bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Application of lidar remote sensing of insects in agricultural entomology on the Chinese scene
Authors: Song Ziwei , Zhang Baoxin , Feng Hongqiang , Zhu Shiming , Hu Lingna , Brydegaard Mikkel , Li Yiyun , Jansson Samuel , Malmqvist Elin , Svanberg Katarina , Zhao Guangyu , Bood Joakim , Svanberg Sune , Li Dunsong
Published: November 2019

Insect pest management is a very important aspect for plant protection in crops production. Remote sensing provides a large number of techniques that are beneficial in entomological research. Although entomological radars have been used for studying migrations of insects for many years, most of entomological radar studies have been vertically tracing high‐altitude migration behaviour of insects. Light detection and ranging (lidar) is a counterpart to radar, now operating in the optical part of the electromagnetic spectrum, which has been recently applied for monitoring of insects at low altitude. Such techniques, in particular low‐cost continuous‐wave (CW) bi‐static systems based on the Scheimpflug arrangement, have been rapidly developing during the last decade. As a result, optical methods present new and fascinating possibilities. Based on experience from a 2‐week field campaign in rice paddy fields, we here present an overview of lidar remote sensing applied to the Chinese scene. The capability of a CW Scheimpflug lidar system in monitoring the insects was studied. We present results on insect abundance in relation to time of the day and weather conditions. We also identified insect species by analysing wing‐beat frequencies and studied their attraction to ultraviolet (UV) lamp located close to the horizontal laser sampling path during night time. Results showed that the insect species were abundant, that insects detected by the lidar system were attracted to light and that light rain increased the insect activity. The lidar detection system had a high read‐out frequency, enabling the estimation of insect wing‐beat frequencies.
“A Multi‐center, randomized, double blinded, comparative study of two hyaluronic acid fillers for temporary restoration of mid‐face volume in Asians”
Authors: Jung Joon Min , Lee Woo Shun , Kim Hak Tae , Moon Young Seon , Paik Seung Hwan , Lee Woo Jin , Chang Sung Eun , Lee Mi Woo , Won Chong Hyun , Kim Beom Joon
Published: November 2019

Background

There have been few studies using hyaluronic acid fillers to restore mid‐face volume deficit especially in Asians.

Aims

This study compared the efficacy and safety of two highly cohesive hyaluronic acid fillers, Neuramis® Volume Lidocaine and Juvederm® Voluma® with Lidocaine (VYC‐20L), for temporary restoration of mid‐face volume in Asians.

Patients/Methods

A total of 88 subjects with moderate to severe age‐related mid‐face volume deficit on the Mid‐Face Volume Deficit Scale (MFVDS) received Neuramis® Volume Lidocaine on one side and VYC‐20L on the other side of the face. Response was defined as a ≥1 point reduction in MFVDS at 24 weeks after the injection by photographic assessment. Secondary end points included photographic and live assessments of MFVDS and its changes at week 4, 12, and 24; global aesthetic improvements, as assessed by the investigators and the subjects at each visit; and the proportion of subjects who received touch‐up treatment.

Results

The response rates of the sides treated with Neuramis® Volume Lidocaine and VYC‐20L were identical (96.39%) at week 24, demonstrating that Neuramis® Volume Lidocaine was noninferior to VYC‐20L. Photographic and live assessments of MFVDS and its changes, global aesthetic improvement, and the proportion of subjects who received touch‐up treatment did not differ significantly during follow‐up.

Conclusions

Neuramis® Volume Lidocaine was not inferior to VYC‐20L in temporarily restoring mid‐face volume at 24 weeks after treatment. Both of these highly cohesive hyaluronic acid fillers can be used effectively and safely for the correction of mid‐face volume loss in Asians.
The Self‐Care of Heart Failure Index: A psychometric study
Authors: Koirala Binu , Budhathoki Chakra , Dennison‐Himmelfarb Cheryl R. , Bhattarai Priyanka , Davidson Patricia M.
Published: November 2019

Background

The Self‐Care of Heart Failure Index is an empirically tested instrument to measure self‐care of heart failure patients across different populations and cultures.

Aims

To develop and evaluate the psychometric properties of the Nepali Self‐Care of Heart Failure Index.

Design

This psychometric study used a cross‐sectional, observational, study design to collect data. The study was guided and reported following the Strengthening the Reporting of Observational Studies in Epidemiology guideline.

Methods

To develop and culturally validate Nepali Self‐Care of Heart Failure Index, a combination of the recommended methods for cross‐cultural validation studies were applied such as translation, back translation, expert committee review of the translated version and validity/reliability testing. Face and content validity were ensured using expert review. Construct validity was examined using exploratory factor analysis and confirmatory factor analysis. Composite reliability scores were calculated for each sub‐scale of the Nepali Self‐Care of Heart Failure Index.

Results

A total of 221 heart failure patients in Nepal were enrolled in the study. Adequate face and content validity were ensured through expert review. Exploratory factor analysis and confirmatory factor analysis supported the original three‐factor model. Although the three factors explained only 41% of the variance, confirmatory factor analysis fit indexes and error measures were found reasonable. The composite reliability coefficients for self‐care maintenance, management and confidence scale were 0.6, 0.7 and 0.8, respectively.

Conclusions

The Nepali Self‐Care of Heart Failure Index is a theoretically based, culturally acceptable and appropriate instrument for use among Nepali heart failure patients. However, further studies are needed to refine its psychometric properties.

Relevance to clinical practice

Access to reliable, valid and culturally appropriate instruments is crucial in describing the state of the problem as well as for developing and evaluating tailored and targeted self‐care practice interventions for Nepali patients living with heart failure.
Risk score for failed trial of vaginal birth after a previous cesarean section including data of labor course
Authors: Machado Junior Luis C. , Famá Eduardo A. B. , Zamboni Jorge W. , Awada Pedro F. , Araújo Talitha A. , Nascimento‐Ferreira Marcus V. , de Carvalho Heráclito B.
Published: November 2019

Aim

There is much discussion about the advantages and disadvantages of a trial of labor after cesarean (TOLAC). Some data suggest the greater the likelihood of success, the lower the risks of TOLAC. Our goal was to identify clinical and demographic variables associated with a failed TOLAC, available at admission for spontaneous labor and until 3 h later, with the aim of building two scores for risk of failed TOLAC.

Methods

This is a nested case–control study with live births to women with one previous cesarean, in a public Brazilian teaching hospital. Preterm, induction, noncephalic presentations, twins, fetal malformations were excluded. Cases were failed TOLAC, and controls, the successful TOLAC. It was accessed the association of the cases with 20 variables (P < 0.05). Associated variables were tested in multivariate analysis to build the scores, which were internally validated.

Results

We included 260 TOLAC, 42 cases and 218 controls. We found 11 variables associated with failed TOLAC. In the score to be applied at admission, we included hypertension, fundal height, previous vaginal birth and dilatation at admission. In the second score hypertension, fundal height at admission, membrane status and difference in dilatation 3 h after admission. Both scores presented good performance in the receiver‐operator curve (areas under curve: 0.73 and 0.84, respectively). Both scores were translated into nomograms for clinical use.

Conclusion

Two scores were built for risk of failed TOLAC, to be applied at admission and 3 h later. We believe that choosing the more favorable cases makes risks of TOLAC lower.
The effect of botulinum toxin injections on bruxism: A systematic review
Authors: Ågren Martin , Sahin Christofer , Pettersson Mattias
Published: November 2019

Objective

To systematize evidence on the efficacy of botulinum toxin type A (BTA) in the treatment of bruxism measured through bite force or electromyography (EMG) at the masseter muscle.

Method

Identification of relevant articles through databases PubMed, Web of Science, SCOPUS, Ovid and EBSCO and manual search were performed for sources from review articles. Studies scoring less than 3 on the Jadad Scale were excluded.

Results

Four articles were included after an exclusion of 333 articles. 3 articles measured EMG and 1 bite force. 1 article did not record a significant drop of activity, 1 article recorded reduction midway and at final endpoint. 2 articles recorded initial reduction, but a non significant difference at later follow up.

Conclusion

The available research is inconclusive and does not show enough evidence that bruxism can be treated with BTA injections. However, promising results have been shown in individual studies and further research in this area is needed.
Further investigations on the PHAEOTHAMNIOPHYCEAE using a multigene phylogeny, with descriptions of five new species
Authors: Graf Louis , Yang Eun Chan , Boo Ga Hun , Andersen Robert A. , Yoon Hwan Su
Published: November 2019

We examined 12 strains representing eight species classified in the algal class Phaeothamniophyceae (Heterokontophyta). Based upon a five‐gene molecular phylogeny (nuclear‐encoded SSU rRNA and plastid‐encoded psaA, psbA, psbC, and rbcL) and light microscopic observations, we describe five new species: Phaeoschizochlamys santosii sp. nov., Phaeoschizochlamys siveri sp. nov., Phaeothamnion wetherbeei sp. nov., Stichogloea dopii sp. nov. and Stichogloea fawleyi sp. nov. The Phaeothamniophyceae, as delimited here, form a natural group that is sister to the Aurearenophyceae. Molecular phylogenetic analyses proved more reliable than morphological characters for distinguishing species. Evolutionary trends with the SI clade of the heterokont algae are discussed.
Effects of withering on the main physical properties of withered tea leaves and the sensory quality of congou black tea
Authors: Ye Yulong , Dong Chunwang , Luo Fan , Cui Jilai , Liao Xueli , Lu Anxia , Yan Jingna , Mao Shihong , Li Meifeng , Fang Chunyan , Tong Huarong
Published: November 2019

To explore the relationship between the moisture content of withered tea leaves and their physical properties (i.e., elasticity, plasticity, flexibility, and texture) during withering, texture analyzer was employed to test the elasticity and flexibility of withered tea leaves with different moisture contents. The texture was evaluated by computer vision technology. The withered tea leaves with different moisture contents were used to process congou black tea, which was then subjected to sensory evaluation. Results showed that good elasticity, optimal flexibility, and plasticity were achieved when the moisture content of the withered tea leaves of Fudingdabai comprising two leaves and one bud varied arranging from 65.51 to 61.48%. The sensory evaluation of congou black tea revealed that moderate withering was better than long‐term withering and that both moderate and long‐term withering were better than no withering during processing. The moisture content was significantly correlated with the flexibility and plasticity of the withered tea leaves. Fresh tea leaves undergoing moderate withering with moisture content of 65.51–61.48% to process congou black tea, good tea shape and liquor color were achieved. This study provided new evidence that the moisture content of withered tea leaves significantly affected the quality of black tea.
Food additives: Assessing the impact of exposure to permitted emulsifiers on bowel and metabolic health – introducing the FADiets study
Authors: Partridge D. , Lloyd K. A. , Rhodes J. M. , Walker A. W. , Johnstone A. M. , Campbell B. J.
Published: November 2019

Emulsifiers are common components of processed foods consumed as part of a Western diet. Emerging in vitro cell‐line culture, mouse model and human intestinal tissue explant studies have all suggested that very low concentrations of the food emulsifier polysorbate 80 may cause bacterial translocation across the intestinal epithelium, intestinal inflammation and metabolic syndrome. This raises the possibility that dietary emulsifiers might be factors in conditions such as coronary artery disease, type 2 diabetes and Crohn's disease. The potential mechanism behind the observed effects of this emulsifier is uncertain but may be mediated via changes in the gut microbiota or by increased bacterial translocation, or both. It is also unknown whether these effects are generalisable across all emulsifiers and detergents, including perhaps the natural emulsifier lecithin or even conjugated bile acids, particularly if the latter escape reabsorption and pass through to the distal ileum or colon. A major objective of the Medical Research Council (MRC)‐funded Mechanistic Nutrition in Health (MECNUT) Emulsifier project is therefore to investigate the underlying mechanisms and effects of a range of synthetic and natural emulsifiers and detergents in vitro and in vivo, and to determine the effects of a commonly consumed emulsifier (soya lecithin) on gut and metabolic health through a controlled dietary intervention study in healthy human volunteers – the FADiets study. This report provides an overview of the relevant literature, discussing the impact of emulsifiers and other additives on intestinal and metabolic health, and gives an overview of the studies being undertaken as part of the MECNUT Emulsifier project.
Socio‐economic inequalities in childhood obesity: Can community level interventions help to reduce the gap?
Authors: Lockyer S. , Spiro A.
Published: November 2019

A link between higher rates of childhood obesity and deprivation has been noted in the UK, as well as several other European countries and the US. The drivers of obesity are complex and multi‐factorial, but socially and economically disadvantaged groups may be more vulnerable to many of these. Evidence that rates of obesity are rising faster in low‐income population groups, resulting in widening inequalities indicates that prevention policies must take account of socio‐economic factors. It has been suggested that community‐wide approaches placing less emphasis on individual responsibility or ‘agency’ (i.e. have less emphasis on aspects that require cognitive, psychological and material resources and time) can be more effective and equitable. This paper outlines examples of community approaches that may have contributed to the reported reductions in childhood obesity in some areas, particularly amongst deprived groups including Health, Exercise and Nutrition in the Really Young in Leeds, UK; Ensemble Prévenons l'Obésité Des Enfants and Amsterdam’s citywide Healthy Weight Programme. The policies enacted that improved the nutrition environment and increased opportunities for physical activity in four US sites (the Childhood Obesity Declines project) are also considered. It is clear that there is no silver bullet for tackling childhood obesity. A whole systems approach that takes into account more holistically the reasons why healthy diet and lifestyles may be less available to families on low incomes is needed.
Drug‐seeking: A literature review (and an exemplar of stigmatization in nursing)
Authors: Copeland Darcy
Published: November 2019

Despite its lack of conceptual clarity and uniform definition, the term drug‐seeking is used frequently by nurses from a variety of practice environments. The drugs patients are referred to as seeking are often pain medications. This is important because nursing has widely adopted a patient‐centric definition of pain. Nursing also has a robust ethical code that places high value on human dignity and nurses’ role in patient advocacy. A review of literature was conducted with the aims of describing whether/how the term drug‐seeking has changed over time and to determine whether the use of the term in nursing literature is consistent with nursing values. Use of the term has shifted from objective counts of patient requests for medication to a confusing mixture of observable patient behavior and subjective interpretations of patient motivation. Its use is not consistent with nursing values. It is, in fact, a good illustration of stigmatization in nursing. Stigmatization is contrary to nursing values. Nurses in practice, research, education, authors, reviewers, and editors all have a role in ending this stigmatization.
Being a spectator in ambiguity—Family members’ perceptions of assisted bodily care in a nursing home
Authors: Holmberg Bodil , Hellström Ingrid , Österlind Jane
Published: November 2019

Aim

The aim of this study was to explore family members’ perceptions of assisted bodily care in a nursing home.

Background

Many older people living in nursing homes need assisted bodily care, provided by assistant nurses. This means exposedness, as the assistance is often provided under stress, but also brings pleasure. Family members, who may wish to and often benefit from continuing to provide assisted bodily care, are perceived as visitors and are expected to relinquish the assisted bodily care to the assistant nurses.

Design

This study has a qualitative design with a phenomenographic approach.

Methods

Data were collected through semi‐structured interviews (n = 13) with family members of older people who were aged > 80, permanently living in a nursing home, suffering from multimorbidity, and in daily need of assisted bodily care. The data were analysed using a phenomenographic method.

Results

Three categories of description presenting an increasing complexity were identified. The family members perceived that assisted bodily care is built upon a respect for the older person's self‐determination, practically supported by assistant nurses, and complemented by family members.

Conclusions

In the family members’ perceptions, assisted bodily care signifies ambiguity, as they find themselves balancing between the older persons’ need for self‐determination and need for help, and, further, between their trust in the assistant nurses’ skills and their own perceived inadequacies in intimate assisted bodily care.

Implications for practice

Policies that address the family members’ role in nursing homes are needed. Furthermore, time for collaboration is needed for assistant nurses to inform and explain care decisions, become aware of the family members’ perceptions of their situation and learn from them.
Seminal roots of wild and cultivated barley differentially respond to osmotic stress in gene expression, suberization, and hydraulic conductivity
Authors: Kreszies Tino , Eggels Stella , Kreszies Victoria , Osthoff Alina , Shellakkutti Nandhini , Baldauf Jutta A. , Zeisler‐Diehl Viktoria V. , Hochholdinger Frank , Ranathunge Kosala , Schreiber Lukas
Published: November 2019

Wild barley,Hordeum vulgarespp.spontaneum, has a wider genetic diversity than its cultivated progeny,Hordeum vulgarespp. vulgare. Osmotic stress leads to a series of different responses in wild barley seminal roots, ranging from no changes in suberization to enhanced endodermal suberization of certain zones and the formation of a suberized exodermis, which was not observed in the modern cultivars studied so far. Further, as a response to osmotic stress, the hydraulic conductivity of roots was not affected in wild barley, but it was 2.5‐fold reduced in cultivated barley. In both subspecies, osmotic adjustment by increasing proline concentration and decreasing osmotic potential in roots was observed. RNA‐sequencing indicated that the regulation of suberin biosynthesis and water transport via aquaporins were different between wild and cultivated barley. These results indicate that wild barley uses different strategies to cope with osmotic stress compared with cultivated barley. Thus, it seems that wild barley is better adapted to cope with osmotic stress by maintaining a significantly higher hydraulic conductivity of roots during water deficit.
Visible light‐Driven AgBr/AgCl@MIL‐101(Fe) Composites For Removal of Organic Contaminant From Wastewater
Authors: Nguyen Hoang Phuc , Kim Tae Ho , Lee Soo Wohn
Published: November 2019

Microwave‐solvothermal synthesized MIL‐101(Fe) was successfully loaded by silver halides (AgCl and AgBr) by simple precipitation method. The XRD, FESEM mapping, XPS and DRS measurements reveal the successful fabrication of composite photocatalyst. The results suggested that silver halides altered surface charge, surface area and pore size distribution of MIL‐101(Fe). The 20%AgBr@MIL‐101(Fe) composite has strong tendency to remove the cationic/anionic dyes (96% of rhodamine B, 100% of malachite green and 92% of methyl orange) from wastewater after 30 min of adsorption and 90 min under visible light irradiation. The composite photocatalyst revealed the photodegradation stability up to four cycles. The formation of mesopores improves the adsorption ability of the composites for large organic molecules, while loaded silver halides might inhibit the recombination of electron‐hole pairs; those were responsible for enhancing the photocatalytic degradation of organic pollutants. ESR suggested , were responsible for dye degradation in visible light by composite photocatalysts. The photocatalytic mechanism of the composite was also explained in this work.
Head magnetomyography (hMMG): A novel approach to monitor face and whole head muscular activity
Authors: Barchiesi Guido , Demarchi Gianpaolo , Wilhelm Frank H. , Hauswald Anne , Sanchez Gaëtan , Weisz Nathan
Published: November 2019

Muscular activity recording is of high basic science and clinical relevance and is typically achieved using electromyography (EMG). While providing detailed information about the state of a specific muscle, this technique has limitations such as the need for a priori assumptions about electrode placement and difficulty with recording muscular activity patterns from extended body areas at once. For head and face muscle activity, the present work aimed to overcome these restrictions by exploiting magnetoencephalography (MEG) as a whole head myographic recorder (head magnetomyography, hMMG). This is in contrast to common MEG studies, which treat muscular activity as artifact in electromagnetic brain activity. In a first proof‐of‐concept step, participants imitated emotional facial expressions performed by a model. Exploiting source projection algorithms, we were able to reconstruct muscular activity, showing spatial activation patterns in accord with the hypothesized muscular contractions. Going one step further, participants passively observed affective pictures with negative, neutral, or positive valence. Applying multivariate pattern analysis to the reconstructed hMMG signal, we were able to decode above chance the valence category of the presented pictures. Underlining the potential of hMMG, a searchlight analysis revealed that generally neglected neck muscles exhibit information on stimulus valence. Results confirm the utility of hMMG as a whole head electromyographic recorder to quantify muscular activation patterns including muscular regions that are typically not recorded with EMG. This key advantage beyond conventional EMG has substantial scientific and clinical potential.
A discriminatory diagram of massive versus stratified deposits based on the sedimentation and bedload transportation rates. Experimental investigation and application to pyroclastic density currents
Authors: Dellino Pierfrancesco , Dioguardi Fabio , Doronzo Domenico Maria , Mele Daniela
Published: November 2019

Dense gas‐particle jets similar to collapsing eruption columns were generated by large‐scale experiments. The column collapse resulted in a ground‐hugging current forming stratified layers with bedding similar to natural pyroclastic density current deposits. At the impact of the collapsing column on the ground, a thick, massive bed was formed due to a high sedimentation rate that dumped turbulence due to high clast concentration. Down‐current, flow expansion favoured turbulence and dilute gas‐particle current that formed thin rippled layers deposited under traction. Experiments fed with fine ash (median size 0·066 mm) formed deposits without tractional structures, because fine particles, as other sedimentary fine material, is cohesive and exposes a limited surface to the shear stress. Experimental outcomes show that massive beds are formed where the sedimentation rate per unit width Srw exceeds the bedload transportation rate Qb by two orders of magnitude. A lower ratio generates traction at the base of the flow and formation of shear structures that increase in wavelength and height with a decreasing flux. This study presents a diagram that provides a useful addition for facies analysis of pyroclastic density currents, provided that deposits representing sustained sedimentation can be identified in the field. In the diagram a decrease in the Srw/Qb ratio corresponds to an increase in bedform size. Application of the diagram for hazard assessment purposes allows the reconstruction of the mass eruption rate of the Agnano–Monte Spina eruption at Campi Flegrei, which is the main variable defining the intensity of past eruptions, and of the Bingham rheology of the massive underflow of the Mercato pyroclastic density current at Vesuvius.
Learning to LEADER. Ritualised Performances of ‘Participation’ in Local Arenas of Participatory Rural Governance
Authors: Müller Oliver , Sutter Ove , Wohlgemuth Sina
Published: November 2019

The active involvement of local residents in development projects has become a keystone in current rural governance arrangements in the European Union. The latter’s rural development programme LEADER is an example of this, as it requests local residents to take action in the development process. Yet, despite the strong emphasis on ‘participation’ in policy texts and rhetoric, there is only a formalistic definition of what ‘participation’ as involvement and activation of local residents actually means and how it should be put into practice. Drawing on data gathered during ethnographic fieldwork in two LEADER regions and the insights of practice and performance theory, this article argues that because of this indeterminacy, ‘participation’ as a social practice must first be realised and defined in a performative way, i.e., it must be practiced, negotiated and legitimised in specific physical‐spatial settings. These settings serve as local arenas of participatory rural governance in which local residents are activated and involved in the implementation of LEADER projects. Assuming certain roles and carrying out specific activities related to material artefacts, they negotiate the meaning of ‘participation’ as a social practice.
Decellularization combined with enzymatic removal of N‐linked glycans and residual DNA reduces inflammatory response and improves performance of porcine xenogeneic pulmonary heart valves in an ovine in vivo model
Authors: Ramm Robert , Goecke Tobias , Theodoridis Karolina , Hoeffler Klaus , Sarikouch Samir , Findeisen Katja , Ciubotaru Anatol , Cebotari Serghei , Tudorache Igor , Haverich Axel , Hilfiker Andres
Published: November 2019

Background

Limited availability of decellularized allogeneic heart valve substitutes restricts the clinical application thereof. Decellularized xenogeneic valves might constitute an attractive alternative; however, increased immunological hurdles have to be overcome. This study aims for the in vivo effect in sheep of decellularized porcine pulmonary heart valves (dpPHV) enzymatically treated for N‐glycan and DNA removal.

Methods

dpPHV generated by nine different decelluarization methods were characterized in respect of DNA, hydroxyproline, GAGs, and SDS content. Orthotopic implantation in sheep for six months of five groups of dpPHV (n = 3 each; 3 different decellularization protocols w/o PNGase F and DNase I treatment) allowed the analysis of function and immunological reaction in the ovine host. Allogenic doPHV implantations (n = 3) from a previous study served as control.

Results

Among the decellularization procedures, Triton X‐100 & SDS as well as trypsin & Triton X‐100 resulted in highly efficient removal of cellular components, while the extracellular matrix remained intact. In vivo, the functional performance of dpPHV was comparable to that of allogeneic controls. Removal of N‐linked glycans and DNA by enzymatic PNGase F and DNase I treatment had positive effects on the clinical performance of Triton X‐100 & SDS dpPHV, whereas this treatment of trypsin & Triton X‐100 dpPHV induced the lowest degree of inflammation of all tested xenogeneic implants.

Conclusion

Functional xenogeneic heart valve substitutes with a low immunologic load can be produced by decellularization combined with enzymatic removal of DNA and partial deglycosylation of dpPHV.
Mathematical relationships of patterns of 35 rat haemodynamic parameters for conditions of hypertension resulting from decreased nitric oxide bioavailability
Authors: Kurakova Lucia , Misak Anton , Tomasova Lenka , Cacanyiova Sona , Berenyiova Andrea , Ondriasova Elena , Balis Peter , Grman Marian , Ondrias Karol
Published: November 2019

New Findings

What is the central question of this study?

Can the cross‐relationship between 35 rat arterial pulse waveform (APW) parameters be described by known mathematical functions and can mathematical parameters be obtained for conditions in a model of hypertension resulting from decreased NO bioavailability?

What is the main finding and its importance?

Mathematical functions and their parameters were obtained that approximate the cross‐relationships of 35 APW parameters to systolic blood pressure and to the augmentation index in conditions of decreased NO bioavailability. The results enable APW parameters to be assigned to decreased NO bioavailability, which may have predictive or diagnostic value.

Information obtained from the arterial pulse waveform (APW) using haemodynamic parameters (HPs) is useful for characterization of the cardiovascular system in particular (patho)physiological conditions. Our goal was to find out whether the relationships between rat HPs could be described by simple mathematical functions and to find mathematical parameters for conditions of high blood pressure (BP) resulting from decreased NO bioavailability. The right jugular vein of anaesthetized Wistar rats was cannulated for i.v. administration of Nω‐nitro‐l‐arginine methyl ester (l‐NAME). The left common carotid artery was cannulated to detect the APW. From 10 points on the rat APW we defined 35 HPs (some were known already) and found 595 cross‐relationships between HPs showing unique patterns for particular cardiovascular conditions. Here we show parallel time‐dependent changes of 35 HPs and some of their cross‐relationships in condition of high BP induced by l‐NAME. We found that most of the time‐dependent changes of 35 HPs and their relationships were very well fitted by simple mathematical functions, e.g. a linear function, exponential growth, exponential decay or exponential rise to maximum. The results may enable the mathematical functions to be assigned for decreased NO bioavailability, which may have predictive or diagnostic value for conditions of high BP. Using this approach, it may be possible to find unique cross‐relationship patterns of HPs and mathematical functions between HPs for different cardiovascular (patho)physiological or drug‐modulating conditions. This knowledge can be used in studying the molecular mechanisms of particular (patho)physiological conditions or drug actions and may have predictive or diagnostic value.
Improved Thermodynamic Model for Lean Natural Gas Spark Ignition in a Diesel Engine Using a Triple Wiebe Function
Authors: Liu Jinlong , Dumitrescu Cosmin Emil
Published: November 2019

The use of natural gas (NG) in heavy-duty internal combustion engines can reduce the dependence on petroleum fuels and greenhouse gas emissions. Diesel engines can convert to NG spark ignition (SI) by installing a high-energy ignition system and a gas injector. The diesel combustion chamber affects the flow inside the cylinder, so some existing SI combustion models will not accurately describe the operation of converted diesels. For example, the single Wiebe function has difficulties in correctly describing the mass fraction burn (MFB) throughout the combustion process. This study used experiments from a 2L single-cylinder research engine converted to port fuel injection NG SI and operated with methane at 1300 rpm and equivalence ratio 0.8 (6.2 bars IMEP) to compare the standard Wiebe function with a triple Wiebe function. Results indicated that lean-burn engine operation at an advanced spark timing produced three peaks in the heat release rate, suggesting a multi-stage combustion process. A “best goodness-of-fit” approach determined the values of the key parameters in the zero-dimensional Wiebe function model. The triple Wiebe function described the mass fraction burn and combustion phasing more accurately compared with the single Wiebe function. Moreover, it provided the duration and phasing of each individual burning stage that can then characterize the combustion in such converted diesel engines. This suggests that a multiple Wiebe function combustion model would effectively assist in analyzing such a multi-stage combustion process, which is important for engine optimization and development.
The Science and Technology of Void Fraction Measurements in Multiphase Flow
Authors: Kendoush Abdullah Abbas
Published: November 2019

Void fraction measuring techniques are reviewed with emphasis on applications to multiphase flow. The presentation is divided into two main sections; intrusive where the probe penetrates into the flow field, and non-intrusive where the detection is done remotely. The latter is more preferrable than the former. We subdivided the non-intrusive techniques into into two main categories; nuclear and non-nuclear. In the nuclear section, we discussed the utilization of almost all types of radiations, namely; beta, neutrons, gamma, X-ray, near infrared, in addition to the nuclear magnetic resonance. In the non-nuclear techniques, we presented the following methods; fluorescence, optical sensors, laser, autotransformer winding, ultrasonic, and photgraphy. Some other non nuclear miscellaneous techniques were discussed.
Transient Characteristics of a Centrifugal Pump at Rapid Startup
Authors: Tanaka Teiichi , Tabaru Michiya
Published: November 2019

Experimental and CFD studies were carried out on transient behavior of a centrifugal pump at rapid startup. Relationship between the transient characteristics and a flow field in the centrifugal pump was investigated during transient period of the centrifugal pump from experimental results. A single-stage, volute type centrifugal pump is used for the experiments. The pump is equipped with transparent impeller, casing, suction pipe and discharge pipe for PIV in the future. The test setup is a closed-loop and consists of a suction tank, a test pump, an ultrasonic flow meter and a flow control valve. Instantaneous pressure and flow rate were measured at suction and discharge ports with rotational speed during the transient period. The pump suction and delivery pressures were measured using strain gauge type pressure transducers. Unsteady flow rate was calculated from pressure difference between two pressure measurement points in straight pipe of the pump suction lines using the difference of inertia force. The three-dimensional incompressible flow calculation of the test pump is performed using ANSYS® CFX 17.1. The CFD domain is consisted of a pump suction pipe, a pump casing, an impeller and a pump delivery pipe. For all computations, a block structure mesh of around 1,550,000 elements has been used. The mesh is created with the mesh generator ANSYS® ICEM CFD Ver.17.1. Frozen Rotor Method is used for the steady state calculation, and Transient Rotor Method is used for the unsteady calculation. The standard SST model is used for turbulence modelling. Boundary conditions of the pump inlet and outlet are used the time history of total head and mass flow rate obtained from experiment result, respectively. The variation of pump operating point, torque and axial thrust force during transient period were related to the time-dependent flow field, which was investigated using CFD, in the pump. As results of the present study, it was shown that the pump operating point in experiment were larger than quasi-steady one at early transient stage, and then the pump operating point reaches to quasi-steady one. CFD results indicated similar tendency to experimental results on the variation of the pump operating point. Moreover, variation of the torque and axial thrust force during transient period also indicated deviation from each quasi-steady change. From the experimental and CFD results, the deviation of pump operating point, torque and axial thrust force from the quasi-steady change during pump startup period occurs at a large flow rate acceleration. The reason is thought to be due to that the flow field at large flow rate change cannot develop compared with that at the quasi-steady change.
Computational Fluid Dynamics Modelling of a Load Sensing Proportional Valve
Authors: Corvaglia Alessandro , Altare Giorgio , Finesso Roberto , Rundo Massimo
Published: November 2019

In this paper, two 3D CFD models of a load sensing proportional valve are contrasted. The models were developed with two different software, Simerics PumpLinx® and ANSYS Fluent®. In both cases the mesh was dynamically modified based on the fluid forces acting on the local compensator. In the former, a specific template for valves was used, in the latter a user-defined function was implemented. The models were validated in terms of flow rate and pressure drop for different positions of the main spool by means of specific tests. Two configurations were tested: with the local compensator blocked and free to regulate. The study has brought to evidence the reliability of the CFD models in evaluating the steady-state characteristics of valves with complex geometry.
Numerical Simulation of Unsteady Moist-Air Flows Through Whole-Annulus Rotor Blade Rows in Transonic Compressor
Authors: Moriguchi Shota , Endo Takuro , Miyazawa Hironori , Furusawa Takashi , Yamamoto Satoru
Published: November 2019

In this study, we numerically investigated moist-air flow through the transonic compressor rotors of NASA Rotor 37, assuming whole-annulus rotor blade rows and non-uniform inlet wetness. This is an extension of our previous study, which assumed only a single passage and uniform inlet wetness. The amount of water droplets streaming into the compressor was changed in circumferentially non-uniform inlet condition. Numerical results indicated that non-uniform inlet wetness induced non-uniform temperature in the passages due to absorption of latent heat by droplet evaporation. Moreover, shock locations varied, depending on the local amount of wetness. Furthermore, turning angles of the flow and torque on the rotor blades were influenced by the wetness. Therefore, unsteady forces on the rotor blades were resultantly obtained by considering non-uniform inlet wetness conditions.
Theoretical and Numerical Analysis of the Pressure Distribution and Discharge Velocity in Flows Under Inclined Sluice Gates
Authors: Epple Philipp , Steppert Michael , Malcherek Andreas , Fritsche Manuel
Published: November 2019

The flow under sluice gates is nowadays frequently still determined by empirical approaches, based on the Bernoulli equation and a specific discharge coefficient which depends on the geometry of the sluice gate. This discharge coefficient is determined either from potential theory approaches or from a variety of experimental series. Based on Malcherek’s new momentum balance theory approach, the flow under inclined sluice gates can be described now on a physical approach. While the pressure distribution of the vertical sluice gate, which was investigated by the authors in previous works, results in a horizontal acting force only, the pressure distribution of the inclined sluice gate brings an additional force component acting in the vertical direction. The magnitude and the sign of the force in the vertical direction depends on the sign and the value of the angle of inclination. With the commercial CFD solver Star-CCM+ from Siemens PLM, the flow under inclined sluice gates was investigated in detail, to be compared with Malcherek’s momentum balance theory. For this basic investigation, boundary layer effects and 3D effects were first neglected. For various angles of inclination and water levels the pressure distribution on the ground under the sluice gate and on the surface of the sluice gate itself, were evaluated and mathematical functions were introduced to describe the pressure distributions. These results were compared with the results from the vertical sluice gate. Also the discharge velocity and the volumetric flow rate were analyzed and compared with the Malcherek’s new momentum balance theory for inclined sluice gates.
Experimental Investigation on Silver-Graphene Hybrid Nanofluid Droplet Evaporation and Wetting Characteristics of its Nanostructured Droplet Residue
Authors: Siddiqui Farooq R. , Tso Edwin C. Y. , Fu Sau C. , Chao Christopher Y. H. , Qiu Huihe
Published: November 2019

Droplet evaporation is a complex phase change process with a wide range of cooling applications, such as spray cooling and dropwise hotspot cooling in microelectronics, to name a few. The hybrid nanofluid droplet evaporation and its residue effects on evaporation of the subsequent hybrid nanofluid droplet is investigated in this research. Silver-graphene (Ag-GNP) hybrid nanofluid exhibiting synergistic thermal properties is investigated and prepared by dispersing silver nanoparticles along with graphene nanoplatelets in water at 0.1% volume fraction and with different mixing ratios, followed by ultrasonication. The evaporation rate and wetting characteristics of a 3 μl volume of Ag-GNP hybrid nanofluid droplet on a copper surface were studied using an optical tensiometer. Once dried, the nanoporous structure of the residue surface was examined using a scanning electron microscope, while the surface roughness was measured using an optical profiler. Experiments were continued to further investigate the evaporation rate and wetting effects of the subsequent Ag-GNP hybrid nanofluid droplet over the residue surface. The results showed improved wetting characteristics, with 88% reduction in initial static contact angle and 163–196% enhancement in evaporation rate of the subsequent Ag-GNP hybrid nanofluid droplets over the residue surfaces as compared to the copper surface.
Phase Retrieval Holography for Particle Measurement With GPU Acceleration
Authors: Tanaka Yohsuke , Matsushi Hiroki , Murata Shigeru
Published: November 2019

We introduce a graphics processing unit (GPU) acceleration to reconstructing holograms of phase retrieval holography for a drastic reduction of the execution time. We conducted GPU acceleration using the FFT library CUFFT on the GPU chip (GEFORCE GTX 1050, GDDR5 2GB, NVIDIA). We also used Intel Xeon CPU (E5-2690, 2.90GHz, Intel), the memory of 24 GB, and the operating system of Ubuntu 16.04 to compare GPU and CPU. Reconstructed volumes changed from 2562 × 128 voxels to 20482 × 1024 voxel to compare execution times. The ratio of the time of GPU to that of CPUs is constantly higher than 100 times except for small volume. We also demonstrated that GPU acceleration decreased the time by observing falling particles, recorded in 40 frames, from particle feeder. As a result, it is found that the execution time is reduced from 13 hours to 30 minutes.
Modal Analysis of a Utility Bicycle From the Perspective of Riding Comfort
Authors: Doria Alberto , Marconi Edoardo , Cialoni Pierluca
Published: November 2019

The correlation between the modal properties and the comfort characteristics of a utility, step-through frame bicycle are investigated. In-plane modal testing of the vehicle is carried out both without and with the rider, and the major differences between the results obtained with the two conditions are highlighted. In order to have an insight into the contribution of the various bicycle components to the transmission of vibrations, the frequency response functions (FRFs) between the main interface points in the vehicle structure are measured and studied. Finally, the modal characteristics are compared with road tests data, emphasizing the relationship between the in-plane vibration modes and the main peaks in the acceleration power spectral densities (PSDs) measured on the road.
Rapid Investment Casting: Design and Manufacturing Technologies
Authors: Richard Christopher T. , Kwok Tsz-Ho
Published: November 2019

With the emergence of new metal AM (additive manufacturing) methods, rapid IC (investment casting), a variation of conventional investment casting has been a popular topic of research in the fields of: aerospace, dentistry and biomedical engineering. RIC (Rapid investment casting) takes advantage of the additive nature of 3D printing for pattern making which allows for more complex castings than traditional investment casting. RIC is a manufacturing process that combines the casting knowledge accumulated over five thousand years with relatively novel AM knowledge. The result is a process that can compete with newer metal AM methods with the added benefits of excellent surface finish, fatigue strength and the ability to create parts from almost any metal or metal alloy. This article will focus on research advancements in investment casting, AM and all the topics that are closely related to optimizing these two processes. Beyond that, aerospace, dentistry and biomedical engineering advancements using investment casting will be reviewed.
On the Unified Design of Accelerated Gradient Descent
Authors: Chen Yuquan , Wei Yiheng , Wang Yong , Chen YangQuan
Published: November 2019

Nowadays, different kinds of problems such as modeling, optimal control, and machine learning can be formulated as an optimization problem. Gradient descent is the most popular method to solve such problem and many accelerated gradient descents have been designed to improve the performance. In this paper, we will analyze the basic gradient descent, momentum gradient descent, and Nesterov accelerated gradient descent from the system perspective and it is found that all of them can be formulated as a feedback control problem for tracking an extreme point. On this basis, a unified gradient descent design procedure is given, where a high order transfer function is considered. Furthermore, as an extension, both a fractional integrator and a general fractional transfer function are considered, which resulting in the fractional gradient descent. Due to the infinite-dimensional property of fractional order systems, numerical inverse Laplace transform and Matlab command stmcb() are used to realize a finite-order implementation for the fractional gradient descent. Besides the simplified design procedure, it is found that the convergence rate of fractional gradient descent is more robust to the step size by simulating results.