bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Combustion Chemical Vapor Deposition of YSZ Thin Films for Fuel Cell Applications
Authors: Xu Zhigang , Sankar Jag , Wei Q.
Published: November 2021

Chemical vapor deposition (CVD) is well recognized as the most effective technique to prepare high-quality thin solid films. This technique can be classified into two categories according to the working pressure, i.e. low to very low pressure and high pressure CVD. In this paper, the high pressure CVD technique is interested to the authors. An atmospheric combustion chemical vapor deposition (ACCVD) system has been developed for yttria fully stabilized zirconia (YSZ) thin film processing. Various processing parameters, such as the ratio of oxygen to liquid fuel in flame, the concentration of metal reagents in the solution, the temperature of the substrate, and so on, have been investigated. The as-grown films are characterized with x-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy. Within the range of experimental parameters, the phase of the film is predominately cubic one. It was shown that the phase and crystallinity of the films are strongly dependent upon the experimental variable.
Diamond and Diamondlike Composites
Authors: Narayan R. J. , Wei Q. , Sankar J. , Narayan J.
Published: November 2021

Diamond, diamond-like, and their composites (with TiC, TiN, and AlN for diamond, and Cu, Ag, Ti, and Si for diamondlike carbon) have extremely desirable chemical, electrical, and mechanical properties. These corrosion- and erosion-resistant coatings have a wide variety of applications, ranging from biomedical device coatings to packaging of microelectronic devices. However, many of these applications are limited by the poor adhesion of these films to metals, ceramics, and polymers. The adhesion of a film is determined primarily by internal stresses in the film, thermal and lattice mismatch, and most importantly by interfacial bonding. We have developed methods based on mechanical interlocking, chemical bonding, grading of interatomic potentials, and the multilayer discontinuous thin films approach to control stresses and strains in thin films. A substantial improvement in adhesion and wear properties is obtained by using these methods selectively. We review issues related to the adhesion of diamond, diamond-like carbon, and composite films on metal, polymeric, and ceramic substrates.
Tunable Magnetic and Mechanical Properties in Metal Ceramic Composite Thin Films
Authors: Kumar D. , Sankar J. , Narayan J. , Kvit A.
Published: November 2021

Presently a wide spread of research activities is pursued in the area of theoretical, computational and experimental aspects of vibration studies in laminated composite structures with embedded or surface bonded smart layers in order to improve the performance of components in aerospace, mechanical, robotics, and electronic equipments. The key to the successful fabrication of these components with improved properties is the development of smart materials by materials engineering and understanding the fundamentals of materials science. It is in this context that we have developed a novel smart thin film processing method based upon pulsed laser deposition to process nanocrystalline materials with accurate size and interface control with improved mechanical and magnetic properties. Using this method, single domain nanocrystalline Fe and Ni particles in 5–10 nm size range embedded in amorphous as well as crystalline alumina have been produced. By controlling the size distribution in confined layers, it was possible to tune the magnetic properties from superparamagnetic to ferromagnetic in a controlled way. Magnetization measurements of these thin film composites as function of field and temperature were carried out using a superconducting quantum interference device (SQUID) magnetometer. Magnetic hysteresis characteristics below the blocking temperature are consistent with single-domain behavior. Mechanical properties were measured using nano-indentation measurements. The hardness of the Fe and Ni-Al2O3 nanocomposites was found to vary strongly with the size do Fe and Ni nanodots in the alumina matrix. For example, the hardness of Fe-Al2O3 system increased from 15 GPa to 28 GPa when the size of Fe dots in alumina was increased from 5 nm to 9 nm. It is envisioned that this types of smart films can be used in magnetic recording, ferrofluid technology, magnetocaloric refrigeration, biomedicine, biotechnology, aerospace applications where hard and wear-resistant coatings are also very important for its survival.
Nanofunctionalized Phosphor Particles for Advanced Display Applications
Authors: Ollinger Michael , Craciun Valentin , Singh Rajiv
Published: November 2021

Cathodoluminescence (CL) degradation measurements showed that by applying a nano meter scale indium tin oxide (ITO) coating on micron sized ZnS:Ag particulates the degradation lifetime was dramatically improved. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) analysis showed that the Zn 2p3/2 and S 2p3/2 peaks of the degraded ZnS:Ag were shifted to higher binding energies, which correspond to oxidized elements, with respect to those found for as-received ZnS:Ag. The XPS analysis for the ITO coated ZnS:Ag showed a broadening of the Zn 2p3/2 and S 2p3/2 peaks, which were a convolution of two peaks. In this case, the Zn 2p3/2 and S 2p3/2 peaks corresponding to ZnS were still present together with a small shoulder corresponding to the oxidized elements. This difference in the XPS shows that the ITO coating reduced the degradation rate by slowing the surface chemical changes on the ZnS:Ag.
Development of an Injection Valve for Liquid Molding Applications
Authors: Karas Christopher P. , Sheyman Vladimir , Rathod Mulchand S.
Published: November 2021

This paper is deals with the development of an innovative pneumatically operated injection valve for liquid molding applications. The work in this paper was carried out in a senior design project of one of the authors.

A specialized pneumatically operated valve to eliminate the manual step of tubing removal has been designed, fabricated and tested. To evaluate this valve, special test equipment was designed and fabricated, and a specific procedure for testing was developed. The results obtained from the testing indicated that the valve works properly according to the established specification and requirements, and passed air leak checks at different inlet and outlet configurations.

The proposed valve is very unique since it allows the catalyzed resin to flow into the mold cavity when it is opened. It allows cycle flushing of the solvent and air into a waste receptacle when it is closed. From the testing and understanding the functionality of the developed valve, it is determined that pneumatically operated injection valve is a viable component that could be used in a production environment to further enhance productivity.
Underwater Pipeline Inspection Using Guided Waves
Authors: Na Won-Bae , Kundu Tribikram
Published: November 2021

Underwater pipeline inspections are conducted using ultrasonic cylindrical guided waves in the laboratory environment. Three different types of mechanical defects - gouge, removed metal, and dent, are fabricated in small diameter, 22.22 mm, aluminum pipes and tested. To efficiently propagate the antisymmetric (flexural) cylindrical guided waves through the aluminum pipe in water, a new transducer holder device is designed. The device uses commercially available ultrasonic transducers that generate compressional ultrasonic waves in the water. The device can change the striking angle of the incident beam from 0° to 51°. With the help of this device the incident angle adjustment and frequency sweeping can be carried out. This is necessary for obtaining the time history of the received signals for various incident angles and signal frequencies; then these time histories are converted to V(f) curves, or received signal amplitude vs. frequency curves. From the amplitude of these V(f) curves the type and extent of the mechanical defects can be estimated. This investigation shows that the new coupler device can be effectively used for health monitoring of underwater pipelines using guided waves.
A Model for Fatigue Crack Initiation From Notches
Authors: Zaki A. S. , Ghonem H.
Published: November 2021

A model is developed to predict the number of cycles for fatigue crack initiation from a notch. It is based on the concept that the initiation of a fatigue crack occurs when the accumulated plastic shear deformation in the notch root reaches a critical limit which is defined in terms of the threshold stress intensity factor of the material under consideration. A viscoplastic analysis using unified constitutive equations is employed in order to describe the evolution of the notch plastic zone size as well as the stress and plastic strain distributions within this zone on cycle by cycle basis. This analysis takes into consideration the material s time- and cyclic-dependent characteristics. Experimental verification of the model was carried out using specimens made of AM350, an austenitic steel alloy: A series of crack growth measurements were performed in order to calculate the threshold stress intensity factor which is then used to determine the plastic deformation limit of this alloy. The model is used to calculate the number of cycles to crack initiation which is compared to that obtained experimentally under various loading parameters. The correlation between the model prediction and the experimental results are reported and discussed.
Atomic Force and Ultrasonic Force Microscopic Surface Characterization of Laser Treated Head Sliders
Authors: Druffner Carl , Schumaker Edward J. , Shen Liming , Sathish Shamachary , Raikar Ganesh N. , Brar Amarjit S.
Published: November 2021

The surface of laser treated hard disc drive head sliders has been imaged using the Atomic Force Microscope and Ultrasonic Force Microscope. The contrast of the surface topography image from the Atomic Force Microscope is compared with the elasticity image generated by the Ultrasonic Force Microscope on the same sample region. Images of microcracking in the laser treated regions are presented. The possible reasons for the development of microcracking and the enhanced contrast of the Ultrasonic Force Microscope imaging of these microcracks are discussed.
On CFD-Based Performance Calculations of Centrifugal Compressor Stages: Part 1
Authors: Biba Yuri I. , Hill D. Lee
Published: November 2021

Turbocompressor manufacturers as well as customers have a constant need for improved aerodynamic component analysis for production and development environments. These predictive tools have historically been grounded with experimental data. Both hardware and tests costs, however, continue to spiral upward, and the difficulties of obtaining reliable data remain unchanged. This has forced the turbocompressor manufactures to use Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) as an alternative approach for conducting stage parametric studies. In order for such an approach to be successful, a clear understanding of the relationship between the traditional performance parameters and the numerical solution has to be achieved. Ultimately, an industry standard similar to the test codes should be established. The focus of this work is to contribute into laying the foundation for such an effort. Based on energy conservation equations the relationships between CFD-based loss calculations and efficiencies are developed and discussed. Example of CFD-based performance prediction and flow field analysis of low flow compressor stage is then presented and directions of future work are outlined. This paper is the first part in a series of two. Second part containing more computational results and comparison with test data will follow.
Modifications of a Two Stage Centrifugal Compressor for the Volute and Vaneless Diffuser Study
Authors: Rezaei Hooman , Engeda Abraham , Haley Paul
Published: November 2021

The objective of this work was to establish an advanced testing facility for studying the flow structure and loss mechanism in a single stage centrifugal compressor. A Trane’s CVHF 1280, two stage centrifugal compressor was modified to a single stage for laboratory environment. This modification included new fluid medium, driving motor, inlet and outlet designs. In this study, experiments were performed in order to evaluate the performance of the vaneless diffuser and volute. However, the modifications enable the flow structure investigation in all components of the compressor as well. In addition the testing facility would accommodate installation of the rest of the unit for investigation of the flow in the vaned diffuser and return channel of the two-stage compressor in the laboratory environment.

Experiments were performed in three speeds and eight mass flow rates per speed. Static and total pressures were measured at the inlet and outlet of the stage. Static pressure distributions were mapped on the vaneless diffuser and volute casings. These data evaluates the characteristics of these components after the modifications.
Performance Evaluation of Different Designs of Locomotive Intercoolers
Authors: Rajendran Veera P. , Furman Anthony H. , Record Barry A.
Published: November 2021

Heat exchangers of two different designs, used for the cooling of turbocharged air for locomotive diesel engines were experimentally studied to characterize the performance as well as to investigate the loss of effectiveness over time. Performance criteria including initial effectiveness, pressure drop and effectiveness degradation due to thermal shocks were characterized for a typical intercooler. Thermal and flow performance tests as well as severe shock tests were conducted in the laboratory at full-scale flow and geometric conditions to study the drop in effectiveness experienced in the field. The inlet Reynolds number for airside, based on the inlet flow conditions and pipe diameter is 2.13 × 105. The inlet Reynolds number for waterside, based on the inlet flow conditions and pipe diameter is 2 × 105. Mechanisms for the effectiveness drop due to thermal transients are discussed. Significant improvements in effectiveness degradation characteristics were achieved with a proposed new design while maintaining initial effectiveness. Overall, the new design was found to be significantly improved compared to the current design.
Simulations, Analysis and Thermoeconomical Synthesis of Heat Transfer Elements
Authors: Reznikov L. , Morosuk T.
Published: November 2021

Problems of analysis and design of intricate heat transfer elements are traditional for various industrial and experimental heat transfer units, including multichannel heat exchangers and multi-component fins. Authors suggest and introduce unified method of analysis and synthesis for these classes of heat transfer objects.

Authors’ method of simulations for such class of objects is based on step-by-step integration of local tangential and longitudinal heat flows with sequential computations of temperature fields in cycles of iterations and specific selection of boundary conditions. Variations of selected key factors provide arrays of design parameters for synthesis of new and optimized heat transfer objects.
Estimating the Initial Crack Size in a Particulate Composite Material: An Analytical and Experimental Approach
Authors: Liu C. T.
Published: November 2021

In this study, a technique to predict the equivalent initial crack size (EICS) in a particulate composite material, containing hard particles embedded in a rubber matrix, was developed using constant strain rate crack propagation test data. The accuracy of the developed technique was determined. In addition, the statistical distribution of the equivalent initial crack size follows the second asymptotic distribution of maximum value.
Biodynamics of Human Thorax With Body Armors Subject to Bullet Impact
Authors: Kwon Y. W. , Lobuono J. A.
Published: November 2021

The objective of this study is to develop a finite element model of the human thorax with a protective body armor system so that the model can adequately determine the thorax’s biodynamical response from a projectile impact. The finite element model of the human thorax consists of the thoracic skeleton, heart, lungs, major arteries, major veins, trachea, and bronchi. The finite element model of the human thorax is validated by comparing the model’s results to experimental data obtained from cadavers wearing a protective body armor system undergoing a projectile impact.
Material Considerations in Optimization of Machine Tool Structure
Authors: Kushnir Emmanuil F. , Patel Mahendra R. , Sheehan Terrence M.
Published: November 2021

The three most popular choices currently used for the main structural components of machine tools are steel weldments, metal (cast iron) castings and polymer composites. Among the three, polymer composite offers the highest vibration damping and the lowest thermal conductivity. All three approaches have been employed in the design of machine tools to meet the criteria for required rigidity, impact resistance and vibration damping. The final choice is also affected by additional factors including cost footprint (space) requirements and lead times.

For most production applications of machine tool structures, (gray cast iron) metal castings remain the primary choice because of cost, ease of sourcing, good damping with relatively high strength, good machinability and well-established and consistently achievable manufacturing and processing requirements. However, fabrications are normally the preferred choice for low volume production of large structures, due mainly to the high up-front molding costs and the difficulties in process control inherent in very large castings. On the other hand, with increasing, emphasis on high speed machining, hard turning, and better and consistent machining accuracies, structural rigidity, thermal stability and vibration damping are becoming major design considerations making polymer composites a leading choice.

For this reason, Hardinge Inc., a super precision machine tool builder has traditionally used its proprietary polymer composite (Harcrete®) in its lathe, grinder and machining center bases. Depending on the performance and cost requirements, the base can be all composite or a combination of conventional casting strategically reinforced with composite.

With the current market forces and ever increasing competition in the industry, for most machines, value engineering has become a prominent factor. A major consideration is to identify the materials and designs that would provide the best performance of the machine while minimizing the cost. Therefore, new sets of evaluation criteria are necessary to arrive at designs with optimum cumulative impact on various technical, commercial and strategic requirements. This paper proposes such new criteria and examines their suitability based on testing and analyses of structural components in today’s demanding real-world machine tool applications.
Tank Car Load Environment Under Impact Conditions
Authors: Prabhakaran Anand , Sharma Vinaya , Peńa Jose S.
Published: November 2021

High coupler vertical loads have been measured in revenue service tests conducted by the Association of American Railroads (AAR) as part of the ‘Freight Equipment Environmental Sampling Tests’ (FEEST) program. These high loads can induce cracks and/or accelerate crack propagation rates, causing premature tank car stub sill separation, leading to compromised safety of operation. This project was initiated to study the vertical load environment experienced by tank cars. A full scale test sequence with static and impact testing of a tank car was conducted, followed by test data analysis. A tank car loaded to 266,200 lb gross rail load (GRL) was instrumented and used as the test car. The static tests consisted of vertical load tests with forces being applied at the coupler head and squeeze tests with loads applied at the rear draft lugs. The impact tests consisted of 2 series of impacts at speeds ranging from 2 mph to 8.5 mph for three coupler mismatch levels. The results showed that significant vertical forces are generated during an impact event, even in the absence of any coupler height mismatch between impacting cars. On average, vertical force peaks of about 45,000 lb were observed at an impact speed of 7.5 mph even when the impacting cars were at the same level. It was also noted that under impact conditions, vertical forces induce 50% of the maximum stress seen at the tank head. Therefore, ignoring the effects of vertical force will lead to an under-estimation of stress levels and fatigue levels in tank cars. In addition, the vertical forces and stresses in critical areas of the stub sill-tank car interface are generally higher when the struck car is lower. Differences (in stress level) over 50% (compared to when the cars are level) were noted when the struck car was 2 in lower than the hammer car. In light of this, it seems prudent to minimize coupler height mismatch whenever and wherever feasible. This research effort was funded by the Office of Research and Development of the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA).
Vehicle/Track Interaction Tests of Three Freight Vehicles on Revenue Service Tracks
Authors: Li Dingqing , Kalay Semih F. , Shust William
Published: November 2021

Transportation Technology Center Inc. (TTCI), a subsidiary of the Association of American Railroads (AAR), conducted extensive vehicle/track interaction tests from 1998 to 2000 on revenue service tracks for three freight vehicles (covered hopper, tank car and coal gondola). During those tests, both track geometry and the corresponding vehicle response were collected simultaneously. All together, more then 1,400 miles of revenue tracks were tested on three North American railroads, covering a wide range of track and operation conditions. This paper presents the test results and findings in two main areas: how vehicle responses relate to measured track geometry conditions and how vehicle responses compare to the AAR Chapter XI (vehicle track worthiness) criteria. Vehicle response includes wheel/rail forces and L/V ratios via instrumented wheelsets, as well as car body accelerations. Track geometry conditions are characterized by curvature, superelevation, vertical surfaces, cross-level, lateral alignments, and gage.
Reduction of Dynamic Wheel/Rail Impact Forces at Grade Crossings Using Stiffness Transitions
Authors: Zarembski Allan M. , Palese Joseph W. , Katz Leonid
Published: November 2021

This paper presents the results of combined analytical and field study of the use of vertical stiffness transition zones to reduce dynamic wheel/rail impact forces at the interface between conventional track and high/rail grade crossings. These interfaces are traditionally sites of severe dynamic impact forces and corresponding rapid degradation of the geometry of the track. A recent FRA sponsored research study developed a new analytical technique to define the number of and magnitude of the stiffness transition zones needed to reduce the dynamic impact forces. This technique was used to design a series of transitions for a concrete grade crossing, which were installed on New Jersey Transit’s Atlantic City Line in the vicinity of ATCO New Jersey in 1998. Field tests performed on the grade crossing after installation showed a significant reduction in measured dynamic vertical accelerations across the grade crossing as compared to other crossings on the same line. Recent follow up evaluation of this grade crossing showed that it is performing significantly better than similar adjacent grade crossings on the same line and that there has been a marked reduction in degradation of the track/grade crossing and associated maintenance. This paper will present the results of the theoretical formulation, analytical study, and the field tests.
Wayside Truck Peformance Detector Development
Authors: Keegan L. S. , Blank R. W. , D’Aoust Denis , Earl Dana , Ford David
Published: November 2021

This paper describes the development of several wayside detectors for use in assessing the “dynamic” performance and general condition of freight car and locomotive trucks operating in revenue service. The objective is to improve safety of operations via automated wayside performance-based inspection systems and the development of performance-based criteria to improve and supplement existing maintenance policies and procedures.
On-Board Condition Monitoring System for Freight Trains
Authors: Donelson John , Zavis Wayne M. , Punwani S. K. (John) , Stewart Monique Ferguson , Edwards Mark C.
Published: November 2021

Science Applications International Corporation (SAIC) and Wilcoxon Research have developed a real-time on-board condition monitoring system for freight trains. The Office of Research and Development of the Federal Railroad Administration funded the development of the system. The system monitors bearings, wheels, trucks and brakes on freight trains in order to detect equipment defects and derailments. The objectives of the system are to improve railroad safety and operation efficiency through continuous monitoring of mechanical components on freight trains.
An experimental study on transfer function estimation using acoustic modelling and singular value decomposition
Authors: Zhu Qiaoxi , Qiu Xiaojun , Coleman Philip , Burnett Ian
Published: November 2021

Transfer functions relating sound source strengths and the sound pressure at field points are important for sound field control. Recently, two modal domain methods for transfer function estimation have been compared using numerical simulations. One is the spatial harmonic decomposition (SHD) method, which models a sound field with a series of cylindrical waves; while the other is the singular value decomposition (SVD) method, which uses prior sound source location information to build an acoustic model and obtain basis functions for sound field modelling. In this paper, the feasibility of the SVD method using limited measurements to estimate transfer functions over densely spaced field samples within a target region is demonstrated experimentally. Experimental results with various microphone placements and system configurations are reported to demonstrate the geometric flexibility of the SVD method compared to the SHD method. It is shown that the SVD method can estimate broadband transfer functions up to 3099 Hz for a target region with a radius of 0.083 m using three microphones, and allow flexibility in system geometry. Furthermore, an application example of acoustic contrast control is presented, showing that the proposed method is a promising approach to facilitating broadband sound zone control with limited microphones.
Tool use and language share syntactic processes and neural patterns in the basal ganglia
Authors: Thibault Simon , Py Raphaël , Gervasi Angelo Mattia , Salemme Romeo , Koun Eric , Lövden Martin , Boulenger Véronique , Roy Alice C. , Brozzoli Claudio
Published: November 2021

Common basis for language and tool use

Tool use and language are hallmarks of human evolution. Because of the similarity between the motor processes for tool use and those supporting language, it has been hypothesized that syntax and tool use may share brain resources. Using functional magnetic resonance imaging and multivariate pattern analysis, Thibault
et al
. found that small portions of the basal ganglia in the human brain act as common neural substrates for both tool use and syntax in language. In a behavioral experiment, they showed that learning a novel task that involves the use of a tool also improves performance in a complex language task. These results further support the hypothesis of a coevolution of tool use and language. —PRS
Genome Sequence of Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus Strain NCDC610, Isolated from a Traditional Cereal-Based Fermented Milk Product (Raabadi)
Authors: Azmal Ali Syed , Singh Ashish Kumar , Tomar Sudhir K. , Behare Pradip
Published: November 2021

We announce the draft genome sequence of
Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus
NCDC610, an isolate from an Indian traditional cereal-based fermented milk product (Raabadi). The genome size of
Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus
NCDC610 is 2.91 Mb with the assembled sequence, and the genome consists of 67 contigs.
Recurrent giant cell tumour of the distal ulna after en bloc resection with preoperative denosumab use
Authors: Fujihara Nasa , Hamada Shunsuke , Yoshida Masahiro , Tsukushi Satoshi
Published: November 2021

In recent years, denosumab has been used to treat giant cell tumour of bone (GCTB) not only in cases where surgery is complicated but also preoperatively to decrease the preoperative grade or to facilitate surgery for Campanacci grade II and III cases. However, there are no clear protocols regarding the preoperative use of denosumab before en bloc resection. There are a few reports of recurrent cases after en bloc resection; however, the association with the use of denosumab is unknown. We present the clinical, radiological and histopathological findings of a case of Campanacci grade III GCTB at the distal end of the ulna, which resulted in soft tissue recurrence after en bloc resection with the preoperative use of denosumab.
Corynebacterium freneyias a cause of early prosthetic valve endocarditis
Authors: Grenne Bjørnar , Dalen Håvard , Nordhaug Dag Ole , Sand-Aas Torgeir , Holte Espen , Damås Jan Kristian , Mjølstad Ole Christian
Published: November 2021

Infective endocarditis (IE) is associated with severe complications and a high mortality rate. Identification of the causative pathogen is crucial to optimise treatment. We present a case of prosthetic valve endocarditis caused byCorynebacterium freneyi, a very rare cause of human infection and not previously reported as a cause of IE. Despite proper antibiotic therapy, the patient eventually needed surgery after progression of the infection. After surgery, he quickly recovered without evidence of relapse during an 8-month follow-up period. This report highlights critical decision making in a complex and potentially life-threatening situation, where neither guidelines nor previous clinical or microbiological experience were able to give clear treatment recommendations.
Ureterocele as a cause of chronic intractable abdominal pain
Authors: Chauhan Gaurav , Levy Isaiah , Samuel Samuel Wadie
Published: November 2021

A ureterocele is a submucosal, cystic dilation of the terminal ureter, either congenital or acquired, as it enters the bladder. It is a rare clinical entity that can be entirely asymptomatic and present as an incidental finding or can manifest in the form of distressing symptoms such as unremitting abdominal pain, haematuria, obstructive uropathy, to name a few. The authors present a case of abdominal pain in a 43-year-old woman who was presumptively attributed to various clinical entities and was finally referred to the chronic pain clinic. The patient underwent numerous diagnostic tests, psychological evaluations and therapeutic interventions, including surgeries, over the years that failed to mitigate her symptoms until urologic imaging reported intravesical ureterocele as the underlying disorder. The case report entails the diagnostic challenge faced by the authors along with the clinical characteristics of ureterocele.
Use of coronary stent grafts for the treatment of high-flow carotid cavernous fistula
Authors: Petrov Ivo , Stankov Zoran , Boychev Damyan , Klissurski Marko
Published: November 2021

Carotid cavernous fistulas are abnormal communications between the carotid artery or its branches and the cavernous sinus. It can be traumatic or spontaneous. The widely accepted treatment is by detachable balloons. Advancements in the field of endovascular medicine made available other options for the treatment of this condition. Covered stents are widely available and offer preservation of the parent artery while occluding the fistula.
Effect of nutritionally modified infant formula on academic performance: linkage of seven dormant randomised controlled trials to national education data
Authors: Verfürden Maximiliane L , Gilbert Ruth , Lucas Alan , Jerrim John , Fewtrell Mary
Published: November 2021

Objective

To compare differences in academic performance between adolescents who were randomised in infancy to modified or standard infant formula.

Design

Linkage of seven dormant randomised controlled trials to national education data.

Setting

Five hospitals in England, 11 August 1993 to 29 October 2001, and schools in England, September 2002 to August 2016.

Participants

1763 adolescents (425 born preterm, 299 born at term and small for gestational age, 1039 born at term) who took part in one of seven randomised controlled trials of infant formula in infancy.

Interventions

Nutrient enriched versus standard term formula (two trials), long chain polyunsaturated fatty acid (LCPUFA) supplemented versus unsupplemented formula (two trials), high versus low iron follow-on formula (one trial), high versus low sn-2 palmitate formula (one trial), and nucleotide supplemented versus unsupplemented formula (one trial).

Main outcome measures

The primary outcome, determined by linkage of trial data to school data, was the mean difference in standard deviation scores for mandated examinations in mathematics at age 16 years. Secondary outcomes included differences in standard deviation scores in English (16 and 11 years) and mathematics (11 years). Analysis was by intention to treat with multiple imputation for participants missing the primary outcome.

Results

1607 (91.2%) participants were linked to school records. No benefit was found for performance in mathematics examinations at age 16 years for any modified formula: nutrient enriched in preterm infants after discharge from hospital, standard deviation score 0.02 (95% confidence interval −0.22 to 0.27), and nutrient enriched in small for gestational age term infants −0.11 (−0.33 to 0.12); LCPUFA supplemented in preterm infants −0.19 (−0.46 to 0.08) and in term infants −0.14 (−0.36 to 0.08); iron follow-on formula in term infants −0.12 (−0.31 to 0.07); and sn-2 palmitate supplemented formula in term infants −0.09 (−0.37 to 0.19). Participants from the nucleotide trial were too young to have sat their General Certificate of Secondary Education (GCSE) examinations at the time of linkage to school data. Secondary outcomes did not differ for nutrient enriched, high iron, sn-2 palmitate, or nucleotide supplemented formulas, but at 11 years, preterm and term participants randomised to LCPUFA supplemented formula scored lower in English and mathematics.

Conclusions

Evidence from these randomised controlled trials indicated that the infant formula modifications did not promote long term cognitive benefit compared with standard infant formulas.
Exercise versus usual care after non-reconstructive breast cancer surgery (UK PROSPER): multicentre randomised controlled trial and economic evaluation
Authors: Bruce Julie , Mazuquin Bruno , Canaway Alastair , Hossain Anower , Williamson Esther , Mistry Pankaj , Lall Ranjit , Petrou Stavros , Lamb Sarah E , Rees Sophie , Padfield Emma , Vidya Raghavan , Thompson Alastair M
Published: November 2021

Objective

To evaluate whether a structured exercise programme improved functional and health related quality of life outcomes compared with usual care for women at high risk of upper limb disability after breast cancer surgery.

Design

Multicentre, pragmatic, superiority, randomised controlled trial with economic evaluation.

Setting

17 UK National Health Service cancer centres.

Participants

392 women undergoing breast cancer surgery, at risk of postoperative upper limb morbidity, randomised (1:1) to usual care with structured exercise (n=196) or usual care alone (n=196).

Interventions

Usual care (information leaflets) only or usual care plus a physiotherapy led exercise programme, incorporating stretching, strengthening, physical activity, and behavioural change techniques to support adherence to exercise, introduced at 7-10 days postoperatively, with two further appointments at one and three months.

Main outcome measures

Disability of Arm, Hand and Shoulder (DASH) questionnaire at 12 months, analysed by intention to treat. Secondary outcomes included DASH subscales, pain, complications, health related quality of life, and resource use, from a health and personal social services perspective.

Results

Between 26 January 2016 and 31 July 2017, 951 patients were screened and 392 (mean age 58.1 years) were randomly allocated, with 382 (97%) eligible for intention to treat analysis. 181 (95%) of 191 participants allocated to exercise attended at least one appointment. Upper limb function improved after exercise compared with usual care (mean DASH 16.3 (SD 17.6) for exercise (n=132); 23.7 (22.9) usual care (n=138); adjusted mean difference 7.81, 95% confidence interval 3.17 to 12.44; P=0.001). Secondary outcomes favoured exercise over usual care, with lower pain intensity at 12 months (adjusted mean difference on numerical rating scale −0.68, −1.23 to −0.12; P=0.02) and fewer arm disability symptoms at 12 months (adjusted mean difference on Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-Breast+4 (FACT-B+4) −2.02, −3.11 to −0.93; P=0.001). No increase in complications, lymphoedema, or adverse events was noted in participants allocated to exercise. Exercise accrued lower costs per patient (on average −£387 (€457; $533) (95% confidence interval −£2491 to £1718; 2015 pricing) and was cost effective compared with usual care.

Conclusions

The PROSPER exercise programme was clinically effective and cost effective and reduced upper limb disability one year after breast cancer treatment in patients at risk of treatment related postoperative complications.

Trial registration

ISRCTN Registry
ISRCTN35358984
.
Enteropathies with villous atrophy but negative coeliac serology in adults: current issues
Authors: Schiepatti Annalisa , Cincotta Marta , Biagi Federico , Sanders David S
Published: November 2021

Objective

The differential diagnosis and management of seronegative enteropathies is challenging due to the rarity of these conditions, the overlap of clinical and histopathological features and the current lack of an international consensus on their nomenclature.

Design

This is a narrative review providing pragmatic guide on the investigation and clinical management of seronegative enteropathies in adults based on the available literature and our clinical experience.

Conclusions

Seronegative coeliac disease is the most frequent cause among the heterogeneous group of seronegative enteropathies and its diagnosis is confirmed by the clinical and histological response to a gluten-free diet after the exclusion of other causes of villous atrophy. Correct identification and targeted management of seronegative enteropathies is mandatory because of the variation in terms of clinical outcomes and prognosis.
Serum trough levels of infliximab are not associated with peripheral arthralgia activity in patients with inflammatory bowel disease
Authors: Sekhri Shaina , Rao Bharat , Mohananey Akanksha , Beniwal-Patel Poonam , Bruss Alexandra , Stein Daniel J , Yarur Andres J
Published: November 2021

Background

Infliximab is an efficacious therapy for inflammatory bowel disease and may play a role in management of some extraintestinal manifestations. While higher trough levels of infliximab are associated with higher rates of disease remission, the association between trough levels of infliximab and arthralgia activity characterised as an extraintestinal manifestation has yet to be defined.

Objective

We aimed to assess the association between serum trough levels of infliximab and peripheral arthralgia activity in patients with inflammatory bowel disease.

Design

In this cross-sectional study, we identified patients with inflammatory bowel disease on infliximab therapy with known history of arthralgias attributed to an extraintestinal manifestation. Collected variables included disease phenotype, medications (such as thiopurines or methotrexate), Harvey Bradshaw Index, partial Mayo score, C reactive protein, trough levels of infliximab and anti-infliximab antibodies. The primary outcome was active patient-reported arthralgia.

Results

Out of 267 patients included, 65 (24.4%) had active arthralgias at the time the trough level of infliximab was measured. No significant differences in trough levels were seen between those patients with and without arthralgias. Patients on combination therapy with methotrexate or thiopurines or those with detectable anti-infliximab antibodies were not more likely to have inactive arthralgias (OR 0.99, 95% CI 0.57 to 1.74, p=0.99 and OR 1.94, 95% CI 0.9 to 4.1, p=0.09, respectively).

Conclusions

This study suggests that although therapeutic drug monitoring of infliximab can have a role in the management of Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis, it does not seem to be useful in managing arthralgias associated with inflammatory bowel disease.
Aspirin and statin therapy for primary prevention of cardiovascular disease in older adults
Authors: Montgomery Sophie , Miedema Michael D , Dodson John A
Published: November 2021

The value of primary preventative therapies for cardiovascular disease (CVD) in older adults (age ≥75 years) is less certain than in younger patients. There is a lack of quality evidence in older adults due to underenrolment in pivotal trials. While aspirin is no longer recommended for routine use in primary prevention of CVD in older adults, statins may be efficacious. However, it is unclear which patient subgroups may benefit most, and guidelines differ between expert panels. Three relevant geriatric conditions (cognitive impairment, functional impairment and polypharmacy) may influence therapeutic decision making; for example, baseline frailty may affect statin efficacy, and some have advocated for deprescription in this scenario. Evidence regarding statins and incident functional decline are mixed, and vigilance for adverse effects is important, especially in the setting of polypharmacy. However, aspirin has not been shown to affect incident cognitive or functional decline, and its lack of efficacy extends to patients with baseline cognitive impairment or frailty. Ultimately, the utility of primary preventative therapies for CVD in older adults depends on potential lifetime benefit. Rather than basing treatment decisions on absolute risk alone, consideration of comorbidities, polypharmacy and life expectancy should play a significant role in decision making. Coronary calcium score and new tools for risk stratification validated in older adults that account for the competing risk of death may aid in evaluating potential benefits. Given the complexity of therapeutic decisions in this context, shared decision making provides an important framework.
Some new dispersive dromions and integrability analysis for the Davey–Stewartson (DS-II) model in fluid dynamics
Authors: Akram Urooj , Seadawy Aly. R. , Rizvi Syed T. R. , Younis Muhammad , Althobaiti Ali
Published: November 2021

This paper focuses on the Davey–Stewartson (DS)-II equation, and the extended modified auxiliary equation mapping (EMAEM) architectonic is used to develop a new set of solutions such as kink, singular kink, rational, combined soliton-like solutions, bell-type solutions, trigonometric and hyperbolic solutions. Furthermore, this study reveals that the used technique is efficient for solving other nonlinear evolution equations (NLEEs). The Painleve test ([Formula: see text]-test) will also be used to examine the integrability of the DS-II equation. Finally, graphical simulations are designed to show the exact behavior of solutions as well as the efficacy of the suggested strategy.
Collusion-free for Cloud Verification toward the View of Game Theory
Authors: Yan Hongyang , Jiang Nan , Li Kang , Wang Yilei , Yang Guoyu
Published: November 2021

At present, clients can outsource lots of complex and abundant computation, e.g., Internet of things (IoT), tasks to clouds by the “pay as you go” model. Outsourcing computation can save costs for clients and fully utilize the existing cloud infrastructures. However, it is hard for clients to trust the clouds even if blockchain is used as the trusted platform. In this article, we utilize the verification method as SETI@home by only two rational clouds, who hope to maximize their utilities. Utilities are defined as the incomes of clouds when they provide computation results to clients. More specifically, one client outsources two jobs to two clouds and each job contains
n
tasks, which include
k
identical sentinels. Two clouds can either honestly compute each task or collude on the identical sentinel tasks by agreeing on random values. If the results of identical sentinels are identical, then client regards the jobs as correctly computed without verification. Obviously, rational clouds have incentives to deviate by collusion and provide identical random results for a higher income. We discuss how to prevent collusion by using deposits, e.g., bit-coins. Furthermore, utilities for each cloud can be automatically assigned by a smart contract. We prove that, given proper parameters, two rational clouds will honestly send correct results to the client without collusion.
Frequency Responses of Molar Electrochemical Peltier Heat and Entropy Changes Analyzed as Thermometric Transfer Functions
Authors: Sanchez-Amaya M. , Bárcena-Soto M. , Antaño-López R. , Rodríguez-López A. , Gutierrez-Becerra A. , Larios-Durán E. R.
Published: November 2021

In honor of Prof. Dr. Fritz Scholz in his recent retirement.

This work proposes a theoretical framework to obtain the frequency response of molar electrochemical Peltier heat and entropy changes induced by a modulated electrical signal. This is based on an internal energy balance developed for a working electrode thermistor in ac regime. Then, from an analysis that correlates the electrochemical impedance and the interfacial temperature variation, two new transfer functions that depend on the frequency

ω
,

named as entropy changes

Δ
S

ω

,

and molar electrochemical Peltier heat,

Π

ω

are obtained. This strategy is tested in two electrochemical systems: the ferrocyanide/ferricyanide couple and the copper ions in an acid sulphate-chloride medium. Both systems are analyzed by dc thermometric measurements, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy and ac-thermometric experiments namely variation of interfacial temperature. As a result,

Δ
S

ω

and

Π

ω

,

are obtained and their values are correlated to the relaxation processes involved in the electrochemical reaction. Additionally, a brief discussion is included concerning the differences between the classical dc thermoelectrochemical methodology and the proposed approach here.
Gravitational effects on intraocular pressure and ocular perfusion pressure
Authors: Petersen Lonnie G. , Whittle Richard S. , Lee Justin H. , Sieker Jeremy , Carlson Joseph , Finke Colton , Shelton Cody M. , Petersen Johan C. G. , Diaz-Artiles Ana
Published: November 2021

Maintaining appropriate ocular perfusion pressure (OPP) is critical for ocular health. We measured the relative changes in intraocular and mean arterial pressures during 360° tilt and calculated OPP, which was elevated during head-down tilt and decreased during head-up tilt. Experimental data are also explained by our computational model. We demonstrate that OPP is more gravitationally dependent than previously recognized and may be a factor in the overall patho-etiology behind the weightlessness-induced spaceflight-associated neuro-ocular syndrome.