Complementary Field Research Articles

Detection and Characterization of Potato Virus Y (PVY) Strains and Mixed Infections in San Luis Valley, Colorado

Potato virus Y (PVY) is a major economic threat to potato production worldwide. Understanding the prevalent PVY strains and their dynamics is crucial for effective management. This study investigated PVY trends and diversity in the San Luis Valley (SLV), CO, U.S.A. We leveraged the Colorado Seed Potato Certification Program data (2017 to 2022), revealing a persistent problem with PVY incidence in certified seed lots that fluctuated between 2.6% (2017) and 6.5% (2022). PVYN-Wi was the dominant strain, with others such as PVYO also detected. A complementary field study (2021 to 2022) investigated PVY prevalence and diversity in 600 samples collected from 30 fields. PVYN-Wi was identified as the main strain, followed by PVYO and PVYNTN. Notably, the incidences of dual and triple infections, along with inconclusive samples, increased in both postharvest and field study samples. High-throughput sequencing (HTS) of the inconclusive samples identified from the field study samples determined PVYN-Wi as the predominant strain and identified polymorphisms that may hinder accurate identification by traditional strain typing methods. Beyond PVY, potato virus S (PVS) was the only other major potato-infecting virus detected. HTS revealed diverse nonplant-infecting viruses as well. This study provides valuable insights into the evolving PVY landscape and the complex potato virome in SLV. It highlights the importance of continued surveillance and improved diagnostics to mitigate the impact of viruses on potato production. [Formula: see text] Copyright © 2024 The Author(s). This is an open access article distributed under the CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 International license .

Evaluation of Tidal Asymmetry and Its Effect on Tidal Energy Resources in the Great Island Region of the Gulf of California

Hydrokinetic tidal energy is one of the few marine renewable energy resources with sufficiently mature technology for commercial exploitation. However, several parameters affect its exploitability, such as the minimum speed threshold, ambient turbulence levels, or tidal asymmetry, to name but a few. These parameters are particularly important in regions with lower mean speeds than those in first-generation sites, such as the North Sea. The Gulf of California is one of those regions. In this paper, a Delft3D Flexible Mesh Suite (Delft3D FM) model in barotropic configuration is set up over the Gulf of California using a flexible mesh with resolution varying from O (500 m) in the deep regions to O (10 m) in the coastal regions. A simulation is run over the year of 2020, with a tidal forcing of 75 components. The model is validated at four tidal gauge locations and four Acoustic Doppler Current profiler (ADCP) locations. The speed, U, and tidal power density (TPD) indicators used for the validation were the annual means, the annual means for speeds above the 0.5 m s−1 threshold, the annual means of the spring tide maxima, and the annual maxima. The contour maps of the annual means, that is, the annual means for speeds above the 0.5 m s−1 threshold, allow us to identify tidal energy hot spots throughout the Gulf of California, particularly in the Great Island region (GIR). In this region, these hot spots have higher U and TPD values, in agreement with previous studies. The patterns of circulation around Tiburón Island and San Esteban Island on the East, and Ángel de la Guarda Island and San Lorenzo Island on the West, the four islands in the region with the highest tidal energy potential, are also discussed while recognizing that Tiburón Channel, between Tiburón Island and San Esteban Island, has proved to be the best siting location, based on the technical results obtained so far. The hot spots sites are further characterized by computing the tidal asymmetry in these small regions, showing the locations of the sites with smallest asymmetry, which would be the best for tidal energy exploitation. The hot spots around San Esteban Island are particularly important because they have the largest TPD in the GIR, with the model predicting a TPD on the order of 500–1000 W m−2. Here, complementary field measurements obtained with two ADCPs, close to San Esteban Island, one at 15 m depth, SEs (shallow region), and the other at 60 m depth, SEd (deep region), produced TPDs of 1200 W m−2 and 400 W m−2, respectively. The analysis of the vertical profiles and the tidal asymmetry over the vertical shows the importance of developing 3D models in future investigations.

Resolving the Intricate Effects of Multiple Global Change Drivers on Root Litter Decomposition.

Plant roots represent about a quarter of global plant biomass and constitute a primary source of soil organic carbon (C). Yet, considerable uncertainty persists regarding root litter decomposition and their responses to global change factors (GCFs). Much of this uncertainty stems from a limited understanding of the multifactorial effects of GCFs and it remains unclear how these effects are mediated by litter quality, soil conditions and microbial functionality. Using complementary field decomposition and laboratory incubation approaches, we assessed the relative controls of GCF-mediated changes in root litter traits and soil and microbial properties on fine-root decomposition under warming, nitrogen (N) enrichment, and precipitation alteration. We found that warming and N enrichment accelerated fine-root decomposition by over 10%, and their combination showed an additive effect, while precipitation reduction suppressed decomposition overall by 12%, with the suppressive effect being most significant under warming-alone and N enrichment-alone conditions. Significantly, changes in litter quality played a dominant role and accelerated fine-root decomposition by 15% ~ 18% under warming and N enrichment, while changes in soil and microbial properties were predominant and reduced decomposition by 7% ~ 10% under precipitation reduction and the combined warming and N enrichment. Examining only the decomposition environment or litter properties in isolation can distort global change effects on root decomposition, underestimating precipitation reduction impacts by 38% and overstating warming and N effects by up to 73%. These findings highlight that the net impact of GCFs on root litter decomposition hinges on the interplay between GCF-modulated root decomposability and decomposition environment, as well as on the synergistic or antagonistic relationships among GCFs themselves. Our study emphasizes that integrating the legacy effects of multiple GCFs on root traits, soil conditions and microbial functionality would improve our prediction of C and nutrient cycling under interactive global change scenarios.

(Keynote) Epitaxial Si/SiGe Multi-Stacks: From Stacked Nano-Sheet to Fork-Sheet and CFET Devices

After a short description of the evolution of metal-oxide-semiconductor (MOS) device architectures and the corresponding requirements on epitaxial growth processes, the manuscript describes the material properties of complicated Si/SiGe multi-layer stacks used for complementary field effect transistor (CFET) devices. They contain two different Ge concentrations and have been grown using conventional process gases. A relatively high growth temperature is used to obtain acceptable Si and SiGe growth rates. Still island growth has been suppressed for Ge concentrations up to 40%. Excellent structural and optical material properties of the Si/SiGe multi-layer stack will be reported, with up to 3 + 3 Si channels in the top and bottom part of the stack, respectively. The absence/presence of lattice defects has been verified by room temperature photoluminescence measurements. Photoluminescence measurements at low temperatures are used to study band-to-band luminescence from individual sub-layers and to illustrate the optical material quality of the CFET stack.

Source/Drain Epitaxy for Nanosheet-Based CFET Devices

This work reports the progress in source/drain (S/D) epitaxy development for nanosheet-based monolithic complementary field effect transistors (mCFET). S/D processes which were set-up for bulk finFET devices can be easily transferred to mCFET devices. Owing to the complicated integration and small dimensions of the highly scaled structures however, more attention is required for the pre-epi cleaning of the exposed channel interfaces and for the additional defectivity that arises from the merging of individual epitaxial growth fronts. Low-temperature epi processes can be structurally integrated in mCFET devices, to further reduce the transistor access resistance components and comply with thermal budget limitations.

(Invited) Material Engineering for the GAA and Post-GAA Transistors and Interconnects

Feature scaling in advanced CMOS technology has been slowing down starting at 10 nm node and is expected to stop completely in the next few years. Nevertheless, transistor density scaling is continuing at a Moore’s law pace, driven by DTCO and 3D IC.Transistor dimensions and minimum metal pitch are expected to be massaged down only by 10% to 20% during the next decade. However, both the transistor and the interconnect will continue to evolve and improve both in performance and in variability.Currently, the industry is transitioning from FinFET technology to GAA (Gate All-Around) technology. The next transition, from GAA to the NMOS and PMOS GAA transistors stacked on top of each other (often referred to as CFET (Complementary Field Effect Transistor)) is expected in 8 to 10 years from now.The main methodology for GAA and CFET transistor engineering comes down to bandstructure engineering, where material composition, shape and thickness of different layers, and mechanical stress are engineered to tailor a bandstructure of the channel that maximizes on-state driving strength and minimizes off-state leakage and variability. The key methodology for bandstructure engineering is ab-initio analysis of transistor components and then transfer of the obtained bandstructure to transistor scale analysis to characterize its behavior.For the interconnect engineering, the tight metal pitches and increasingly tall and narrow vias dictate transition from copper to alternative metals, with a preference for the metals that can be etched and selectively grown. The key methodology for interconnect engineering is ab-initio analysis of electron scattering at the interfaces and grain boundaries. The scattering is then converted into interconnect resistance that defines speed and power consumption of the advanced CMOS circuits.This work introduces the concepts of transistor band structure engineering and interconnect scattering engineering and provides illustrations of these methodologies applied to GAA and post-GAA technologies.

Elevated CO2 enhances decomposition and modifies litter‐associated fungal assemblages in a natural Eucalyptus woodland

Abstract Litter decomposition is a key process governing carbon and nutrient cycles in forest ecosystems that is expected to be impacted by increasing atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2) concentrations. We conducted two complementary field studies to assess the effects of elevated CO2 on Eucalyptus tereticornis litter decomposition processes. First, we used bags of two different mesh sizes to assess the effect of macrofauna and elevated CO2 over 24 months on mass loss of litter grown under ambient CO2. We then assessed the effect of elevated CO2 during the decomposition of litter grown under each combination of (i) ambient CO2 or elevated CO2 and (ii) during a psyllid outbreak that triggered significant canopy loss or later in canopy developing when psyllid densities were low. Both macrofauna and elevated CO2 enhanced mass loss at late decay stages in the first study, with no interactive effect. Again, mass loss was greater at elevated CO2 at late decay stages in the second study, particularly for non‐psyllid‐impacted litter grown at elevated CO2. In both studies, CO2 concentration during decomposition influenced fungal assemblages and these effects were observed before any effects on decomposition were observed, with some fungi linked to saprotrophic guilds being found with higher frequency under elevated CO2. CO2 concentrations under which leaves developed and whether leaves were psyllid‐impacted was also important in shaping fungal assemblages. Synthesis. The positive effect on mass loss at late decay stages is contrary to previous findings where elevated CO2 generally reduced decomposition rates. Our results show that elevated CO2 effects on decay rates are context‐specific. Further research is required to establish the mechanisms through which this occurs to better model elevated CO2 effects on global carbon dynamics. Read the free Plain Language Summary for this article on the Journal blog.

Complementary Field and Laboratory Batch Studies to Quantify Generation Rates of Perfluoroalkyl Acids in a Contaminated Agricultural Topsoil with Unknown Precursors

AbstractSoil microbiome changes and generation rates of per‐ and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) precursors were studied in a contaminated agricultural field using a combination of field and laboratory batch microcosm studies. 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing was used to track how microbial community composition changed over time, while perfluoroalkyl acids (PFAA) generation rates were quantified using a combination of field and batch incubations combined with the direct total oxidizable precursor (dTOP) assay. The study site in Brilon‐Scharfenberg, North Rhine‐Westphalia, Germany, has PFAS contamination in the topsoil (0 to 30 cm) originating from compost. Generation rate constants of these short‐chain PFAA estimated from batch incubations (0.12 to 0.75 1/year) were higher but similar to rate constants from the fields (0.05 to 0.22 1/year). Long‐term field mass discharge data (2009 to 2023) suggest that at least 60 years are needed to remove 99.99% of short‐chain PFAA and their precursors. 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing data revealed a major impact of PFAA on the biodiversity of soil microorganisms, with batch‐incubated contaminated soils showing higher richness and diversity indexes than field control soils. However, most of these impacts occurred at lower taxonomical ranks and did not seem to have a prominent impact on the overall structure of the autochtonous microbial communities of the soils where PFAA were produced and accumulated. Overall, our findings demonstrate that well‐controlled aerobic batch test combined with the results of dTOP assay are a suitable approach for estimating short‐chain PFAA generation rates. Additionally, our research suggests that the complete removal of PFAA precursors from topsoil will take decades.

A computationally efficient thermo-mechanical model with temporal acceleration for prediction of residual stresses and deformations in WAAM

ABSTRACT The present paper introduces a novel temporal acceleration strategy for computationally efficient prediction of residual stresses and deformations in wire arc additive manufacturing (WAAM) components. It employs a semi-analytical approach, dividing temperature into the analytical and the complementary fields. The analytical field is obtained by a closed-form solution, and the complementary field is employed to solve the boundary conditions. A temporal acceleration factor for the heating period is applied. Meanwhile, the diffusion time in the analytical field is manipulated to guarantee accurate temperature prediction. Validation via WAAM experiments, including both a thin-wall structure and a practical engineering component with characteristic dimensions on the order of metres, indicates that the predicted stresses is 50 MPa lower than the experimental values. Moreover, the discrepancy of between the predicted deformations and the experimental measurements is less than 10%, demonstrating reasonable accuracy can be achieved with attractive computational efficiency.

A hybrid numerical framework of potential and viscous flows for simulations of free running surface ship maneuvering in waves

This study presents a hybrid numerical framework for the accurate and efficient simulation of free-running surface ship maneuvering in waves. The proposed hybrid framework combines the MOUM (Modified Osaka University Method) body-force method to model the propeller and a hybrid approach of potential and viscous flows for wave-ship interactions. The MOUM body-force method, based on BEMT (Blade Element Momentum Theory), considers the three-dimensional viscous effects of propellers. The hybrid approach of potential and viscous flows decomposes the total physical field into the incident field and the complementary field, where the incident wave is solved by the potential flow theory to ensure the accuracy of wave propagation with coarse grids, and viscous and nonlinear effects are incorporated through the adapted URANS (Unsteady Reynolds Averaged Navier-Stokes) with refined grids. The 6DOF (Degrees of Freedom) motion equations of the rigid body and the dynamic structured grid with the overset technology are adopted to simulate the 6DOF motions of ship maneuvering in waves. Firstly, the applicability of the computational domain, domain-moving strategy, and ship motion-solving method for effectively simulating ship maneuvering in wave conditions are thoroughly examined. Then the reliability of present hybrid approach is validated using turning benchmark model tests of KCS model in regular waves. Simulations of turning circle and zig-zag maneuvers in regular waves are carried out by the traditional viscous CFD (Computational Fluid Dynamics) based on the boundary wave-generation approach and the proposed hybrid framework. The trajectories, motions and forces of ship maneuvering in waves predicted by both methods, as well as the computational efficiency, are compared. Numerical results indicated that the proposed method offers high accuracy and efficiency for predicting ship maneuvering in waves and could serve as a highly credible alternative to existing methods.

Renormalized Kalb-Ramond model: Duality and generalized potential

Considering the recent advances, the weak correlation between the massive Kalb-Ramond and the Proca models is investigated using a set of complementary quantum field techniques beyond the semi-classical approach. A consistent framework to discuss the abrupt degree of freedom variation in the massless limit is established. In this manner, the Stueckelberg procedure is generalized for the present case to derive Ward-Takahashi constraints even for the massive case. By adding couplings with fermionic matter fields, even the weak dual correlation is broken due to the explicit form of the radiative corrections. However, considering the master action approach, the fermionic 1(PI) functions of the Proca electrodynamics are reproduced in all orders of perturbation. A well-defined procedure to eliminate non-desirable extra modes induced by the quantum corrections is successfully applied to this model. Last but not least, we prove that this structure can also provide a spin-dependent interaction that is relevant even at macroscopic distances, being a completion for a recently proposed confining potential.

More small tools for sweet challenges: advances in microfluidic technologies for glycan analysis

Carbohydrates, also known glycans, are ubiquitous in nature and exhibit a wide array of biological functions essential to life. Glycans often exist as conjugates of proteins or lipids and reside predominantly at the surface of cells, where their structure and composition are known to vary in a disease-dependent fashion. This observation has encouraged the development of tools for monitoring glycan patterns on individual molecules, cells, and tissues, to elucidate the links between glycosylation and disease for therapeutic and diagnostic applications. Over the past 2 decades, microfluidic technology has emerged as an advantageous tool for profiling the glycan content of biological systems. Miniaturizing carbohydrate analysis can circumvent several challenges commonly encountered with conventional-scale analytical techniques such as low throughput and poor detection sensitivity. The latter is often complicated by the low abundance of glycans in biological specimens and the complexity of carbohydrate structures, which often necessitates extensive concentration and purification of glycans to discern their structural features. We previously examined the application of microfluidics in the synthesis of carbohydrates in a recent paper (Pinnock et al., Anal. Bioanal. Chem., 2022, 414 (18), 5139–63). This review builds upon that discussion by delving into the application of microfluidics in the complementary field of carbohydrate analysis. Special attention is given to applications related to glycomics and the ways that microfluidics have enhanced the sensitivity, reproducibility, and throughput of carbohydrate identification and structural characterization.

Compact Model Build Upon Dynamic Weighting Artificial Neural Network Approach for Complementary Field Effect Transistors

Compact Model Build Upon Dynamic Weighting Artificial Neural Network Approach for Complementary Field Effect Transistors

Resolving gap patterns and dynamics from a new perspective: Ratio effects of the evergreen versus deciduous trees in broadleaved – Korean pine forests

Clarifying gap patterns and dynamics on a regional scale is necessary to understand forest succession. However, few studies quantified the species composition influences except for geography and time effects. We examined the spatial and temporal gap patterns in an old-growth broadleaved–Korean pine (Pinus koraiensis) forest using two satellite image datasets with a ten-year interval and complementary field survey datasets. The forests were evenly divided into 121 plots with a plot size of 100 ha, and the crown projection area ratio of evergreen trees (RE/A) in each plot was quantified to represent simplified species composition (i.e., evergreen versus deciduous trees). We found that gap fraction and density reduced from 19.0% and 25.0 gaps ha-1 in 2007 to 16.8% and 17.6 gaps ha-1 in 2017, respectively, equivalent to a transformation of 213 ha from gaps to closed canopy. Generalized linear mixed models showed that the RE/A explained substantial variance in gap fraction, size, and number, much more than geography factors (slope and altitude). However, the gap size frequency distribution consistently followed a power-law distribution with weak geography, time, and species composition influences. Univariate analyses showed that the gap distribution patterns differed by gap size but tended to randomness over time, likely due to the randomness of gap formation and the differences in gap closure processes. The species composition of gap makers and fillers diverged along the RE/A gradient. In summary, our study proposed a novel factor (RE/A) to reveal the spatial and temporal gap patterns in the broadleaved–Korean pine forests, which provided insights into the necessity of refining species composition in conducting regional-scale gap studies with the development of airborne hyperspectral and LiDAR remote sensing technologies.

Increasing winter wheat yield and nitrogen utilization, and reducing residual soil nitrogen in semi-humid areas: A study matching deep fertilizer application with regional water scenarios

The deep fertilizer application (DF) has been recommended as an effective strategy for promoting crop growth and yield formation. However, the controversial discussion revolves on the challenge of effectively using DF to simultaneously increase crop nitrogen (N) uptake and minimize residual nitrate contents to enhance N utilization efficiency. Based on a precipitation manipulation experiment conducted during 2019–2022 in a semi-humid area, we examined how annual precipitation amount during wheat growing season (125 mm = dry year; 200 mm = normal year; 275 mm = wet year) and the soil water storage before sowing (500 mm, SWSS500; 400 mm, SWSS400; 300 mm, SWSS300) variability affected the N uptake, N utilization efficiency, yield, and residual soil nitrate content in wheat fields treated with N fertilization at different depths (conventional surface fertilization depth of 5 cm: D5; 15 cm: D15; 25 cm: D25; 35 cm: D35). A complementary field experiment was also performed under natural rainfall condition using the 15N tracer technique to quantify the fate of fertilizer-N and 15N use efficiency (15NUE). 15N analyses showed that DF (D15, D25 and D35) significantly increased 15NUE by improving wheat 15N uptake (5.8–15.3%) and reducing potential 15N loss (9.6–12.3%) compared with D5, but the residual soil 15N in the 0–1.0 m layer increased (13.2–26.3%) as the fertilization depth increased (p < 0.05). The simulated precipitation experiment showed that compared with D5, DF significantly increased wheat N uptake, N utilization efficiency and yield by 1.4–16.4%, 1.4–14.0% and 3.3–21.5%, respectively, in the dry and normal years. In the wet year, N uptake, N utilization efficiency and yield under D15 increased by 1.9–9.8%, 2.1–11.1% and 2.2–13.4% compared to other fertilization depth treatments (p < 0.05). SWSS500 and SWSS400 significantly increased the N uptake (9.8–65.0%) and yield (0.6–69.3%) under all fertilization depth treatments irrespective of the annual precipitation amount than SWSS300 (p < 0.05). DF increased the residual NO3–-N concentration (0–2.0 m soil layer) by 2.2–7.3% compared to D5 across all annual precipitation amounts and SWSS levels, and D35 increased the maximum downward movement of NO3–-N to 1.4 m under wet year within SWSS500. DF at the depth of 14–20 cm effectively improved wheat N uptake and yield as well as minimizing the residual soil NO3–-N content. Applying moderate DF can enhance sustainable wheat production with high efficiency and yields in semi-humid regions.

Development of New Diagnostic Methods for Early Detection of Cancer: Integration of Genomic and Bioinformatics Technologies

The relentless pursuit of improved cancer diagnostics has led to the development of novel methods for early detection. This article explores the integration of genomic and bioinformatics technologies to propel advancements in cancer diagnostics. With the increasing understanding of cancer as a molecular disease, genomic technologies play a pivotal role in unraveling the intricate genetic alterations associated with various cancer types. The utilization of next-generation sequencing (NGS) allows for comprehensive genomic profiling, enabling the identification of specific genetic mutations, alterations, and aberrations indicative of early-stage cancer.&#x0D; Bioinformatics, as a complementary field, becomes crucial in managing and interpreting the vast datasets generated by genomic technologies. Advanced computational algorithms and machine learning models are employed to analyze genomic data, identify biomarkers, and discern subtle patterns that may serve as early indicators of cancer. The integration of these technologies offers a holistic approach, combining the power of genomics with sophisticated computational analyses to enhance the sensitivity and specificity of cancer diagnostics.&#x0D; Moreover, the article explores the potential of liquid biopsy as a non-invasive method for early cancer detection. By analyzing circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) and other biomolecules in bodily fluids, liquid biopsy provides a minimally invasive means to monitor molecular changes associated with cancer progression. The integration of liquid biopsy with genomic and bioinformatics technologies further amplifies the scope of early cancer detection, offering a real-time, dynamic assessment of the evolving cancer landscape.&#x0D; In conclusion, the amalgamation of genomic and bioinformatics technologies represents a paradigm shift in cancer diagnostics, facilitating the identification of molecular alterations at an unprecedented level of detail. This integrated approach holds great promise for the early detection of cancer, paving the way for more effective and personalized therapeutic interventions. The article underscores the transformative potential of these technologies in reshaping the landscape of cancer diagnosis and emphasizes the need for ongoing research and technological innovation in the relentless pursuit of improved cancer care.

DC and AC characteristics of Si/SiGe based vertically stacked complementary-tunneling FETs

In this paper, electrical characteristics of a complementary tunneling field effect transistor (CTFET) is studied computationally for the first time. The design of CTFET is carried with 3D vertically stacked channels (multiple) of n-TFET on top of the p-TFET with gate-all-around (GAA) nanosheet SiGe options. The CTFET technology (using CFETs) is examined for emerging technology nodes as a potential alternative to conventional TFETs. Here, the device level design of CTFET is strictly monitored with DC characteristic behavior under the influence of process variability conditions (traps and temperature). The performance analysis is extended to analyze the scalability of CTFET under critical dimensions (n- to p-TFET separation, nanosheet pitch, and so on), and find that it is highly scalable. The circuit analysis of CTFET-inverter show high-noise margin (NM) and voltage gains compared to the conventional strained-Si GAA-TFETs at the supply range (V D D) from 0.7 ≥ V D D ≥ 0.2 V. In addition, the CTFET-inverter circuit performance is analyzed with miller capacitance, power delay product, and intrinsic delay, respectively. Improved circuit performance, followed by 12.5% and 21.5% improvements in low and high NMs (NML and NMH) are seen in CTFETs compared to conventional TFETs.

Complementary and Alternative Medicine for Pain Management in Cancer Patients

The field of Natural Health Sciences and Occult sciences is getting high attention and gaining importance in treatment of several diseases, that are not responding the traditional practice. However, the lack of extensive research and data supporting these fields is preventing them from becoming accepted method of treatment. Complementary and Alternative Medicine is not mysterious but science itself. In the last decade there is substantial research in these areas like aura, bioenergy or electromagnetic energy, radiation energy from bodies and techniques to measure these energies leading to wider acceptance. Holistic Healing is the practice of health that considers the entire person and all of the factors affecting the person and it is based foundational principles of Aurveda, Traditional Chinese Medicine and Herbal medicine. Holistic medicine uses Mind and Body techniques, Natural products, Energy and Spiritual healing. Survey released by National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM-NIH) revealed that 56% of population in US and in advanced countries uses CAM. Randomized Clinical studies conducted with 189 Patients undergoing standard chemotherapy, placebo or Reiki found that Energy healing (Reiki) was statistically significant in raising the comfort and well-being of patients post-therapy. Further, in the systematic review of 5 randomized clinical trials, two studies reported statistically significant reductions in pain when Reiki was used in addition to opioid agents. Additionally, energy healing on oncology patients undergoing infusion, showed 50% reduction in mean pain scores after each treatment. The investigations suggested that the sessions were considered helpful to improve well-being (70%), relaxation (88%), pain relief (45%). Similarly, in another cross over study, it was shown that in all sixteen cancer patients included in energy healing sessions, fatigue decreased, and quality of life was significantly improved with the reiki sessions compared with rest. Recent studies demonstrated that acupuncture was significantly associated with reduced cancer pain and can decrease the use of analgesics with moderate certainty of evidence. In addition, biology based practices like Herbal, probiotics and vitamins are also used to reduce pain. These methods are accepted by various professional certification agencies like National Certification Center of Energy Practitioners (NCCOEP) and Alliance of Energy practitioners (NAOEP) that is serving as resource for research and literature support. In summary, the complementary and alternative medicine field is upcoming and gaining acceptance as therapeutic method to increase patience confidence and reduce impact of ailment.

Numerical study on wave-induced drift forces and motions of a DTC ship in head and oblique waves using functional decomposition model

It is imperative to investigate the adequacy of propulsion power and steering mechanisms in order to maintain the manoeuvrability of ships in adverse wave conditions, as the drift forces caused by wave can result in deviation from the desired course. The primary objective of this research is to develop a hybrid approach, combining potential and viscous flows, known as SWENSE (Spectral Wave Explicit Navier-Stokes Equations), to accurately assess the wave-induced drift forces and motions experienced by ships in waves. SWENSE is a hybrid approach based on the functional decomposition model, in which the total field is composed of the incident field and complementary field. In this study, the incident filed waves are calculated by the Airy wave theory and the complementary field is solved by the SWENSE model. The wave conditions are selected according to the benchmark cases of the European Union research project SHOPERA (Energy Efficient Safe Ship Operation). The wave-induced loads and motions of DTC in head and oblique waves are calculated. Results of CFD (Computational Fluid Dynamics) are compared with those of EFD (Experimental Fluid Dynamics) and other numerical methods. In addition, the wave-induced drift forces of the fixed/3DOF (Degrees of Freedom) ships are compared with each other (3DOF includes heave, roll and pitch). SWENSE model is proven to be reliable for the predictions of the wave-induced drift forces and motions of ships in waves.

Numerical study on motion responses and added resistance for surge-free KCS in head and oblique waves based on the functional decomposition method

A hybrid approach of potential and viscous flows is developed, based on the functional decomposition model SWENSE (Spectral Wave Explicit Navier-Stokes Equations), to investigate the seakeeping performance of the surge-free ship models accurately and efficiently. In the SWENSE method, the total physical field, including velocity, pressure and the signed distance function of the free surface, are decomposed into the incident field and the complementary field. For the incident wave field, the linear wave model is used and the physical field is extended to the flows up to the air zone using the Wheeler stretching method. With respect to the complementary field, the variables are governed by SWENSE. The adapted single-phase level-set model is used to capture the free surface. Based on this hybrid approach, an in-house code HUST-SWENSE is developed. The spring-mass-damper module, 4DOF (Degrees of Freedom) motion equations of the rigid body, three coordinate systems and the dynamic structured grid with the overset technology are applied to deal with the 4DOF ship motions. Firstly, the size of the computational domain for the simulations of the oblique waves is discussed. The numerical results can be convergent for HUST-SWNESE when the radius R/L of the cylindrical computational domain is larger than 2.0. After determining the grid system and the time step based on the verification and validation study, simulations are conducted using the HUST-SWENSE to predict the surge, heave, roll, and pitch motions of the KCS in regular oblique waves. Wave conditions are based on the benchmark cases provided by the Tokyo2015 CFD workshop. The simulated results are then compared with experimental data and other numerical results. The comparison shows that the respective differences were less than 2% for incident regular waves, 10% for heave and pitch motion responses, 5% for roll motions and 20% for added resistances. Therefore, the HUST-SWENSE model can be considered reliable for the prediction of ship motions and added resistance in head and oblique waves. Finally, the influences of different DOFs, wavelengths and wave heights on the motions and added resistance for the surge-free ship model in oblique waves are investigated in detail. It is found that the importance of surge motion in the seakeeping performance prediction of the ship in astern seas, especially for the added resistance. Moreover, the nonlinearity of wave heights is analyzed, and the results indicate that the nonlinearity of the large-amplitude roll is mainly induced by the roll restoring moments, while the nonlinear features of the incident, radiation and diffraction wave systems were responsible for the nonlinearity of added resistance and surge motions.