopic approach using the ECE50 proved to be atraumatic and sufficiently controlled under sedation to locate the required hotspot for NMES of the PCA. The functionality of the novel endoscopic cap concept has been proven in a porcine model. It can be expected to be transferable to human application and to be of diagnostic importance in the screening and identification of LP candidate patients in future. NA Laryngoscope, 133:2279-2284, 2023.

3D Printed Skull Cap and Benchtop Fabricated Microwire-Based Microelectrode Array for Custom Rat Brain Recordings.

Microwire microelectrode arrays (MEAs) have been a popular low-cost tool for chronic electrophysiological recordings and are an inexpensive means to record the electrical dynamics crucial to brain function. However, both the fabrication and implantation procedures for multi-MEAs on a single rodent are time-consuming and the accuracy and quality are highly manual skill-dependent. To address the fabrication and implantation challenges for microwire MEAs, (1) a computer-aided designed and 3D printed skull cap for the pre-determined implantation locations of each MEA and (2) a benchtop fabrication approach for low-cost custom microwire MEAs were developed. A proof-of-concept design of a 32-channel 4-MEA (8-wire each) recording system was prototyped and tested through Sprague Dawley rat recordings. The skull cap design, based on the CT-scan of a single rat conforms well with multiple Sprague Dawley rats of various sizes, ages, and weight with a minimal bregma alignment error (A/P axis standard error of the mean = 0.25 mm, M/L axis standard error of the mean = 0.07 mm, n = 6). The prototyped 32-channel system was able to record the spiking activities over five months. The developed benchtop fabrication method and the 3D printed skull cap implantation platform would enable neuroscience groups to conduct in-house design, fabrication, and implantation of customizable microwire MEAs at a lower cost than the current commercial options and experience a shorter lead time for the design modifications and iterations.

S381 Retrieving an Endoscopic Cap From the Submucosal Tunnel During a POEM Procedure: Keep an Eye on the Cap Before Closing the Mucosal Incision

Introduction: Achalasia is an esophageal motility disorder that results in the failure of the lower esophageal sphincter (LES) to relax. Moderate to severe forms of the Achalasia can be debilitating due to the patients’ inability to tolerate PO food or drink; often experiencing constant pain or pressure. Peroral endoscopic myotomy (POEM) is a relatively novel endoscopic procedure that has shown more favorable results when compared with other therapeutic modalities in the treatment of achalasia. This case illustrates retrieving an endoscopic cap from a closed submucosal tunnel during a POEM procedure. Case Description/Methods: A 74-year-old woman with type 3 achalasia underwent a seemingly routine POEM. At the beginning of the procedure, the GE junction was located, and methylene blue was injected to lift the mucosa at the site of the initial mucosectomy. After the mucosectomy was made, the endoscope was used to enter the submucosal tunnel, which was further lengthened by continued lifting and dissection. The submucosal tunnel was then extended to about 1 to 2 cm distal to the gastroesophageal junction (GEJ), and the myotomy was performed that extended into the cardia with no observed complications. After the mucosectomy site was closed with 4 endoclips, it appeared that the cap of the endoscope was missing after the endoscope’s removal from the esophagus. Upon further inspection of the patient's month, bed and floor in the procedure room, the cap was still missing. The endoscope was then reinserted into the patient’s esophagus to continue the search for the lost cap. The intraluminal compartment of the stomach, the esophagus, and the patient’s oropharynx showed no evidence of the cap. Video of the endoscopic procedure was reviewed, and it revealed the presence of bulging mucosa in the distal esophagus along with the absence of the endoscope cap during the clipping of the mucosectomy site. It was determined that the cap was most likely in the submucosal tunnel. After the initial four clips were removed by rat tooth forceps and deposited into the stomach, the scope went into the submucosal tunnel again. The cap was visualized in the submucosal tunnel and removed with the same rat tooth forceps, which was followed by reclosing the mucosectomy site with four more clips. The patient had a successful postoperative course. Discussion: Review of this case prompts further discussion and research into a more stable cap design for the endoscope, especially for third space endoscopy. Watch the video at https://tinyurl.com/ACGAbstractS381

Assessing the Compressive and Impact Behavior of Plastic Safety Toe Caps through Computational Modelling

Toe caps are one of the most important components in safety footwear, but have a significant contribution to the weight of the shoe. Efforts have been made to replace steel toe caps by polymeric ones, since they are lighter, insulated and insensitive to magnetic fields. Nevertheless, polymeric solutions require larger volumes, which has a negative impact on the shoe’s aesthetics. Therefore, safety footwear manufacturers are pursuing the development of an easy, low-cost and reliable solution to optimize this component. In this work, a solid mechanics toolbox built in the open-source computational library, OpenFOAM®, was used to simulate two laboratory standard tests (15 kN compression and 200 J impact tests). To model the polymeric material behavior, a neo-Hookean hyper-elasto-plastic material law with J2 plastic criteria was employed. A commercially available plastic toe cap was characterized, and the collected data was used for assessment purposes. Close agreements, between experimental and simulated values, were achieved for both tests, with an approximate error of 5.4% and 6.8% for the displacement value in compression and impact test simulations, respectively. The results clearly demonstrate that the employed open-source finite volume computational models offer reliable results and can support the design of toe caps for the R&D footwear industry.

A Cylindrical Crash Absorber with Discontinuous Protrusions and Its Manufacture Using a Successive Partial Rubber-Bulging Method

In an effort to improve impact energy-absorption characteristics, this study introduces a cylindrical crash absorber (CAP) with discontinuous protrusions and a continuous local-expansion plastic-forming method for its manufacture. The mechanical properties of the cylindrical energy-absorption structure were modified by installing multiple particle protrusions on the cylinder sidewall to reduce the initial pickup load and improve the impact energy-absorption performance. To facilitate manufacture of the proposed CAP, a cylindrical rubber piece was placed into a cylindrical tube and pressure was applied to the rubber from both ends of the tube. The CAP was formed by the bulging force of the rubber. The formability was verified by developing a successive local bulge-forming experimental device and comparing the manufactured CAP with the results of numerical simulations. Testing of quasi-static collapse conducted on a CAP manufactured using this device verified the effectiveness of the proposed CAP design and its plastic-forming method. It was determined that this design reduced the initial peak load, and the crash absorber could maintain stability over a long, continuous distance during crushing deformation.

Reinforcement Design and Physical Testing of New and Old Cushion Cap of Existing Bridge

As an important part of bridge structure, pile cap plays an important role in its operation. There is a lack of sufficient research in the design and construction of the existing bridges, especially in the operation process of the river crossing bridge, there will be more security risks, so it is urgent to strengthen the bearing platform. Combined with the general design theory of bridge cap, considering the feasibility of construction and the difficulty of operation, the new and old caps are planted with steel bars to make them bear the common force. Aiming at the problem of insufficient bearing capacity, the cap reinforcement method is proposed, so as to improve the stability of the bridge. The research results can provide reference for similar bridge reinforcement projects in the future.

Analytical and Experimental Study of the Piles Cap Normal and Light Weight Aerated Concrete: Literature Review

The main objective of this study is to understand the work of the pile caps made of lightweight aerated foam concrete and study the many factors affecting the ability and the capacity of the shear. The study was done by analyzing previous practical and theoretical experiences on the reinforced concrete pile caps. The previous practical results indicated that all specimens failed by shear diagonal compression or tension modes except one specimen that failed flexural-shear mode. Based on test specimens' practical results and behavior, some theoretical methods for estimating the ultimate strength of reinforced concrete pile caps have been recommended, some of which evolved into the design documents available on the subject. A theoretical and practical study of compression concluded that the shear capacity is limited by the nodal zone bearing stresses. The flexural capacity can be described by the column load that would cause the yielding of the tie (i.e., steel reinforcement). Therefore, the design of pile caps should include a check on bearing strength to be added to the traditional section force approach for pile cap design.

Force measurement of electrodes on a human head model

Abstract Electroencephalography (EEG) and transcranial electric stimulation (TES) require caps for holding the respective electrodes in place. To support the optimal design of such caps, knowledge of the force-displacement curves for each electrode position is desirable. We propose a calibrated setup to traceably measure force-displacement curves which consists of a human head model, a force sensor, a linear guide, a stepper motor, and a multiplexing multimeter. Repeated measures of a textile EEG-cap and a TES-cap show significant non-linearity and hysteresis effects for the force-displacement curves. Our setup will allow for the assessment of the fit of EEG and TES-caps for various head shapes and sizes.

Improved microscopy with ultraviolet surface excitation (MUSE) using high-index immersion illumination.

Microscopy with ultraviolet surface excitation (MUSE) typically has an optical sectioning thickness significantly larger than standard physical sectioning thickness, resulting in increased background fluorescence and higher feature density compared to formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded physical sections. We demonstrate that high-index immersion with angled illumination significantly reduces optical sectioning thickness through increased angle of refraction of excitation light at the tissue interface. We present a novel objective dipping cap and waveguide-based MUSE illuminator design with high-index immersion and quantify the improvement in optical sectioning thickness, demonstrating an e-1 section thickness reduction to 6.67 µm in tissue. Simultaneously, the waveguide illuminator can be combined with high or low magnification objectives, and we demonstrate a 6 mm2 field of view, wider than a conventional 10x pathology objective. Finally, we show that resolution and contrast can be further improved using deconvolution and focal stacking, enabling imaging that is robust to irregular surface profiles on surgical specimens.

Targeted ToF-SIMS Analysis of Macrophage Content from a Human Cranial Triphasic Calcium Phosphate Implant.

Macrophages play a key role in determining the fate of implanted biomaterials, especially for biomaterials such as calcium phosphates (CaPs) where these cells play a vital role in material resorption and osteogenesis, as shown in different models, including clinical samples. Although substantial consideration is given to the design and validation of different CaPs, relatively little is known about their material-cell interaction. Specifically, the intracellular content of different CaP phases remains to be assessed, even though CaP-filled macrophages have been observed in several studies. In this study, 2D/3D ToF-SIMS imaging and multivariate analysis were directly applied on the histology samples of an explant to reveal the content of macrophages. The cellular content of the macrophages was analyzed to distinguish three CaP phases, monetite, beta-tricalcium phosphate, and pyrophosphate, which are all part of the monetite-based CaP implant composition under study. ToF-SIMS combined with histology revealed that the content of the identified macrophages was most similar to that of the pyrophosphate phase. This study is the first to uncover distinct CaP phases in macrophages from a human multiphasic CaP explant by targeted direct cell content analysis. The uncovering of pyrophosphate as the main phase found inside the macrophages is of great importance to understand the impact of the selected material in the process of biomaterial-instructed osteogenesis.

Can Economic Experiments Contribute to a More Effective CAP?

SummaryIn order to keep pace with the evolution of the objectives and means of the EU's Common Agricultural Policy, evaluation tools also need to adapt. A set of tools that have proved highly effective in other policy fields is economic experiments. These allow the testing of a new policy before its implementation, provide evidence of its specific effects, and identify behavioural dimensions that can influence policy outcomes. We argue that agricultural policy should be subject to economic experiments, providing examples to illustrate how they can inform CAP design. We identify the additional efforts needed to establish further proof‐of‐concept, by running more – and more robust – experiments related to the CAP. This can happen only by integrating experimental evaluation results within the policy cycle and addressing ethical and practical challenges seriously. To do so, researchers would benefit from a concerted European effort to promote the methodology across the EU; organise the replication in time and across Europe of experiments relevant for the CAP; and build a multi‐national panel of farmers willing to participate in experiments. Steps are being taken in this direction by the Research Network of Economics Experiments for CAP evaluation (REECAP).

Aero-structural design and optimization of 50 MW wind turbine with over 250-m blades

The quest for reduced levelized cost of energy has driven significant growth in wind turbine size; however, larger rotors face significant technical and logistical challenges. The largest published rotor design is 25 MW, and here we consider an even larger 50 MW design with blade length over 250 m. This paper shows that a 50 MW design is indeed possible from a detailed engineering perspective and presents a series of aero-structural blade designs, and critical assessment of technology pathways and challenges for extreme-scale rotors. The 50 MW rotor design begins with Monte Carlo simulations focused on optimizing carbon spar cap and root design. A baseline design resulted in a 250-m blade with mass of 502 tonnes. Subsequently, an aero-structural design and optimization were performed to reduce the blade mass/cost with more than 25% mass reduction and 30% cost reduction by determining optimal blade chord and airfoil thickness for best aero-structural performance.