Rolling is one of the fundamental metals forming processes used for producing metallic foils with extensive industrial and commercial applications. In this study, the optimal curvature of rolls in a two-high foil-rolling system employing identical cambered rolls was determined through a comprehensive mathematical model. The foil–roll contact pressure distribution along the roll axis was obtained by accounting for both elastic deflection and local flattening of the rolls through an iterative computational approach. Because elastic roll deformation causes non-uniform foil thickness across the width, cambered rolls were adopted to minimize this variation. Two key design parameters—the curvature radius of the cambered roll and the roll-edge gap—were optimized through four iterative cycles to achieve a uniform thickness distribution. For a 36% thickness reduction of aluminum foil with an initial thickness of 100 μm, the optimal curvature radius and edge gap were determined as 59 m and 57 μm, respectively. Under these optimized conditions, the foil thickness variation decreased from 4.9 μm (in cylindrical rolling) to 1.3 μm, with a maximum deviation from the target thickness limited to 1 μm. These findings demonstrate that a two-high mill can achieve comparable uniformity in foil thickness through proper selection of the roll-edge gap and curvature radius.
Introduction Accurate normative values for ventricular indices are required for distinguishing between normal and pathological conditions. The objective of the present study was to establish normative values for ventricular indices in healthy Bangladeshi adult population. Methods This cross-sectional observational study was conducted at Chittagong Medical College Hospital, Bangladesh, from January to December 2023. A total of 314 healthy adult participants (161 males and 153 females) underwent brain CT scans to measure key ventricular indices. The indices measured included the Third Ventricular Width (TVW), Third Ventricular Index (TVI), Antero-Posterior and Transverse Diameter of the Fourth Ventricle, Bifrontal Index (BFI), Evans Index (EI), Bicaudate Index (BCI), and Huckman Number (HN). Results The average age of participants was 38.8 (SD 14) years, age range was 18 to 80 years. The mean (SD) values for ventricular indices were: TVW 3.74 (1.46) mm, TVI 0.032 (0.006), Antero-Posterior Diameter of the Fourth Ventricle 6.519 (0.964) mm, Transverse Diameter of the Fourth Ventricle 11.873 (1.541) mm, BFI 0.312 (0.053), EI 0.253 (0.048), BCI 0.122 (0.030), and HN 44.778 (5.223). Male participants showed significantly larger transverse diameters of the fourth ventricle (12.185 mm vs. 11.561 mm, p < 0.001), higher bicaudate indices (0.129 vs. 0.115, p = 0.044), and elevated Huckman numbers (46.235 vs. 43.153, p < 0.001) compared to females. Post-hoc analysis showed that ventricular sizes were larger in older participants, especially in the 61-70 years group. Conclusions Men generally have slightly larger ventricular structures than women and ventricular size increases with age, however, most of the indices showed no significant sex-based differences.
Patent data is widely used by institutions, including corporations, governments, and research institutes, to present technology strategies and policies. Despite the abundance of literature on the indispensability, significance, and constraints of patent data analysis, most studies have examined only selected subsets of patent records. By contrast, the present study analyzes the complete corpus of patents filed and granted between 2001 and 2021 at the USPTO, KIPO, EPO, and JPO. This study reviewed the relevant literature to formulate and validate six hypotheses pertaining to the analytical utilization of patent data. The goal of this study is to draw inferences regarding the significance of patent information and the value of patent analysis through the statistical examination of diverse patent sources. It was found that the existence of a time lag between R&D (research and development) investment, R&D activities, and the registration of patents renders patent data potentially outdated for the purpose of investigating the current state of technology. Additionally, there exists a strong correlation between the number of patent citations and patent renewal fees. Furthermore, given the infrequency of human errors in patent classification, patent data may be considered a reliable source for patent analysis. There is evidence of the presence of bias in the distribution of patents across various industries, and certain sectors, such as ‘agriculture’, ‘mining and quarrying’, exhibit a significant reliance on trade secrets as a means of safeguarding technological activities. A similar pattern was observed in the distribution of patents across sectors in the databases of main patent offices. The results of this study can help researchers and practitioners relevantly analyze technology through the use of patent data.
Esophagus basaloid squamous cell carcinoma (EBSCC) is a rare and poorly differentiated variant of esophagus squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) characterized by distinct morphological features. However, there is a lack of systematic evaluation for the diagnosis and treatment of EBSCC. To address this gap, we conducted a comprehensive analysis of the proteome, targeted metabolome and lipidome in EBSCC and paired adjacent tissues from 12 patients with EBSCC. Through integrative analysis of multi-omics data, we identified significant alterations in Glycerophospholipid metabolism and glutamine-related pathways in EBSCC compared to adjacent tissues. The dysregulation of glutamine metabolism identified in our multi-omics analysis suggests its crucial role in the development and progression of EBSCC, providing representative signatures of EBSCC and insights into potential drug targets for this rare carcinoma. This study contributes to a better understanding of the molecular characteristics and metabolic alterations associated with EBSCC, which may have implications for improved diagnosis and treatment strategies for patients with this aggressive form of esophageal cancer.
