Ear Profile Research Articles

Nonisothermal Warm Deep Drawing Behavior of Automotive Grade Aluminum Alloy Sheets

In this work, thermomechanical FE modeling of nonisothermal warm deep drawing of automotive grade AA5754 and AA6082 aluminum alloy sheets were performed. The deformable blanks were modeled using temperature dependent Cowper-Symonds constitutive equation along with Barlat-89 yield criterion. The predicted cup heights, earing, % thinning and surface strain distributions were successfully validated within acceptable error of 5%. The development of earing profile, cup thinning pattern and surface strains along 0°, 45° and 90° from rolling direction (RD) were plotted using the validated data. The ear profile developed in AA5754 cups was prominent compared to AA6082 due to relatively higher anisotropy at elevated temperatures. Thickening was more prominent along 45° to RD for AA5754, whereas thinning was higher in this direction for AA6082 material. The strain states developed at cup corner along plane strain condition was lower than the FLD0 values of materials. Thus there was uniform surface strains at cup corner indicating the improved ability of material to withstand more deformations. Comparatively, AA5754 exhibited relatively better formability compared to AA6082 material.

English

Updated result of the phenotypic characterization and description of the indigenous sheep population was reviewed. The reviewed paper used reporting and tabulating published descriptive phenotypic information on Ethiopian breeds with the aim of dissemination of relevant information for the beneficiaries. The original sheep breed types in Ethiopia that migrated from South West Asia to Africa and then to Ethiopia were the thin-tailed, fat-tailed and fat-rump. Through time, they evolved into 14 traditionally recognized sheep breeds which are identified and described through phenotypic characterization of the representative sample flocks. The breeds adapted to different agro ecological zones varied in topographical features and humidity. The overall reviews of the adult average live body weight variation of the local sheep population of Ethiopia are classified into 20 to 25 kg (Elle, Abergelle and Menz); 26 to 30 kg (Afar, Tikur, Highland sheep, Washera and Black Head Somali [BHS]); 31 to 35 kg (Bonga, Begait, Horro, Arusi-Bale and Farta) and 36 to 40 kg (Gumuz). The large sheep breeds of Ethiopia are Begait, Washera, Gumuz, Horro and Bonga. There is a variation on phenotypic performance among the sheep breeds of the Ethiopia in terms of body shape and size, ear profile and size, head profile, tail size and shape, coat color and on the adaptive behaviors. Molecular characterization should be done for comprehensive genetic evaluation and classification of the indigenous sheep population at national level.   Key words: Sheep breed, phenotypic variation, sheep classification, tail type and tail shape.

Correlation Between Mandible and External Ear in Patients with Treacher-Collins Syndrome.

Patients with Treacher-Collins syndrome (TCS) are frequently affected by congenital ear deformities. The external ear in patients with TCS tends to have both abnormal morphology and reduced overall volume. Previous studies considered a correlation exists between TCS mandibular skeletal features and external ear volume. The purpose of this study was to assess the external ear volume in patients with TCS 3-dimensionally. Furthermore, this study evaluated the relationship between mandibular morphology, external ear profile, and external ear volume. A total of 36 nonoperated patients with TCS were compared to 39 age- and gender-matched normal controls. Morphologic variables of the mandible and the external ear were compared between TCS group and controls by 3-dimensional cephalometrics. The external ear volume and morphologic variables were analyzed with independent sample T-tests and Pearson correlation coefficient analyses (level of evidence: level III). The external ear volume was reduced by approximately 50% in patients with TCS compared to controls (P < 0.001). External ear length and width were positively correlated with external ear volume (length: r = 0.809, P < 0.001 on left and r = 0.732, P < 0.001 on right; width: r = 0.518, P = 0.001 on left and r = 0.447, P < 0.010 on right). A negative correlation of right ear inclination angle and external ear volume was shown in patients with TCS (r = -0.396, P = 0.027). However, no correlation was shown for the mandibular anatomic variables. Three-dimensional analysis confirmed that external ear volume is significantly reduced in patients with TCS. The external ear dimensions and orientation correlated significantly with ear volume. There was no intrinsic association between the severity of mandibular deformity and external ear volume.

On the use of ear and profile faces for distinguishing identical twins and nontwins

AbstractThis study aims to measure the efficiency of ear and profile face in distinguishing identical twins under identification and verification modes. In addition, to distinguish identical twins by ear and profile face separately, we propose to fuse these traits with all possible binary combinations of left ear, left profile face, right ear, and right profile face. Fusion is implemented by score‐level fusion and decision‐level fusion techniques in the proposed method. Additionally, feature‐level fusion is used for comparison. All experiments in this paper are also implemented on nontwins individuals, and the recognition performance of twins and nontwins are compared. Local binary patterns, local phase quantization, and binarized statistical image features approaches are used as texture‐based descriptors for feature extraction process. Images under controlled and uncontrolled lighting are tested. Ear and profile images from ND‐TWINS‐2009‐2010 dataset are used in the experiments. The experimental results show that the proposed method is more accurate and reliable than using ear or profile face images separately. The performance of the proposed method for recognizing identical twins as recognition rate is 100% and 99.45%, and equal error rates are 0.54% and 1.63% in controlled and uncontrolled illumination conditions, respectively.

Investigation of Evolution Processes of Wafer Profiles With Edge Over Erosion in Copper CMP

In this paper, the causes of edge over erosion (EOE) in copper CMP are investigated. Wafer patterns containing square-wave features with pattern density of 50% and line width of 0.18, 0.5, 1, and 2 μm are studied. The evolution processes of wafer profiles with EOE of the pattern structures are simulated by using frequency components algorithm (linear system method). The wafer profiles of the pattern structure of 0.18 μm at different polishing time are given. The results of the simulation of EOE, erosion and dishing of the pattern structures are compared with the experimental data. The effects of polishing parameters on the evolution process of height of ear profile, loss of Cu, erosion, dishing, height of area 1 of the different patterns are discussed. The methods to reduce the value of EOE and loss of Cu are provided.

Material Model of AW 5754 H11 Al Alloy for Numerical Simulation of Deep Drawing Process

The aim of this work is to create material model for aluminum material AW 5754 H11 for numerical simulation, which is widely used in automotive industry. For purpose of verification material model the deep drawing cup test was carried up, and measured parameters were punch force, thickness distribution and ear profile. Results from numerical simulation were validated by real experiment with regard to predict accuracy in changes of thickness and ear profile.

Improvement in Material Flow During Nonisothermal Warm Deep Drawing of Nonheat Treatable Aluminum Alloy Sheets

Automotive industries are very much interested in implementing warm forming technology for fabrication of light weight auto-body panels using aluminum alloys without localized thinning or splitting. A nonheat treatable and low formable AA5754-H22 aluminum alloy sheet was selected in the present work, and a laboratory scale warm deep drawing test set-up and process sequences were designed to improve material flow through independent heating of punch and dies. Significant enhancement in cup depth was observed when the temperature of punch and dies were set to 30 °C and 200 °C, respectively. Thermo-mechanical finite-element (FE) model of the nonisothermal deep drawing test was developed successfully to study the improvement in material flow incorporating Barlat-89 yield theory using temperature dependent anisotropy coefficients and Cowper–Symonds hardening model. It was found that a nonisothermal temperature gradient of approximately 93 °C was established within the blank from the center to flange at the start of deformation, and subsequent evolution of temperature gradient helped in improving material flow into the die cavity. The effect of temperature gradient on forming behavior in terms of cup height, ear profile, and thinning development across flange, cup wall, and blank center were predicted and validated with experimental results.

The Wicking Characteristics of a Sustained Release Delivery System for the Inner Ear: The Silverstein Micro Wick

Objective: To explore the properties of the Silverstein Microwick ® Background: Direct drug delivery to the inner ear via the round window membrane is becoming increasingly common. The Silverstein Microwick is an example of a sustained release delivery system. Medication regimens for this wick have largely been chosen arbitrarily as there is no data relating to its inner ear kinetic profile and no knowledge of its wicking behavior. Methods: A custom-built device was used to measure electrical impedances obtained from a series of 6 electrodes inserted into a Silverstein Microwick in order to define the time course of how different parts of the wick dry out. The impedances across adjoining pairs of electrodes were used to measure the “wetness” of each segment. Three drops of gentamicin solution were applied. We sought to determine the flow of the solutions through the wick by analyzing changes in electrical impedance. Various medications were applied to the wick including dexamethasone. Other properties inherent to the wick were also measured including drug availability at the round window membrane end and its filtering capacity. Results: It was determined that the wick was completely dry after 105-110 minutes and that it dried faster at its extremities. The electrical impedance of the rwm end of the wick reached its pre-test level after 100-105 minutes. However, drug availability at the rwm end of the wick ceased after 70-75 minutes. Adding a further 3 drops after 1 hour prolonged the drying time by 100 minutes. A 15% elevation in environmental humidity resulted in a drying time of 400 minutes. Liquid suspensions were not ideal for use through the wick as components of suspensions are retained by the wick material. Suspensions were also found to have the highest viscosities. Conclusion: The most therapeutic inner ear profile for treatment of Meniere’s is unknown. Although pumps can be used to generate any kind of profile, they are not currently licensed for use in humans and are invasive and expensive. The Silverstein microwick has been used successfully in humans and is non-invasive and cheap. Only inner ear studies will be able to determine their exact inner ear kinetic profile associated with this device. However, the profiles achievable with this device will largely be determined and ultimately limited by the behavior/ characteristics of the wick. Our study sheds light on this. Given that drug availability to the round window membrane is 70-75 minutes we can surmise the most likely inner ear kinetic profile that would ensue. The dosing regimen for the microwick could be altered to influence this. Inner ear studies are required to determine if changes in wick dosing parallel events in the inner ear.

How much does dizziness interfere in ménière’s disease patients’ quality of life?

Problem: To evaluate the impact of dizziness on the quality of life (QOL) in Ménière’s disease (MD) patients in and out of crisis and to verify a possible relationship between the QOL impairment and the clinical data. Methods: Fifty patients with diagnosis of definite MD were included in the study. The impact of dizziness on the QOL was assessed by the Dizziness Handicap Inventory (DHI), administered to the patients in and out of crisis. The DHI scores were correlated to the clinical data. Tinnitus, aural fullness, imbalance, and functional disabilities were evaluated according to the Inner Ear Profile (IEP), in and out of crisis. Vertigo was assessed by Vertigogram. Hearing was assessed by CHE AAO-HNS staging. Vestibular function was evaluated by computerized vectonystagmography. All patients were also analyzed regarding disease duration and unilateral or bilateral labyrinth involvement. Statistical analysis was performed by using Anova and the test of equality of 2 proportions. Results: The sample consisted of 39 females and 11 males, with a mean age of 50.8 years. The DHI, during the crisis period, showed physical, functional, and emotional aspects scores statistically higher ( P < 0.001) when compared to the out-of-crisis period. The functional and physical aspects were the most impaired aspects in crisis and out of crisis, respectively. We found a statistically significant correlation among the physical, functional, and total scores and the bilateral labyrinth involvement out of crisis, when compared to in crisis. Conclusion: Definite MD patients present QOL impairment due to dizziness in and out of crisis. The impairment is worst in crisis when compared to the out-of-crisis period. The QOL impairment is greater in patients with bilateral labyrinth involvement out of crisis, than in patients with unilateral labyrinth involvement in the same period. Significance: Definite MD patients do have dizziness-related QOL impairment, independent of all clinical studied data. Support: None reported.

A texture optimization study for minimum earing in aluminium by use of a texture component crystal plasticity finite element method

The influence of discrete texture components and combinations of them on the earing behavior of aluminium during cup drawing was systematically investigated using the texture component crystal plasticity finite element method. Several common texture components and their combinations were selected and the resulting ear profiles were calculated under consideration of texture changes. The spherical scatter width of the components was also taken into account as an optimization parameter. The study reveals that the ear height and profile can be minimized by an optimized combination of certain texture components including their scatter width. A solution for minimum earing of cup drawn aluminium was obtained for a combination of the S and the Cube texture components with 15° spherical scatter width.

Definition, Classification and Reporting of Meniere's Disease and its Symptoms

Van de Heyning PH, Wuyts FL, Claes J, Koekelkoren E, Van Laer C, Valcke H. Definition, classification and reporting of Meniere's disease and its symptoms. Acta Otolaryngol (Stockh) 1997; Suppl. 526: 5–9.This review describes the practicalities of using both the Inner Ear Profile to define hydrops labyrinthi, and the American Academy of Otolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery (AAO-HNS) guidelines to define Meniere's disease. The requirement for standardisation is stressed since either system alone may be inadequate. It is suggested that the Inner Ear Profile could be adapted to the AAO-HNS criteria to create a unified method of evaluation.

Simulation of Rolling and Deep Drawing Textures in Ferritic Steels: Application to Ear Profile Calculation in Deep Drawing

Simulation of Rolling and Deep Drawing Textures in Ferritic Steels: Application to Ear Profile Calculation in Deep Drawing

Textural Evolution During Draw-Cup Tests of Thick Aluminum 3004 Alloy Sheet

Cup tests were performed on hot rolled AA3004 alloy and the profile of the ears were measured. ODF′s were determined from slices cut parallel to the cup wall at 0°, 45° and 90° to the initial rolling directions. These determinations were compared to the Taylor-Bishop-Hill deformation model using full and relaxed constraints. The measured ear profile was compared to a continuum cup height calculation and the agreement was very good.