bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
ON THE DESIGN OF IMPELLER VANES OF CENTRIFUGAL PUMPS
Authors: TSANG L. 
Published: April 2018

Empirical relations are employed in this paper to select blade (vane) angles, number and shapes for centrifugal pump impellers. A review of both the inlet and exit conditions of fluid in an impeller is given. Using Pearsall’s optimum inlet radius [Formula: see text] at the suction eye, together with Pfleiderer’s equation governing the number of vanes per impeller [Formula: see text] and the equation for slip (7.3), the whole geometry of the impeller can be defined.
ROLE OF MECHANICS IN PLEX: A TECHNICAL PERSPECTIVE
Authors: Garud Y.S. 
Published: April 2018

The mechanics of materials and structures plays an important role in majority of life prediction and structural integrity evaluations. In many industrial systems this role gets integrated with effects of service environment and material aging; corrosion, oxidation, and irradiation are examples of such effects which require an interdisciplinary approach. Degradation mechanisms related to these effects have been identified as potentially significant to plant life extension (PLEX). In-service inspection and component monitoring are some of the cost effective steps emphasized in the life extension works; usefulness of the results of these steps can be enhanced through the methods needed for the component condition assessment. These methods, therefore, demand an ever increasing accuracy and improvements requiring a better appreciation and integration of the mechanics. The above aspects of PLEX are critically examined in this paper with a review of key degradation mechanisms elucidating the role of mechanics. Current design basis and recent developments in the life prediction techniques are discussed identifying areas of further work. Stress corrosion cracking, corrosion fatigue, pressurized thermal shock, and long term material stability under thermal and irradiation aging are some of the phenomena emphasized in this work. The significance of mechanics in treating the sub-critical crack growth due to these phenomena is discussed. Also, from the point of view of final failure step, the role of impact energy and fracture toughness is examined with consideration of the time dependent changes in these properties. The additional objective of this presentation is to provide a perspective on the assessment of remaining life and safety margins with particular reference to the needs and challenges of the plant life extension.
DAMAGE AND FUZZY RISK ASSESSMENT IN STEAM PLANTS
Authors: Cheung-Mak S.K.P. , Le May I. 
Published: April 2018

The various methods of damage assessment in steam plants are reviewed. An example of estimating the remaining life of steam pipe welds containing cracks is discussed. Modelling techniques provide a quantitative evaluation of the risk of failure. However, damage assessment is not an exact science. Thus the fuzzy set method of risk assessment is introduced. Most material data for creep are obtained from accelerated tests, and the extrapolation of shorter time data to longer times at different stresses and temperatures is used in the prediction of remaining life. Inexact knowledge of load and temperature variations in the operation of actual steam plant further complicates overall risk assessment. Estimation of the overall risk of failure in the plant using the fuzzy set method requires identification of critical areas in different components at which damage may have accumulated, together with nondestructive testing, microstructural evaluation and other methods to define the extent of the damage. The importance of the particular component to the operation of the whole system must be assessed before a judgement can be made to provide a prediction of the plant’s remaining life.
INTERNAL LOBE PUMP DESIGN
Authors: Mimmi G. , Pennacchi P. 
Published: April 2018

The subject of this paper is the theoretical analysis of the internal lobe pump which is a particular type of positive displacement rotary pump. The main components of the pump are the rotors: usually the outer one is characterised by lobes with circular shape, while the inner rotor profile is determined as conjugate to the other. For this reason the first topic presented here is the definition of the geometry of the rotors starting from the design parameters. The choice of these parameters is subject to some limitations in order to avoid inner rotor undercutting and to limit the pressure angle between the rotors. Now we will consider the design optimisation. The first step is the determination of the instantaneous flow rate as a function of the design parameters. This allows us to calculate two performance indexes commonly used for the study of positive displacement pumps: the flow rate irregularity and the specific flow rate. These indexes are used to optimise the design of the pump and to obtain the sets of optimum design parameters. Finally further considerations are presented regarding the calculation and the use of other performance indexes, the specific slipping and the rotor curvature, which are particularly suitable for giving more elements for the analysis of this case.
LATERAL STABILITY ANALYSIS OF A RAILWAY TRUCK ON ROLLER RIG
Authors: ElMaraghy W.H. , Dukkipati R.V. 
Published: April 2018

Generic linear models were developed of a freight car (with a characteristic North American three-piece truck) on tangent track. The models were developed using the generalized multi-body dynamics software MEDYNA. Predictions were made of the theoretical linear model hunting (lateral stability) characteristics of the freight car, i.e., the critical speeds and frequencies, for five different configurations: (a) freight car on track, (b) the freight car’s front truck on the roller stand and its rear truck on track, (c) freight car on the roller rig, (d) a single truck on track and (e) single truck on the roller stand. These were compared with the Association of American Railroads’ field test data for an 80-ton hopper car equipped with A-3 ride control trucks. Agreement was reached among all the analytical models, with all models indicating a range of hunting speeds of 2% from the highest to lowest. The largest discrepancy, approximately 8%, was indicated between the models and the field test data.
FINITE ELEMENT ANALYSIS OF DYNAMIC CONTACT PROBLEMS
Authors: Xu S. , Yu S.D. 
Published: April 2018

This paper presents a finite element analysis of dynamic contact between two solids with and without surface friction. The finite element solutions obtained using the linear complementary equations of incremental form for kineo-elastic displacements and contact stresses satisfy both normal boundary conditions and contact boundary conditions. Three examples solving dynamic contact between two solids of different shapes are given. Numerical results indicate that there is excellent agreement between independent analytical solution and results obtained using CONTACT2D - a computer written in FORTRAN77 by the authors.
PRELIMINARY DESIGN OF A KNEE EXTERNAL FIXATOR BASED ON PLANAR GEOMETRIC SYNTHESIS
Authors: Fragomeni G. , Mundo D. , Gatti G. , Moschetta D. , Danieli G.A. 
Published: April 2018

The paper presents the validation of a methodology for the optimal synthesis of a planar mechanical system able to reproduce knee kinematics in a limited range of motion. Such a mechanism could be effectively used in the design and placement of a moving external fixator for the knee joint articulation in either post-traumatic and pathological treatment or rehabilitation. The purpose is to help patient’s recovery through a limited and occasional movement of the articulation without loading the injured area. In order to validate the actual method, knee kinematics is estimated by means of plane radiographs of the articular joint of an healthy volunteer at different flexion angles. Each of the lateral radiographs shows the relative tibia-femur motion in different configurations. The whole movement is reconstructed by interpolation, assuming a relative gliding law. Geometric synthesis, based on Burmester’s theory, is thus used to identify a set of compatible four-bar-linkages (f.b.l.), which reproduce the estimated rigid body motion.
OPTIMAL NOISE CONTROL ON PLANT USING SIMULATED ANNEALING
Authors: Lan Tian-Syung , Chiu Min-Chie 
Published: April 2018

Noise control is important and essential in a manufacturing factory, where the noise level is restricted by the Occupational Safety and Health Act. Several researches on new techniques of single noise control have been well addressed and developed; however, the study of noise depression on the whole plant noise by using optimum allocation planning is hardly found. An improper machine allocation will not only result in the tremendous cost on noise control task, but also cause the harmful environment for the neighborhood; therefore, the approach of optimum and economic allocation of noise sources within a constrained plant area becomes crucial and obligatory. In this paper, a novel technique of simulated annealing (SA) is applied in the numerical optimization, and the multi-noise plant with various sound monitoring systems is also introduced. Before optimization, the single noise is tested and compared with the simulated data from SoundPlan, a commercial sound simulation package, for the accuracy check of the mathematical model. The result reveals to be within good agreements. The proposed SA optimization on the allocation of multi-noise plant surely provides an economic and effective methodology in reducing the sound accumulation around the plant boundary.
Wake measurements of oscillating supercritical airfoil in compressible flow
Authors: Boroumand Behnaz Beheshti , Mani Mahmoud 
Published: April 2018

Boundary layer and wake behaviors are strongly affected by airfoil motion. Moreover, parameters like body oscillation frequency, oscillation type, Mach number, and angle of attack play main roles in wake characteristics. In this research, both static and dynamic tests were carried out in a tri-sonic wind tunnel to study wake profiles experimentally by hot wire anemometry. All data were recorded at a free stream Mach number of 0.4. Quarter-length and half-length of chord were also considered as downstream distances from the trailing edge in pitching motions of mean angle of attack of −0.4°. Frequencies of 3 Hz and 6 Hz with amplitude of 3° were chosen as oscillation parameters. Voltages at hot wire outputs were measured and analyzed qualitatively and statistically with root-mean-square, correlation, mean value distribution, time history, and frequency. Flow parameters were obtained by computational studies under similar experimental test conditions. The wake characteristics obtained from numerical and experimental methods were compared.
Mimicking a flow-limited human upper airway using a collapsible tube: relationships between flow patterns and pressures in a respiratory model
Authors: Zhu Kaixian , Farré Ramon , Katz Ira , Hardy Sébastien , Escourrou Pierre 
Published: April 2018

The upper airway (UA) in humans is commonly modeled as a Starling resistor. However, negative effort dependence (NED) observed in some patients with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) contradicts predictions based on the Starling resistor model in which inspiratory flow is independent of inspiratory driving pressure when flow is limited. In a respiratory bench model consisting of a collapsible tube and an active lung model (ASL5000), inspiratory flow characteristics were investigated in relation to upstream, downstream, and extra-luminal pressures (denoted as Pus, Pds, and Pout, respectively) by varying inspiratory effort (muscle pressure) from −1 to −20 cmH2O in the active lung. Pus was provided by a constant airway pressure device and varied from 4 to 20 cmH2O, and Pout was set at 10 and 15 cmH2O. Upstream resistance at onset of flow limitation and critical transmural pressure (Ptm) corresponding to opening of the UA were found to be independent of Pus, Pds, and Pout. With fixed Ptm, when Pds fell below a specific value (Pds′), inspiratory peak flow became constant and independent of Pds. NED plateau flow patterns at mid-inspiration (V̇n) were produced within the current bench setting when Pds fell below Pds′. V̇n was proportional to Pds, and the slope (ΔV̇n/ΔPds) increased linearly with Ptm. Ptm and Pds were the two final independent determinants of inspiratory flow. Our bench model closely mimics a flow-limited human UA, and the findings have implications for OSA treatment and research, especially for bench-testing auto-titrating devices in a more physiological way. NEW & NOTEWORTHY A respiratory model consisting of a collapsible tube was used to mimic a flow-limited human upper airway. Flow-limited breathing patterns including negative effort dependence were produced. Transmural and downstream pressures acting on the tube are the two independent determinants of the resulting inspiratory flow during flow limitation. The findings have implications for obstructive sleep apnea treatment and research, especially for bench-testing auto-titrating devices in a more physiological way.
The Role of Doppler Ultrassonography in Significant and Borderline Stenosis Definition
Authors: Castro Ana , Moreira Carla , Almeida Paulo , de Matos Norton , Loureiro Luís , Teixeira Gabriela , Rego Duarte , Teixeira Sérgio , Pinheiro Joaquim , Carvalho Telmo , Fonseca Isabel , Queirós José 
Published: April 2018

<b><i>Background:</i></b> The definition of significant stenosis (SS) remains controversial. <b><i>Methods:</i></b> We retrospectively reviewed 1,040 consultations. SS was defined in the presence of clinical and echo-Doppler (DDU) criteria: Qa &#x3c;500 mL/min or Qa decrease &#x3e;25%; RI &#x3e;0.7 in the feeding artery or absolute minimal luminal stenosis diameter &#x3c;2.0 mm. Stenosis without any additional criteria were considered borderline stenosis (BS). <b><i>Results:</i></b> Two hundred twenty-one arteriovenous fistulas (AVFs) were included: 58.8% had SS, 18.6% had BS, and 22.6% had no dysfunctional access (ND). SS had a significantly higher thrombotic events than BS and ND (13.1 vs. 4.4%, <i>p </i>= 0.018). The annual thrombosis rate was 0.007, 0.037, and 0.004 in the ND, SS, and BS, respectively. AVF cumulative survival at 5 years was significantly lower in SS (89.5%) compared to BS (100%) and ND (97.4%; <i>p</i> = 0.03). BS had an HR for AVF failure of 1.1, <i>p</i> = 0.955, while the SS presented an HR of 5.9, <i>p</i> = 0.09. <b><i>Conclusion:</i></b> AVF clinical monitoring with additional DDU criteria appear to be appropriate for therapeutic referral.
Although Coronary Mortality Has Decreased, Rates of Cardiovascular Disease Remain High: 21 Years of Follow‐Up Comparing Cohorts of Men Born in 1913 With Men Born in 1943
Authors: Fu Michael , Rosengren Annika , Thunström Erik , Mandalenakis Zacharias , Welin Lennart , Caidahl Kenneth , Pivodic Aldina , Zhong You , Ergatoudes Constantinos , Morales David , Welin Catharina , Svärdsudd Kurt , Dellborg Mikael , Hansson Per‐Olof 
Published: April 2018

Background

Despite a decline in mortality rates from cardiovascular disease (
CVD
) in the past few decades, the burden of
CVD
in a contemporary population remains inadequately addressed. Therefore, this study was aimed to investigate secular trends in mortality from coronary artery disease and all‐cause mortality over 2 decades, by comparing 2 cohorts of men born 30 years apart and evaluate the prediction of the risk of
CVD
and all‐cause death in a contemporary random sample of Swedish men.

Methods and Results

Two cohorts of randomly selected men born in 1913 (855 men) and 1943 (798 men) were first examined at age 50 in 1963 and 1993, respectively, and followed longitudinally over 21 years. All‐cause mortality and coronary artery disease death were lower in 50‐ to 71‐year‐old men born in 1943 compared with those born in 1913, with unadjusted hazard ratios of 0.57 (0.45–0.71) and 0.34 (0.22–0.53), respectively. After adjustment for risk factors (smoking, serum cholesterol, hypertension, systolic blood pressure, diabetes mellitus, body mass index, and physical activity), the differences between the cohorts remained significant for coronary artery disease, hazard ratios 0.57 (0.34–0.94),
P
=0.029, but not for all‐cause mortality hazard ratios 0.82 (0.62–1.07),
P
=0.14. However, the rate of
CVD
events during follow‐up was still high (30.7%) for the men born in 1943. No statistically significant interaction by birth cohort in contribution of risk factors to death was found between 2 cohorts except physical inactivity.

Conclusions

Despite a marked reduction in the rate of coronary artery disease death over the past 30 years, the burden of
CVD
events and all‐cause mortality remains high. Therefore, intensified efforts to modify contributing risk factors are still required.
“But I Don’t Eat that Much Meat”
Authors: Rothgerber Hank 
Published: April 2018

AbstractAs arguments become more pronounced that meat consumption harms the environment, public health, and nonhuman animals, meat-eaters should experience increased pressure to justify their behavior. The present research further tested the notion that women employ indirect meat-eating justification strategies relative to men, specifically the claim that as a form of self-justification, women would underreport meat consumption when the context called in to question their dietary behavior. Men and women were randomly assigned to a treatment condition in which they were informed that they would watch aPETAdocumentary about meat production or to a control condition, and then they completed a questionnaire assessing the amount of various meats they consumed. Women reported eating less meat when threatened by watching the documentary, while male estimates were unchanged across conditions. Furthermore, this effect was sensitive to how much participants believed nonhuman animals shared similar emotions to humans.
Perceptions of the EU’s Role in the Ukraine-Russia and the Israel-Palestine Conflicts: A Biased Mediator?
Authors: Elgström Ole , Chaban Natalia , Knodt Michèle , Müller Patrick , Pardo Sharon 
Published: April 2018

AbstractThis article focuses on how the European Union’s (EU) mediation activities during the Russia-Ukraine and Israel-Palestine conflicts are perceived by local elites. Our analysis is based on recent interviews with decision makers in Ukraine, Israel and Palestine. Consistent with this special issue, we investigate perceptions ofEUroles, strategies and effectiveness. We suggest that theEU’s relation to the parties may affect their perceptions ofEUconflict mediation efforts. Specifically, we expect that theEUis perceived as abiased mediatorin both cases due to perceived close relations to one or more conflict parties. However, contrary to our expectations and widespread assumption in mediation theory, while such a bias exists, we found it isnotperceived as a main cause ofEUineffectiveness. Other factors, including the prominence of other mediators and internalEUdisunity, are perceived as more detrimental toEUefficacy.
The impact of a disease management programme for type 2 diabetes on health-related quality of life: multilevel analysis of a cluster-randomised controlled trial
Authors: Panisch Sigrid , Johansson Tim , Flamm Maria , Winkler Henrike , Weitgasser Raimund , Sönnichsen Andreas C. 
Published: April 2018

Abstract
Background
Type 2 diabetes is a chronic disease associated with poorer health outcomes and decreased health related quality of life (HRQoL). The aim of this analysis was to explore the impact of a disease management programme (DMP) in type 2 diabetes on HRQoL. A multilevel model was used to explain the variation in EQ-VAS.

Methods
A cluster-randomized controlled trial—analysis of the secondary endpoint HRQoL. Our study population were general practitioners and patients in the province of Salzburg. The DMP “Therapie-Aktiv” was implemented in the intervention group, and controls received usual care. Outcome measure was a change in EQ-VAS after 12 months. For comparison of rates, we used Fisher’s Exact test; for continuous variables the independent T test or Welch test were used. In the multilevel modeling, we examined various models, continuously adding variables to explain the variation in the dependent variable, starting with an empty model, including only the random intercept. We analysed random effects parameters in order to disentangle variation of the final EQ-VAS.

Results
The EQ-VAS significantly increased within the intervention group (mean difference 2.19, p = 0.005). There was no significant difference in EQ-VAS between groups (mean difference 1.00, p = 0.339). In the intervention group the improvement was more distinct in women (2.46, p = 0.036) compared to men (1.92, p = 0.063). In multilevel modeling, sex, age, family and work circumstances, any macrovascular diabetic complication, duration of diabetes, baseline body mass index and baseline EQ-VAS significantly influence final EQ-VAS, while DMP does not. The final model explains 28.9% (EQ-VAS) of the total variance. Most of the unexplained variance was found on patient-level (95%) and less on GP-level (5%).

Conclusion
DMP “Therapie-Aktiv” has no significant impact on final EQ-VAS. The impact of DMPs in type 2 diabetes on HRQoL is still unclear and future programmes should focus on patient specific needs and predictors in order to improve HRQoL.
Trial registration Current Controlled trials Ltd., ISRCTN27414162
Dharma and the Academy: A Hindu Academic's View
Authors: Sharma Arvind 
Published: April 2018

The relations between the academic community and the Hindu community have recently come to be characterized by a sharp debate, which has also spilled over into journalism and the Internet. This development has been prompted by the reservations expressed by a significant number of Hindus in North America and India over the way Hinduism is portrayed in the Western academia and by the vigorous response of the academic community to such criticism.
As an academic, who is also a Hindu; or conversely, as a Hindu, who is also an academic, I (along with some of my other Hindu colleagues) stand at the volatile point of intersection between these two communities. This makes my role in the debate particularly fraught. I shall, nevertheless, try to address the issue or issues involved.
Teoria przekładu specjalistycznego w ZSRR i Rosji na tle ogólnej teorii przekładu
Authors: Siniawska‑Sujkowska Tatiana 
Published: April 2018

Specialized translation theory in USSR and Russia against the background of general translation studies
In the article the history of specialized translation theory in USSR and Russia is presented. Education system of specialized translators, their employment conditions and market are described and scientific research in the field is analyzed against the background of general translation studies at a time when paradigms were changing.
Rozważania o normie i tłumaczeniu
Authors: Bednarczyk Anna 
Published: April 2018

Considerations on the norms and the translation
Having started with the problems of therminology, the author moves on to the differences in the approach to the concept of the norm in different cultures and epochs; she also shows the variations that result from the different treatment of the recipient or genre of the text. She concludes that the main principle, which should follows the translator is Primum sapere et non nocere (First think and do no harm).