bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Analysis of Brain Activity Influenced by Replication Accuracy in Imitation Learning in Manufacturing Industries
Authors: Asaka Yusuke , Watanuki Keiichi , Fukuda Shuichi , Muramatsu Keiichi , Hou Lei 
Published: December 2016

Here, we investigate and discuss the effect of accuracy of imitation for improvement of skills on brain activity. In order to improve the skills, learners combine and accumulate information of the skills through practice. Thus, we used near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) to investigate brain activity during the process of improvement. Evaluation of the level of knowledge acquisition with monitoring of brain activity can be an indicator of the learner’s degree of skill progression.
Therefore, our final goal is constructing a new learning model based on brain activity monitoring and improving learning efficiency. We experimented on the assembly operation by imitation learning that assumed work in the manufacturing industries from a previous example. As a result, we showed the possibility of brain activity shift with improvement of the skill. In this article, we targeted task accuracy and investigated whether the brain activity shift is caused by a progress in the task accuracy, act of practice, or some other factor. As a result, we showed a possibility that the trend shift in the right and left dorsolateral prefrontal area and frontal pole was not caused by the simple task accuracy improvement but by the action of practice, which helped subjects store the information.
MotionGen: An iOS and Android App for Planar Four-Bar Motion Generation
Authors: Purwar Anurag , Deshpande Shrinath , Ge Q. J. 
Published: December 2016

MotionGen is an indigenously developed app for Apple iOS and Google Android platforms to help mechanism designers solve planar four-bar motion generation problem. The app is a computer implementation of authors’ recent work in developing a unified framework for the synthesis and simulation of planar four-bar mechanisms for the motion generation problem.
Simplicity, high-utility, and wide-spread adoption of planar four-bar linkages have made them one of the most studied topics in Kinematics leading to development of algorithms and theories that deal with path-, function-, and motion generation-problems. Yet to date, there have been no attempts to develop efficient computational algorithms amenable to real-time computation of both type and dimensions of planar four-bar mechanisms for a given motion. MotionGen solves this problem effectively by extracting the geometric constraints of a given motion to provide the best dyad-types as well as dimensions of a total of up to six four-bar linkages. The unified algorithm also admits additional practical constraints, such as imposition of fixed- and moving-pivot and -line locations along with mixed exact- and approximate-synthesis scenarios. In that regard, its synthesis capabilities set it apart from other softwares of its ilk. However, its simulation approach also departs from more traditional methods, which typically involves assembling four rigid bodies and then designating fixed and moving links. Instead, the MotionGen requires users to assemble only two of the geometric constraints of mechanical dyads for quick prototyping of planar four-bar linkages. The app is equipped with an intuitive graphical user interface that allows a fluid dialog with the user to facilitate rapid manipulation and visualization of linkages.
Modeling Transition on Smooth and Rough Blades
Authors: Wei Liang , Ge Xuan , George Jacob , Durbin Paul 
Published: December 2016

Laminar to turbulent transition occurs in a broad range of industrial applications, and in nature. There are many mechanisms (natural or bypass) that lead to transition. Accurately predicting both the onset location and length of transition has been persistently difficult. A new, local, intermittency-function-based transition model for both low (< 1%) and high freestream turbulence intensity flows, over smooth and rough surfaces, is introduced and formulated. It is coupled with the k-ω RANS model.
The intermittency model was validated on the ERCOFTAC experimental zero-pressure-gradient smooth flat plate boundary layer cases T3A-, T3A, T3B with leading-edge freestream turbulence intensity 0.9%, 3.5%, 6%, respectively. Skin friction profiles agree well with the experimental data. The model was then tested on periodic wakes, and flows over Stripf’s turbine blades with a broad range of roughnesses, from hydraulically smooth to fully rough. The predicted skin friction and heat transfer properties by the current model agree well with the published experimental and numerical data.
Direct Numerical Simulation of Turbulent Flow and Aeroacoustic Fields Around an Airfoil Using Lattice Boltzmann Method
Authors: Kusano Kazuya , Yamada Kazutoyo , Furukawa Masato , Moon Kil-Ju 
Published: December 2016

The paper presents a result of the direct numerical simulation with the lattice Boltzmann method which was conducted for quantitative prediction of turbulent broadband noise. For better prediction of broadband noise with high frequency, which is generally generated in high Reynolds number flows, not only high grid resolution is required for a flow simulation to capture very small eddies of the sound source inside the turbulent boundary layer, but also the computation of acoustic field is often needed. In such case, the direct simulation of flow field and acoustic field is straightforward and effective.
In this study, the direct simulation with the lattice Boltzmann method was conducted for a flow around the NACA0012 airfoil with the Reynolds number of two hundred thousand. In order to efficiently simulate this high Reynolds number flow with the LBM, the multi-scale approach was introduced in conjunction with the Building-cube method, while keeping the advantage of the LBM with the Cartesian mesh. At the condition with angle-of-attack of 9 degrees, a laminar separation bubble arises on the suction surface near the leading-edge and the suction boundary layer downstream of it is turbulent due to the separated-flow transition. As a result, turbulent broadband noise is generated from the boundary layer over the airfoil with the separated-flow transition. In the paper, as for prediction of such broadband noise, the computed frequency spectrum of far-field sound is validated to agree with the experimental result. In addition, through the detailed analyses of turbulent properties of the turbulent boundary layer on the suction surface, the validity of the present direct numerical simulation is demonstrated.
Numerical Simulation and Test Research on the Wear of Back Blades in Slurry Pumps
Authors: Tao Yi , Yuan Shouqi , Liu Jianrui , Zhang Fan , Tao Jianping 
Published: December 2016

Back blades are usually assembled on the outside surface of impeller back shroud as a sealing device in centrifugal slurry pumps. The presence of solid particles in slurry leads to an obvious problem about the abrasion of the flow components of pump. Especially, the life of sealing devices, like the back blades, the oil seals and the shaft sleeve, is only a quarter or less of other components. Hence, an important engineering significance lies in the research on the abrasion of back blades.
In this paper, a single-stage horizontal type centrifugal pump was chosen as the main study model. The 3D model of the entire flow field was meshed by hexahedral structured grids. Based on the Particle model, which is an Eulerian multiphase method, the internal two-phase flow in the centrifugal slurry pump was simulated by using ANSYS CFX software. Six optimized design cases with the variation of back blades were analyzed to study the influence of vane profile and blade number of back blades on the abrasion characteristic and sealing performance. The main conclusions obtained are as follows: the volume fraction of solid phase achieved by simulation is in good agreement with the test results; the effect of vane profile on the flow of particles in the passages and the pressure on the seal is small; the usage of less back blade number will lower the flow constraint of blades on the particles and increase the area of axial vortex in each single passage, which means that the impact velocity of particles towards the pressure side grows and the pressure on the seal increases significantly. Based on the simulation mentioned above, two better cases were selected and manufactured for trial. Then, a wear test rig was set up to study the wear pattern of impeller during the operation of pump. Through the comparison of these two impellers after the wear test, it is found that: the back blades with the back forward shape can effectively reduce the abrasion of back blades at the pressure sides near the trailing edge; thickening the trailing edge of back blades to increase the life of back blades is feasible in practical application. The optimization design of back blades was preliminarily achieved which could provide some reference for the optimization design of back blades in centrifugal slurry pumps.
Experimental Evaluation of Dual-Opposed Jet Mixer Pump Performance for Slurry Mixing
Authors: Bamberger Judith Ann , Enderlin Carl W. 
Published: December 2016

Million-gallon double-shell tanks at Hanford are used to store transuranic, high-level, and low-level radioactive wastes. These wastes consist of a large volume of salt-laden solution covering a smaller volume of settled sludge primarily containing metal hydroxides. These wastes will be retrieved and processed into immobile waste forms suitable for permanent disposal. Retrieval is an important step in implementing these disposal scenarios. The retrieval concept evaluated is to use submerged dual-nozzle jet mixer pumps with horizontally oriented nozzles located near the tank floor that produce horizontal jets of fluid to mobilize the settled solids. The mixer pumps are oscillated through 180° about a vertical axis so the high velocity fluid jets sweep across the floor of the tank. After the solids are mobilized, the pumps will continue to operate at a reduced flow rate producing lower velocity jets sufficient to maintain the particles in a uniform suspension (concentration uniformity).
Several types of waste and tank configurations exist at Hanford. The jet mixer pump systems and operating conditions required to mobilize sludge and maintain slurry uniformity will be a function of the waste type and tank configuration. The focus of this work was to conduct a 1/12-scale experiment to develop an analytical model to relate slurry uniformity to tank and mixer pump configurations, operating conditions, and sludge properties.
This experimental study evaluated concentration uniformity in a 1/12-scale experiment varying the Reynolds number (Re), Froude number (Fr), and gravitational settling parameter (Gs) space. Simulant physical properties were chosen to obtain the required Re and Gs where Re and Gs were varied by adjusting the kinematic viscosity and mean particle diameter, respectively. Test conditions were achieved by scaling the jet nozzle exit velocity in a 75-in. diameter tank using a mock-up of a centrally located dual-opposed jet mixer pump located just above the tank floor.
Concentration measurements at sampling locations throughout the tank were used to assess the degree of uniformity achieved during each test. Concentration data was obtained using a real time in-situ ultrasonic attenuation probe and post-test analysis of discrete batch samples. The undissolved solids concentration at these locations was analyzed to determine whether the tank contents were uniform (≤ ±10% variation about mean) or nonuniform (> ±10% variation about mean) in concentration. Concentration inhomogeneity was modeled as a function of dimensionless parameters. The parameters that best describe the maximum solids volume fraction that can be suspended were found to be 1) the Fr based on nozzle average discharge velocity and tank contents level and 2) the dimensionless particle size based on nozzle diameter. The dependence on the jet Re does not appear to be statistically significant.
The impact of microbubble-enhanced therapeutic ultrasound combined with prothrombin on microwave ablation in the rabbit liver.
Authors: Shi Ying , Liu Xinyue , Luo Zhenli , Gu Fen , He Jianguo , Yan Ping , Zhang Junwang , Zhou Xiaodong 
Published: December 2016

Aim: This study aimed to investigate the effect of microbubble-enhanced ultrasound (MEUS) combined with prothrombin on regional hepatic circulation and microwave ablation (MWA) in rabbit livers. Materials and methods: High-pressureamplitude therapeutic ultrasound (TUS) was used to treat 52 surgically exposed livers of healthy New Zealand rabbits: 13 livers were treated with MEUS alone, 13 with MEUS and prothrombin (PMEUS), 13 with ultrasound plus normal saline and 13 with ultrasound plus prothrombin as controls. Contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) imaging was performed on the exposed livers before and after treatment, and acoustic quantification was done to assess liver perfusion. Then, the liver was divided into two parts, one was used for pathologic examination and the other was ablated with microwave (MWA) and then processedfor pathologic examination. Results: The CEUS images and Peak value after treatment in the PMEUS group were significantly reduced as compared to the remaining 3 groups (p<0.05). Occasional piecemeal hemorrhage was evidenced in the pathological examination in the MEUS group. Obvious cellular degeneration and necrosis with thrombosis were observed in the PMEUS group. Electron microscopy showed endothelial damage in both the MEUS group and PMEUS group. After MWA, coagulated volumes (V) in the PMEUS group were larger than in the remaining 3 groups (p<0.05). The cell ultrastructure disorder wasmore severe in the PMEUS group than in remaining 3 groups. Conclusion: PMEUS promotes endothelial injury and produces more obvious thrombotic occlusion, improving the therapeutic effect of MWA on the rabbit liver.
Non-mass lesions on screening breast ultrasound
Authors: Lee Jihyun , Lee Jin Hwa , Baik Seonmi , Cho Eun , Kim Dong Won , Kwon Hee Jin , Kim Eun Kyung 
Published: December 2016

Aim: The purpose of this study was to determine the significance of a non-mass lesion (NML) which is recognized during screening breast ultrasound (US). Materials and methods: We included patients with a NML on screening breast US and no suspicious finding on mammography between March 2008 and June 2012. The final diagnoses were based on pathology results and a clinical or sonographic follow-up for more than 12 months. We calculated the incidence, likelihood of malignancy, and positive predictive value (PPV) of biopsy with a review of imaging and histopathological findings. Results: A total of 17868 screening breast US were performed in 8856 asymptomatic patients. Ninety-five NMLs were detected in 88 patients (1.0%). Among the 93 lesions that were followed or confirmed histopathologically, 2 (2.2%) were malignant, 89 (95.6%) were benign, and 2 (2.2%) were high risk lesions. The likelihood of malignancy in a NML on screening breast US was 2.2% and the PPV of biopsy was 6.3% (2 of 32). Conclusion: The likelihood of malignancy for a NML on screening breast US was greater than 2%. It could be classified as a BI-RADS category 4a lesion and tissue diagnosis is warranted. This provides the potential management guidelines for a NML in screening patients and further prospective studies in a large, multicenter screening population are required.
A dilemma at gray scale thyroid ultrasound: microcalcification or not? Differentiation with Acoustic Radiation Force Impulse Imaging–Virtual Touch Imaging.
Authors: Yildirim Duzgun , Samanci Cesur , Ustabasioglu Fethi Emre , Alis Deniz , Colakoglu Bulent , Bakır Alev , Tutar Onur , Klavuz Ahmet Erdem , Kaur Ahmet 
Published: December 2016

Aims: To evaluate the capacity of virtual touch imaging (VTI) of the acoustic radiation force impulse (ARFI) techniquein the differential diagnosis of micro-echogenicities in thyroid nodules. Material and methods: The study comprised 28patients. Gray scale and ARFI displacement maps were used during ultrasound examination.In the same session, fine needleaspiration biopsy (FNAB) samples were obtained from the dominant nodule hav-ing micro-echogenicities. Two radiologists blinded to the FNAB results and clinical data of the patients evaluated these images and rated ARFI echogenicities according to the degree of shining points on the displacement maps and classified them as isohypoechogenic, isohyperechogenic, and obvious hyperechogenic. To differentiate between benignancy and malignancy, “a new sign” was defined as follows: in the ARFI maps obtained by VTI, iso-echogenic or hyper-echogenic appearance of micro-echogenic foci was evaluated as benignancy and hypo-echogenic appearance of micro-echogenic foci was evaluated as malignancy. Results: The FNAB results indicated 14 cases and benign nodules in the other 14 cases. Interobserver agreement between the two radiologists was highly significant for the classification of the micro-echogenic foci (Kappa=0.659, p<0.001). When we reclassified the hyperechoic and isohyperechoic foci as “benign” and isohypoechoic foci as “malignant”, the interobserver agreement between the two radiologists increased (Kappa=0.772, p<0.001). The evaluation of the first and second radiologists were highly concordant with the gold standard pathology results (Kappa=0.786, p<0.001 and Kappa=0.714, p<0.001, respectively). Conclusions: ARFI method with specific VTI features could be a very useful tool in the differentiation of malignant microcalcifications in thyroid nodules.
Intra-articular hyaluronic acid vs platelet-rich plasma in the treatment of hip osteoarthritis.
Authors: Sante Luca Di , Villani Ciro , Santilli Valter , Valeo Massimo , Bologna Emmalisa , Imparato Luca , Paoloni Marco , Iagnocco Annamaria 
Published: December 2016

viscosupplementation (hyaluronic acid [HA]) in hip osteoarthritis. Material and methods: A total of 43 patients affected by monolateral severe hip osteoarthritis (OA) were included in the study. Patients were randomized to receive either intra-articular PRP (3 ml) or HA (30 mg/2 ml; 1,000-2,900 kDa), 3 injections in total – 1/week. Clinical assessments for each patient were made at baseline (T0), 4 (T1), and 16 weeks (T2) of follow-up. The primary efficacy outcome was pain reduction as measured by VAS and by WOMAC pain subscale. Results: Data analysis revealed that, compared to T0, in the PRP-treated group VAS scores significantly decreased at T1 but not at T2, thereby indicating an early effect on pain which was not maintained at a longer term follow-up. In the HA group a significant decrease of both VAS and WOMAC values was registered only between T0 and T2. Conclusions: Intra-articular PRP had an immediate effect on pain that was not maintained at longer term follow-up when, on the contrary, the effects of intra-articular HA were evident.
Strain Elastography (SE) for liver fibrosis estimation – which elastic score to calculate?
Authors: Gersak Mariana M. , Lupșor-Platon Monica , Badea Radu , Ciurea Anca , Dudea Sorin M 
Published: December 2016

Liver fibrosis scoring by liver biopsy has become a rarity in daily practice mainly because many non-invasive methods with similar accuracy have been developed. Among all ultrasound elastography imaging methods, Strain Elastography (SE) is the most widely available. Although SE is a qualitative and semi-quantitative method, there is reliable applicability for liver fibrosis estimation and multiple ways to transform SE into a quantitative method, in order to obtain a fibrosis score. The aim of this review is to briefly introduce all these methods and to offer support in choosing the best estimation method for liver fibrosis, with SE.
Lung artefacts and their use
Authors: Dietrich Christoph F , Mathis Gebhard , Blaivas Michael , Volpicelli Giovanni , Seibel Armin , Atkinson Nathan S , Cui Xin Wu , Mei Fan , Schreiber-Dietrich Dagmar , Yi Dong 
Published: December 2016

The science of lung ultrasound has grown tremendously over the last two decades and lung ultrasound has not only entered the mainstream of point of care ultrasound but has become a dominant topic. Understanding lung ultrasound signs and artifacts is critical to being able to correlate findings with actual pathology and normal anatomy and physiology. Investigators have described multiple lung ultrasound artifacts and findings and it is important to understand both the physics and anatomic basis behind them. Additionally, ultrasound machine use and transducer selection can significantly affect results obtained on patient during an examination and the provider must carefully choose the correct settings. This manuscript describes the state of the art in ultrasound artifact recognition and correlation as well as management of ultrasound technology to optimize diagnostic success.
Does Short-Duration Heat Exposure at a Matched Cardiovascular Intensity Improve Intermittent-Running Performance in a Cool Environment?
Authors: Philp Calvin P. , Buchheit Martin , Kitic Cecilia M. , Minson Christopher T. , Fell James W. 
Published: December 2016

Purpose:To investigate whether a 5-d cycling training block in the heat (35°C) in Australian Rules footballers was superior to exercising at the same relative intensity in cool conditions (15°C) for improving intermittent-running performance in a cool environment (<18°C).Methods:Using a parallel-group design, 12 semiprofessional football players performed 5 d of cycling exercise (70% heart-rate reserve [HRR] for 45 min [5 × 50-min sessions in total]) in a hot (HEAT, 35°C ± 1°C, 56% ± 9% RH) or cool environment (COOL, 15°C ± 3°C, 81% ± 10% RH). A 30-15 Intermittent Fitness Test to assess intermittent running performance (VIFT) was conducted in a cool environment (17°C ± 2°C, 58 ± 5% RH) before and twice after (1 and 3 d) the intervention.Results:There was a likely small increase in VIFT in each group (HEAT, 0.5 ± 0.3 km/h, 1.5 ± 0.8 × smallest worthwhile change [SWC]; COOL, 0.4 ± 0.4 km/h, 1.6 ± 1.2 × SWC) 3 d postintervention, with no difference in change between the groups (0.5% ± 1.9%, 0.4 ± 1.4 × SWC). Cycle power output during the intervention was almost certainly lower in the HEAT group (HEAT 1.8 ± 0.2 W/kg vs COOL 2.5 ± 0.3 W/kg, –21.7 ± 3.2 × SWC, 100/0/0).Conclusions:When cardiovascularexercise intensity is matched (ie, 70% HRR) between environmental conditions, there is no additional performance benefit from short-duration moderate-intensity heat exposure (5 × 50 min) for semiprofessional footballers exercising in cool conditions. However, the similar positive adaptations may occur in HEAT with 30% lower mechanical load, which may be of interest for load management during intense training or rehabilitation phases.