Rodents move their whiskers to locate objects in space. Here we used psychophysical methods to show that head-fixed mice can localize objects along the axis of a single whisker, the radial dimension, with one-millimeter precision. High-speed videography allowed us to estimate the forces and bending moments at the base of the whisker, which underlie radial distance measurement. Mice judged radia...

Accuracy of the quarter-point and transition elements is investigated on oneand two-dimensional problems with inverse square-root singularity. It is demonstrated that most coefficients of the stiffness matrix of the quarter-point element are unbounded. However, numerical integration produces finite values of these coefficients. Influence of several parameters on the error in determining the str...

The optimal distribution of the reinforcing fibers for stiffening hollow cylindrical composites is explored using the linear elasticity theory. The spatial distribution of the vascular bundles in wild bamboo, a nature-designed functionally graded material, is the basis for the design. Our results suggest that wild bamboos maximize their flexural rigidity by optimally regulating the radial grada...

Our elbow element presented in an earlier communication is enhanced to account for interaction effects between elbows and rigid flanges, elbows of different curvatures, and elbows joining straight pipe sections. The interaction effects are modeled by including the appropriate additional strain terms in the stiffness matrix formulation and by using a penalty procedure to enforce the continuity o...

BACKGROUND Higher dialysate calcium (DCa) can result in an acute and transient increase in arterial stiffness. The aim of the present study is to evaluate the impact of DCa on the progression of arterial stiffness, calcium balance and bone metabolism in haemodialysis (HD) patients over a 6-month period. Method. We randomly assigned 30 patients on chronic HD to be dialysed with a DCa of 1.12 or ...

Central augmentation pressure (AP) and index (AIx) predict cardiovascular events and mortality, but underlying physiological mechanisms remain disputed. While traditionally believed to relate to wave reflections arising from proximal arterial impedance (and stiffness) mismatching, recent evidence suggests aortic reservoir function may be a more dominant contributor to AP and AIx. Our aim was th...

In high-speed machining, the maximum stable depth of cut at any spindle rotating frequency depends on the spindle-holder-tool dynamic stiffness as reflected at the tool’s free end. Because this dynamic stiffness can vary with rotating frequency, we have modeled the spindle dynamic response using a finite element-based rotordynamics approach. The spindle shaft is modeled using beam finite elemen...

Four different magnet bearing configurations, with varying number of combined radially and axially magnetized rings, are studied both experimentally using the modeling framework MagTense. First, optimal vertical position ring is determined numerical model. Then, model validated experimental data. Finally, we show that a where rotor stator each consist single magnets has smallest radial force pe...