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Multi-physical contact behaviour is important in multiple disciplines related to the automotive industry. Nowadays battery-electric vehicles' (BEV) thermal management systems deal with contact between bodies where mechanical, electric, and thermal interaction occurs. The battery thermal management itself is crucial for cell life, safety, and everyday vehicle performance. Thus, comprehensive and accurate simulation of the multi-physical contact is a vital part of vehicle development. The multi-physical contact is represented by two or more bodies under applied mechanical load and a current or heat conducted throughout the realized contact area. The amount of conducted current/heat or generated Joule heat is the function of the contact area as well as contact pressure, thus the structural simulation should be essential for such thermal management system simulations Most of the current full vehicle battery pack CFD cooling simulations simplified the multi-physical contact as ideal. Detailed contact modelling is time-consuming, hence not applicable for the full vehicle modelling. In this work, a feasible approach based on contact resistance curves was implemented. Furthermore, the work demonstrates the necessity of correct structural contact prediction for a joule heating and thermal solution.

ObjectivesTo quantify extraprostatic findings (EPFs) on prostate MRI, estimate the proportion of reported and unreported EPFs, assess their clinical importance, and propose standardized reporting of EPFs.Materials and methodsProstate 3-T MRI studies, reports, and clinical data from 623 patients (age 67.9 ± 8.2 years) were retrospectively analyzed and re-evaluated for the presence of EPFs and their clinical significance: E1—no finding or findings that have no clinical significance; E2—potentially significant findings; and E3—significant findings.ResultsSecondary reading identified 1236 EPFs in 593 patients (1.98 ± 1.13 EPFs per patient, no EPFs in 30 patients), from which 468 (37.8%) were mentioned in the original report. The most common findings included diverticulosis (44% of patients), hydrocele (34%), inguinal fat hernia (16%), and bladder wall trabecular hypertrophy (15%). There were 80 (6.5%) E2 EPFs and 30 (2.4%) E3 EPFs. From E3 EPFs, 10 (33%) were not originally reported. A workup was suggested in 35 (52%) of the 67 originally reported E2 and E3 findings with follow-up and performed in 20 (30%). Fourteen (21%) EPFs in 11 patients influenced their management. Four experienced radiologists originally reported 1.8 to 2.5 findings per patient (p < 0.0001).ConclusionsEPFs on prostate MRI are frequent, but only 2.4% are clinically significant (E3), and 33% of these are not reported. Only 30% of E2 and E3 findings are further explored, and 21% influence patient management. We suggest that an “E” category should be attached to the PI-RADS system to identify the presence of EPFs that require further workup.Critical relevance statementExtraprostatic findings on prostate MRI are frequent, but only 2.4% are clinically significant (E3), and 33% of these are not reported. We advocate standardized reporting of extraprostatic findings indicating their clinical significance.Key points• Extraprostatic findings on prostate MRI are frequent with an average of two findings per patient.• 2.4% of extraprostatic findings are significant, and 33% of these are not reported.• There is a significant variability among experienced radiologists in reporting extraprostatic findings.

This paper deals with the influence of the coarse aggregate grain size on the frost resistance of concrete. For the purpose of the experiment, three types of concrete were produced, varying only in the maximum grain size of the used natural aggregate. The evaluation of the frost resistance of concrete is based on non-destructive (NDT) dynamic and static testing methods. The results of the experiment indicate influences of the aggregate used in the production of the concrete on the results of its frost resistance.

The research focuses on elastic-plastic behaviour of welded joints of materials which are commonly used in both constructional practice and the automotive industry. The examined welded joints are oriented to a common constructional S355 and a modern high-strength steel DOMEX 700MC.The main tool for the assessment of the elastic-plastic response was the methodology based on the instrumented penetration testing with the use of a cylindrical indenter. The indentation tool was applied into narrow zones of welded boundaries. These zones represent critical areas of welded constructions because of a changing structure and different mechanical properties than the basic material possesses. The indentation data were recalculated to the mechanical properties in shear with the help of Hencky ́s hypotheses about material behaviour. The correctness of the used methodology was verified by a tensile test. The aim of the work is to determine optimal methods for defining a yield strength and to find a hardening trend in the zones. The comparison of these steels revealed different changes due to the welding process. A substantial decrease of the yield strength of Domex700MC was observed, as a contrary to a stable, or partially increased, yield strength of the S355 steel. Structural analyses revealed a different material response of the evaluated steels, according to a different hardness in the heat affected zone.

Martensitic high strength steel type of 22MnB5 is increasingly used in transport industries for safety components. Al-Si based coating layer is applied to the steel surface to prevent oxidation during hot stamping process. The main objective of performed analyses is to study the differences in formation of the surface AlSi layer related to weldability of martensitic steels. The structure of sub-layers and changes of their chemical composition were studied as a result of different thermal conditions during heat treatment. Formation of silicon-enriched zones in connection with overheating during austenitization is discussed. Tendency for creation of brittle inter-metallic phases based on Al-Fe was revealed.

Cytokinins (CKs) are plant hormones affecting numerous developmental processes. Zeatin and its derivatives are the most important group of isoprenoid CKs. Zeatin occurs as two isomers: while frans-zeatin (transZ) was found to be a bioactive substance, cis-zeatin (cisZ) was reported to have a weak biological impact. Even though cisZ derivatives are abundant in various plant materials their biological role is still unknown. The comprehensive screen of land plants presented here suggests that cisZ-type CKs occur ubiquitously in the plant kingdom but their abundance might correlate with a strategy of life rather than with evolutionary complexity. Changing levels of transZ and cisZ during Arabidopsis ontogenesis show that levels of the two zeatin isomers can differ significantly during the life span of the plant, with cisZ-type CKs prevalent in the developmental stages associated with limited growth. A survey of the bioassays employed illustrates mild activity of cisZ and its derivatives. No cis ↔ trans isomerization, which would account for the effects of cisZ, was observed in tobacco cells and oat leaves. Differences in uptake between the two isomers resulting in distinct bioactivity have not been detected. In contrast, cisZ and transZ have a different metabolic fate in oat and tobacco. Analysis of a CK-degrading enzyme, cytokinin oxidase/dehydrogenase (CKX), reveals that Arabidopsis possesses two isoforms, AtCKX1 expressed in stages of active growth, and AtCKX7, both of which have the highest affinity for the cisZ isomer. Based on the present results, the conceivable function of cisZ-type CKs as delicate regulators of CK responses in plants under growth-limiting conditions is hypothesized.

(1) Background: Huntington’s disease (HD) is rare incurable hereditary neurodegenerative disorder caused by CAG repeat expansion in the gene coding for the protein huntingtin (HTT). Mutated huntingtin (mHTT) undergoes fragmentation and accumulation, affecting cellular functions and leading to neuronal cell death. Porcine models of HD are used in preclinical testing of currently emerging disease modifying therapies. Such therapies are aimed at reducing mHTT expression, postpone the disease onset, slow down the progression, and point out the need of biomarkers to monitor disease development and therapy efficacy. Recently, extracellular vesicles (EVs), particularly exosomes, gained attention as possible carriers of disease biomarkers. We aimed to characterize HTT and mHTT forms/fragments in blood plasma derived EVs in transgenic (TgHD) and knock-in (KI-HD) porcine models, as well as in HD patients’ plasma. (2) Methods: Small EVs were isolated by ultracentrifugation and HTT forms were visualized by western blotting. (3) Results: The full length 360 kDa HTT co-isolated with EVs from both the pig model and HD patient plasma. In addition, a ~70 kDa mutant HTT fragment was specific for TgHD pigs. Elevated total huntingtin levels in EVs from plasma of HD groups compared to controls were observed in both pig models and HD patients, however only in TgHD were they significant (p = 0.02). (4) Conclusions: Our study represents a valuable initial step towards the characterization of EV content in the search for HD biomarkers.

A multi proxy approach was applied in the reconstruction of the architecture of Medieval horse stable architecture, the maintenance practices associated with that structure as well as horse alimentation at the beginning of 13th century in Central Europe. Finally, an interpretation of the local vegetation structure along Morava River, Czech Republic is presented. The investigated stable experienced two construction phases. The infill was well preserved and its composition reflects maintenance practices. The uppermost part of the infill was composed of fresh stabling, which accumulated within a few months at the end of summer. Horses from different backgrounds were kept in the stable and this is reflected in the results of isotope analyses. Horses were fed meadow grasses as well as woody vegetation, millet, oat, and less commonly hemp, wheat and rye. Three possible explanations of stable usage are suggested. The stable was probably used on a temporary basis for horses of workers employed at the castle, courier horses and horses used in battle.

Purpose The incidence of an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tear is highest in female patients; however, it is not apparent whether graft choice affects clinical results. The aim of this prospective randomised study was to evaluate clinical results of an ACL reconstruction using patellar tendon [bone–patellar tendon–bone (BTB)] or hamstring graft (HS) in female patients. Methods Inclusion criteria were traumatic instability, no signs of osteoarthritis, no previous instability and no contralateral knee instability. Inclusion criteria were met in 150 patients, mean age 26 (17–47) years. Patients were randomised into two groups of 75 patients according to graft type; all had the same rehabilitation protocol. Tegner Lysholm knee score and stability were evaluated pre-operatively and one and two years postoperatively. The difference between groups was statistically evaluated using unpaired t test. Results Of the 150 patients, all completed one year follow-up; three were lost to follow-up at two years. There was no significant difference in functional scores and knee stability between groups. The HS group had significantly less anterior knee pain in the first six months postoperatively. Conclusion ACL reconstruction significantly improves clinical results and stability of the knee. Difference in Lysholm score and stability between groups was not significant. Neither group showed higher tendency to graft failure within two years. Graft choice for reconstruction in female patients should be surgeon specific and individualised, as both grafts studied achieved comparable results.

We present results of frequency tripling experiments performed at the Hilase facility on a cryogenically gas cooled multi-slab ytterbium-doped yttrium aluminum garnet laser system, Bivoj/DiPOLE. The laser produces high-energy ns pulses at 10 Hz repetition rate, which are frequency doubled using a type-I phase-matched lithium triborate (LBO) crystal and consequently frequency summed using a type-II phase-matched LBO crystal. We demonstrated a stable frequency conversion to 343 nm at 50 J energy and 10 Hz repetition rate with conversion efficiency of 53%.