Depth Variation Research Articles

Analysis of the Technical Accuracy of a Patient-Specific Stereotaxy Platform for Brain Biopsy.

The use of stereotactic frames is a common practice in neurosurgical interventions such as brain biopsy and deep brain stimulation. However, conventional stereotactic frames have been shown to require modification and adaptation regarding patient and surgeon comfort as well as the increasing demand for individualized medical treatment. To meet these requirements for carrying out state-of-the-art neurosurgery, a 3D print-based, patient-specific stereotactic system was developed and examined for technical accuracy. Sixteen patient-specific frames, each with two target points, were additively manufactured from PA12 using the Multi Jet Fusion process. The 32 target points aim to maximize the variability of biopsy targets and depths for tissue sample retrieval in the brain. Following manufacturing, the frames were measured three-dimensionally using an optical scanner. The frames underwent an autoclave sterilization process prior to rescanning. The scan-generated models were compared with the planned CAD models and the deviation of the planned target points in the XY-plane, Z-direction and in the resulting direction were determined. Significantly lower (p < 0.01) deviations were observed when comparing CAD vs. print and print vs. sterile in the Z-direction (0.17 mm and 0.06 mm, respectively) than in the XY-plane (0.46 mm and 0.16 mm, respectively). The resulting target point deviation (0.51 mm) and the XY-plane (0.46 mm) are significantly higher (p < 0.01) in the CAD vs. print comparison than in the print vs. sterile comparison (0.18 mm and 0.16 mm, respectively). On average, the results from the 32 target positions examined exceeded the clinically required accuracy for a brain biopsy (2 mm) by more than four times. The patient-specific stereotaxic frames meet the requirements of modern neurosurgical navigation and make no compromises when it comes to accuracy. In addition, the material is suitable for autoclave sterilization due to resistance to distortion.

Research on Inter-Frame Feature Mismatch Removal Method of VSLAM in Dynamic Scenes

Visual Simultaneous Localization and Mapping (VSLAM) estimates the robot’s pose in three-dimensional space by analyzing the depth variations of inter-frame feature points. Inter-frame feature point mismatches can lead to tracking failure, impacting the accuracy of the mobile robot’s self-localization and mapping. This paper proposes a method for removing mismatches of image features in dynamic scenes in visual SLAM. First, the Grid-based Motion Statistics (GMS) method was introduced for fast coarse screening of mismatched image features. Second, an Adaptive Error Threshold RANSAC (ATRANSAC) method, determined by the internal matching rate, was proposed to improve the accuracy of removing mismatched image features in dynamic and static scenes. Third, the GMS-ATRANSAC method was tested for removing mismatched image features, and experimental results showed that GMS-ATRANSAC can remove mismatches of image features on moving objects. It achieved an average error reduction of 29.4% and 32.9% compared to RANSAC and GMS-RANSAC, with a corresponding reduction in error variance of 63.9% and 58.0%, respectively. The processing time was reduced by 78.3% and 38%, respectively. Finally, the effectiveness of inter-frame feature mismatch removal in the initialization thread of ORB-SLAM2 and the tracking thread of ORB-SLAM3 was verified for the proposed algorithm.

Investigating damage resistance in aerospace radome applications: Experimental analysis of hybrid sandwich composites

This research introduces an innovative hybrid sandwich composite structure tailored for specific applications, featuring a foam core and dissimilar face sheets made of Kevlar and S-Glass materials to address in-phase electromagnetic properties, UV protection, and impact response. Building on our prior work on design optimization for electromagnetic performance and aero/inertial loading, this paper investigates the low-velocity impacts (LVIs) response of the composite structure through drop-weight testing at various energy levels. Utilizing computed tomography (CT) scanning for damage analysis, distinct failure modes were observed for different face sheet combinations, with notable variations (energy absorption characteristics) in damage depth and width between the S-Glass and Kevlar face sheets. This study, unprecedented in existing literature, proposes hybrid sandwich structures with superior specific impact strength compared to various composite sandwich structures documented in the published literature expanding its utility beyond radomes.

Analysis of Aerosol Types and Vertical Distribution in Seven Typical Cities in East Asia

Identifying the types and vertical distribution of aerosols plays a significant role in evaluating the influence of aerosols on the climate system. Based on the aerosol optical properties obtained from Cloud-Aerosol Lidar and Infrared Pathfinder Satellite Observation (CALIPSO), this study analyzed the long-term aerosol characteristics of seven cities in East Asia (Ulaanbaatar, Beijing, Lanzhou, Shanghai, Lhasa, Hong Kong, and Bangkok) from 2007 to 2021, including the spatiotemporal variations of aerosol optical depth (AOD), the vertical stratification characteristics of aerosols, and the main aerosol subtype. The results showed that, except for Lhasa, the AOD values of all cities exhibited a trend of initially increasing and then decreasing over the years. Except for Shanghai, the high values of AOD in the other cities occurred in the spring and summer seasons, while the low values occurred in the autumn and winter seasons. In all four seasons, the AOD contribution within the 1–3 km range accounted for more than 50% of the total. In the autumn and winter seasons, this proportion reached over 80%. The main types of aerosols and their contributions varied at different altitudes. Overall, dust, polluted continental/smoke, polluted dust, and elevated smoke dominated in all aerosol layers across each city. On the other hand, clean marine, clean continental, and dusty marine had very small proportions, accounting for less than 5% of all the cities’ aerosol layers.

Characterization of internal solitary waves in the Andaman Sea and Arabian Sea using EOS-04 and sentinel observations

ABSTRACT In this study, we synergistically used Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) and optical observations to characterize the Internal Solitary Waves (ISW) in the Andaman Sea and Arabian Sea region. Total 25 scenes combined from EOS-04, Sentinel-1&2 satellites are considered for the year 2022. Various approaches, including Fast Fourier Transform (FFT), Multiple Image Comparison (MIC), Tidal Time Period (TTP) and Korteweg-de Vries (KdV) equations, were employed to characterize the ISW, and its spatial and seasonal variations are also analysed. The dominant wavelength of ISW over the Andaman Sea in June 2022 is found to be 6500 m travelling towards the Andaman coast. The overall phase speed of ISW in the Andaman Sea lies in the range of 1.87–2.60 ms−1. It shows a seasonal variation of around 16% between winter and summer months, where a significant variation in the seasonal mixed layer depth was noticed. The phase speed also decreased as the ISW travelled from deep water to shallower regions. In contrast, the dominant wavelength of ISW in the continental shelf region of the west coast of India (near Goa) was much smaller (~400 m) compared to the Andaman Sea. Here, the ISW phase speed estimated using MIC and TTP methods was ~ 0.56 ms−1 in February 2022. The KdV equation yielded lower estimates of phase speed compared to the other two methods. The use of multiple satellite images and various approaches possess an advantage in comprehending the spatial and temporal variations in the characteristic features of ISW.

2D Near‐Surface Full‐Waveform Tomography Reveals Bedrock Controls on Critical Zone Architecture

AbstractFor decades, seismic imaging methods have been used to study the critical zone, Earth's thin, life‐supporting skin. The vast majority of critical zone seismic studies use traveltime tomography, which poorly resolves heterogeneity at many scales relevant to near‐surface processes, therefore limiting progress in critical zone science. Full‐waveform tomography can overcome this limitation by leveraging more seismic data and enhancing the resolution of geophysical imaging. In this study, we apply 2D full‐waveform tomography to match the phases of observed seismograms and elucidate previously undetected heterogeneity in the critical zone at a well‐studied catchment in the Laramie Range, Wyoming. In contrast to traveltime tomograms from the same data set, our results show variations in depth to bedrock ranging from 5 to 60 m over lateral scales of just tens of meters and image steep low‐velocity anomalies suggesting hydrologic pathways into the deep critical zone. Our results also show that areas with thick fractured bedrock layers correspond to zones of slightly lower velocities in the deep bedrock, while zones of high bedrock velocity correspond to sharp vertical transitions from bedrock to saprolite. By corroborating these findings with borehole imagery, we hypothesize that lateral changes in bedrock fracture density majorly impact critical zone architecture. Borehole data also show that our full‐waveform tomography results agree significantly better with velocity logs than previously published traveltime tomography models. Full‐waveform tomography thus appears unprecedentedly capable of imaging the spatially complex porosity structure crucial to critical zone hydrology and processes.

Evaluation of the Influence of Nasolabial Angle, Upper Sulcus Depth, and Nasal Tip Protrusion in the Perception of Facial Attractiveness

ABSTRACT Objective: To evaluate the influence of variations in the upper sulcus depth, nasal tip protrusion, and nasolabial angle on the esthetic perception of profiles. Design: A web-based survey study and was conducted in the Department of Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopaedics. This survey was conducted for a period of 10 months and included orthodontists practicing in India. Methods: This study included lateral cephalograms of the most esthetic profiles from a set of 30 profiles that were within Holdaways norms; the most esthetic profile was determined by a panel of two orthodontists and two general dentists. The most esthetic profile photograph will be transferred to a computer in Corel software. The outline of the profile will remain the same, with the inner aspect converted into a dark area (black); now, the profile is completely converted into facial silhouettes. This black facial silhouette is presented to avoid any distractions and bias. There will be a total of 27 silhouettes by various combinations of increased, decreased, and normal values for nasolabial angle, upper sulcus depth, and nasal tip protrusions. Results: Both the orthodontist and layman chose the most favored profile as a normal profile having a normal nasal tip, normal nasolabial angle, and normal upper sulcus depth, whereas among dentists, 50% chose the most favored profile in which the nasolabial angle was normal but the nasal tip and upper labial sulcus were decreased. When it comes to the least favored profiles, opinions varied between orthodontists, dentists, and laymen. Conclusion: The perception of facial esthetics has always been and still is varied between the layman, the dentist, and the orthodontists. Profiles with normal to sharp noses with normal and increased nasolabial angles were considered more attractive than the others. Profiles with fuller upper labial sulci were considered least attractive with other parameters changing.

Crack detection in metallic materials using a mobile robot

Cracks and flaws are typical failure modes in mechanical structures such as oil and gas pipeline networks, buildings, aircraft fuselages, and spacecraft. Early detection of these failures is critical for safety, timely replacement of damaged or corroded parts, accident prevention, and resource and cost savings. This requires low-cost, easy-to-implement, non-destructive, and reliable testing. For this purpose, we developed an embedded system in a Zumo 32U4 mobile robot for the magnetic detection of cracks in metal plates. Two AVR microcontrollers were used. One controls the magnetic sensing, signal processing, and data acquisition, and the other controls the robot’s displacement. A graphical user interface (GUI) was also implemented. Low-cost commercial magnetoresistive sensors (Sparkfun MAG3110) were used to monitor the variations of the 3D magnetic field around the cracks. Our detection method is based on the magnetic memory method, where local magnetic distortions are expected around a crack in a metallic material. Such distortions are due to the breaking of the symmetry of the crystal in the region where cracks appear. Experimental tests were carried out on a steel plate with machine-induced cracks of depth and width variations. The magnetic field changes associated with these cracks were analyzed and compared. This crack detection method could be used for structural health monitoring of mechanical infrastructure.

Numerical and experimental study of the variation of keyhole depth with an aluminum alloy (AA1050)

The keyhole depth is a key measurement characteristic in the laser welding of busbar to battery tabs in battery packs for electric vehicles (EV), as it directly affects the quality of the weld. In this work, experiments are carried out with controlled and adjusted laser power and feed rate parameters to investigate the influence on the keyhole width, keyhole depth and porosities. A 3D numerical model of laser keyhole welding of an aluminum alloy (A1050) has been developed to describe the porosity formation and the keyhole depth variation. A new integration model of the recoil pressure and the rate of evaporation model is implemented which is closer to the natural phenomena as compared to the conventional methods. Additionally, major physical forces are employed including plume formation, upward vapor pressure and multiple reflection in the keyhole. The results show that keyhole depth is lower at higher feed rate, while lower feed rates result in increased keyhole depth. This study reveals that low energy densities result in an unstable keyhole with high spattering, exacerbated by increased laser power. Mitigating incomplete fusion is achieved by elevating laser energy density. The findings emphasize the critical role of keyhole depth in optimizing laser welding processes for applications like busbar-to-battery tab welding.

Automated Restarting Fast Proximal Gradient Descent Method for Single-View Cone-Beam X-ray Luminescence Computed Tomography Based on Depth Compensation.

Single-view cone-beam X-ray luminescence computed tomography (CB-XLCT) has recently gained attention as a highly promising imaging technique that allows for the efficient and rapid three-dimensional visualization of nanophosphor (NP) distributions in small animals. However, the reconstruction performance is hindered by the ill-posed nature of the inverse problem and the effects of depth variation as only a single view is acquired. To tackle this issue, we present a methodology that integrates an automated restarting strategy with depth compensation to achieve reconstruction. The present study employs a fast proximal gradient descent (FPGD) method, incorporating L0 norm regularization, to achieve efficient reconstruction with accelerated convergence. The proposed approach offers the benefit of retrieving neighboring multitarget distributions without the need for CT priors. Additionally, the automated restarting strategy ensures reliable reconstructions without the need for manual intervention. Numerical simulations and physical phantom experiments were conducted using a custom CB-XLCT system to demonstrate the accuracy of the proposed method in resolving adjacent NPs. The results showed that this method had the lowest relative error compared to other few-view techniques. This study signifies a significant progression in the development of practical single-view CB-XLCT for high-resolution 3-D biomedical imaging.

Real Time Defect Identification using Advanced Artificial Intelligence based Material Strain Sensors for Environmental Safety

Advanced materials find applications in various fields of engineering and medicine. Many advanced materials are synthesized characterised to design sensors for various application including environmental protection. This work explores the possibility of real time defect identification using advanced materials such as graphene composite based sensor for Environment safety. Advanced materials like Graphene composite based sensor were prepared using solvent casting technique. Possibility of using graphene-PVDF based sensors as non- destructive probes to identify surface defects of materials were evaluated by probing on materials with pre-machined defects. Defects were induced artificially in different materials such as (SS316 LN stainless steel) flat plate and cylindrical disc plate. Defects vary both in size and depth. Nanocomposite films were cut in to small pieces of equal dimension and pasted over the various defects. The variation in size and depth of the defects is measured in terms of variation in resistance and suitably calibration graphs were obtained. Using advanced materials for environmental protection, Industry environment safety can be monitored and essential measures can be carried out. This work also explores the change in absorption property of carbon based nanocomposite films on addition of different weight percentage of advanced material based fillers such as Multiwalled carbon nanotubes and graphene. Filler weight percentage increases in matrix which is indicated by red shift in the absorption spectra.In this research work the use of advanced materials for environmental protection in the Metallurgical Industry is explored . Development of advanced functional materials were carried out . Characterization of these advanced material were also carried out . Sensitivity of these advanced material based sensors were analyzed and calibarated. By using these advanced material based senors catastrophic disorders can be avoided and environmental safety is ensured.The non-destructive evaluation (NDE) method that is being presented uses a Carbon Nanotube (CNT) and graphene-based sensor to identify defects in pre-machined stainless steel plates is innovative and straightforward. Utilizing nano composites is meant to combine the advantageous qualities of the filler and matrix. It was decided to use PVDF, a piezoelectric polymer, because of its benefits including low cost, versatility, and quick response time. A small amount (weight%) of MWCNTs and graphene are employed as filler to improve the material's shortcomings, such as delayed electrical response, and to make it behave as a piezoresistive and conductive material.

Dynamic hydrological niche segregation: How plants compete for water in a semi-arid ecosystem

Hydrological niche segregation (HNS), specifically the variation in root water uptake depth among coexisting species, is an understudied area of research. This is especially the case in semi-arid ecosystems, such as China’s Loess Plateau (CLP), where seasonal aridity necessitates adaptive water use strategies among plant species. In this study, we conducted a two-year investigation to understand the water sources and intrinsic water use efficiency (WUEi) of four coexisting plant species: Populus simonii (tree), Caragana korshinskii and Salix psammophila (shrubs), and Artemisia ordosica (semi-shrub). We analyzed the isotopic compositions of xylem and soil water (δ2H and δ18O) and leaf δ13C to identify the water sources and WUEi, respectively, of each species. We then used the nicheROVER model to quantify HNS based on the variations in xylem water δ2H and δ18O. Our results show that the four co-existing species occupied distinct positions on a hydrological niche axis, delineated by their respective water sources and disparate WUEi. The tree P. simonii exhibited a preference for deep soil water and demonstrated a high WUEi. Both shrubs, S. psammophila and C. korshinskii, utilized intermediate and deep soil water, respectively, and with comparable WUEi. Conversely, the semi-shrub A. ordosica relied on shallow soil water and displayed a low WUEi. These differences in water sources and WUEi led to HNS between A. ordosica and the other three species in a relatively wet year. However, in a relatively dry year, HNS between A. ordosica and the other three species contracted and WUEi increased as species increased the use of deep soil water. Overall, these results demonstrate that HNS is a dynamic phenomenon that varies on at least an annual basis. It expands and contracts as plants regulate their water uptake and loss in response to changing soil moisture conditions.

Composite vertical structures and spatiotemporal characteristics of abnormal eddies in the Japan/East Sea: a synergistic investigation using satellite altimetry and Argo profiles

Mesoscale eddies are omnipresent and play an important role in regulating Earth’s climate and ocean circulation in the global ocean. Here using the combination of satellite altimetry products and Argo float profile data, two types of abnormal eddies are investigated: WCEs(warm cyclonic eddies) and CAEs(cold anticyclonic eddies) with different cores than conventional eddies in the Japan/East Sea. By applying a classification method based on the calculation of the heat content anomalies in the upper ocean, it was found that 10% of the eddies that captured the Argo float profiles exhibited obvious abnormal features. Subsequently, their spatiotemporal distributions and characteristics were analyzed statistically. Three-dimensional structures of abnormal eddies were obtained via the composite analysis method, showing that the warm/cold and light/dense core of the composite WCE/CAE is confined to the upper 100 m of the ocean with a maximum temperature anomaly of approximately +1.0(-1.1)°C. The composite WCE had a double-core salinity structure with a salty core above 50 m and an inferior fresh core. Meanwhile composite CAE had a fresh single-core with a maximum magnitude of -0.05 psu. Abnormal eddies are pervasive in the Japan/East sea, a revaluation of the role of these eddies in ocean circulation and climate systems, such as heat and salt transport, air and sea interaction, and variability in mixed layer depth, is of great importance.

Relationship between El Niño-Southern Oscillation and Atmospheric Aerosols in the Legal Amazon

The El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) stands out as the most significant tropical phenomenon in terms of climatic magnitude resulting from ocean–atmosphere interaction. Due to its atmospheric teleconnection mechanism, ENSO influences various environmental variables across distinct atmospheric scales, potentially impacting the spatiotemporal distribution of atmospheric aerosols. Within this context, this study aims to evaluate the relationship between ENSO and atmospheric aerosols across the entire Legal Amazon during the period from 2006 to 2011. Over this five-year span, four ENSO events were identified. Concurrently, an analysis of the spatiotemporal variability of aerosol optical depth (AOD) and Black Carbon radiation extinction (EAOD-BC) was conducted alongside these ENSO events, utilizing data derived from the Aerosol Robotic Network (AERONET), MERRA-2 model, and ERSSTV5. Employing the Windowed Cross-Correlation (WCC) approach, statistically significant phase lags of up to 4 to 6 months between ENSO indicators and atmospheric aerosols were observed. There was an approximate 100% increase in AOD immediately after El Niño periods, particularly during intervals encompassing the La Niña phase. The analysis of specific humidity anomaly (QA) revealed that, contrary to expectations, positive values were observed throughout most of the El Niño period. This result suggests that while there is a suppression of precipitation events during El Niño due to the subsidence of drier air masses in the Amazon, the region still exhibits positive specific humidity (Q) conditions. The interaction between aerosols and humidity is intricate. However, Q can exert influence over the microphysical and optical properties of aerosols, in addition to affecting their chemical composition and aerosol load. This influence primarily occurs through water absorption, leading to substantial alterations in radiation scattering characteristics, and thus affecting the extinction of solar radiation.

A new interpolation method to resolve under-sampling of UAV-lidar snow depth observations in coniferous forests

Obtaining accurate snow depth estimates under dense canopies using airborne lidar (light detection and ranging) techniques is challenging due to the under-sampling of ground and snow surfaces. Existing interpolation techniques do not adequately address this problem and they often result in an overestimation of under-canopy snow depths. To address this issue, we introduce and evaluate a new interpolation method that incorporates intra-canopy snow depth variability to provide more accurate estimations at unsampled locations. Four interpolation methods were tested, considering systematic trends (landscape trend, canopy vs. gap trend, and intra-canopy trend) along with spatial interpolation of the residuals. Our results show that spatial interpolation methods without consideration of trends are sufficient to capture and reconstruct the small-scale variability of snow depths below a separation distance of 1 m between sampled and unsampled locations, (i.e., ground surface point density > 1 pt. m−2). However, beyond a separation distance of 2.5–3 m (point density < 0.33–0.40 pt. m−2), spatial interpolation based on proximity alone becomes unreliable because point separation becomes larger than the snow depth spatial correlation scale. Within these limiting distances, the method that incorporates trends along with spatial interpolation techniques can resolve the small-scale variability and thereby reduce the likely overestimation of snow depths under the canopy.

Preliminary Characterization of an Active CMOS Pad Detector for Tracking and Dosimetry in HDR Brachytherapy.

We assessed the accuracy of a prototype radiation detector with a built in CMOS amplifier for use in dosimetry for high dose rate brachytherapy. The detectors were fabricated on two substrates of epitaxial high resistivity silicon. The radiation detection performance of prototypes has been tested by ion beam induced charge (IBIC) microscopy using a 5.5 MeV alpha particle microbeam. We also carried out the HDR Ir-192 radiation source tracking at different depths and angular dose dependence in a water equivalent phantom. The detectors show sensitivities spanning from (5.8 ± 0.021) × 10-8 to (3.6 ± 0.14) × 10-8 nC Gy-1 mCi-1 mm-2. The depth variation of the dose is within 5% with that calculated by TG-43. Higher discrepancies are recorded for 2 mm and 7 mm depths due to the scattering of secondary particles and the perturbation of the radiation field induced in the ceramic/golden package. Dwell positions and dwell time are reconstructed within ±1 mm and 20 ms, respectively. The prototype detectors provide an unprecedented sensitivity thanks to its monolithic amplification stage. Future investigation of this technology will include the optimisation of the packaging technique.

Influence of slab depth spatial variability on skier-triggering probability and avalanche size

Abstract Spatial variability of snowpack properties adds uncertainty in the evaluation of avalanche hazard. We propose a combined mechanical–statistical approach to study how spatial variation of slab depth affects the skier-triggering probability and possible release size. First, we generate multiple slab depth maps on a plane fictional slope based on Gaussian Random Fields (GRF) for a specific set of mean, variance and correlation length. For each GRF, we derive analytically the Skier Propagation Index (SPI). We then simulate multiple skier tracks and computed the probability based on the number of skier hits where SPI is below 1. Finally, we use a depth-averaged material point method to evaluate the possible avalanche size for given slab depth variations. The results of this analysis show that large correlation lengths and small variances lead to a lower probability of skier-triggering as it reduces the size and the number of areas with low slab depth. Then, we show the effect of skiing style and skier group size on skier-triggering probability. Spatial variability also affects the possible avalanche size by adding stress fluctuation causing early or late tensile failure. Finally, we demonstrate with our models the well-known relationship between the probability and the size in avalanche forecasting.

Study of changes in temporal distribution pattern of rainfall at Dapoli station in Konkan region of Maharashtra

Dapoli situated in the Konkan region of Maharashtra is having average annual rainfall of 3587 mm with average number of rainy days 75. The yield of major Kharif season crop rice is affected by the erratic behavior of rainfall. Present study is an attempt to study the rainfall variations at the Dapoli station which will be useful for forecasting the future temporal availability of water. Comprehensive statistical tools were used to investigate trends in averages and monthly rainfall over the station on decadal basis. Forty years (year 1972-2011) daily rainfall data for Dapoli station was used for the analysis. Results of study showed that, decadal mean rainfall depths of June and August were found decreasing and those for September was found increasing. Mean rainfall depth variations for July as well as annual total rainfall were found random. Seven years moving averages showed that, rainfall depths for the months of June, July and August were found decreasing and for month of September was found increasing. In annual rainfall graph a slight decline was observed.

On the Aero-Thermal Performance of Rim Film Cooling in the Squealer Tip of a Linear Turbine Cascade

Abstract The present study proposes a novel rim film cooling design, motivated by the fact that the suction-side rim and the cavity floor near the leading edge of a conventional squealer tip with a camber-line film hole array are directly subjected to high-temperature gas. The new design consists of cooling injection for rim-hole or -slot cooling at the leading edge. The parameters of injection geometry and cavity depth are also discussed in this study. The flow physics, leakage flowrate, heat transfer characteristics, and vortices in the cavity are carefully analyzed. The results show that rim film cooling can substantially inhibit tip heat transfer and the amount of hot leakage flow. Compared with the typical design, the maximum and average heat transfer coefficients of the blade tip of the rim slot case are reduced by 12.83% and 5.43%,, respectively. The variation in cavity depth is sensitive to the heat transfer on the cavity floor of the squealer tip blade. With the optimal design, the average and maximum heat transfer coefficients are reduced by 14.42% and 14.21%,, respectively. In addition, the leakage flowrate can be reduced by a maximum of 3.67% by rim injection compared with the conventional squealer tip.

Catchment-scale hydrology limits the benefits of geomorphic complexity for instream vegetation communities

Improving instream habitat complexity is a common stream restoration approach despite often limited improvements to stream biota with catchment-scale stressors such as altered hydrology thought to be more important. Instream vegetation is a critical component of lowland stream ecosystems, providing multiple ecological benefits. Thus, we asked: How does instream vegetation respond to (1) geomorphic complexity; (2) different flow regime components; and (3) what is the relationship between geomorphic complexity and flow in driving instream vegetation?We surveyed instream vegetation and geomorphology along 23 lowland stream reaches. We investigated associations between six measures of geomorphic complexity, six flow metrics, and amphibious and aquatic vegetation richness, Shannon diversity and cover.Amphibious vegetation was negatively associated with simplified channels and increasing flood frequency. Increasing depth and width variation, and Julian day low flow variability, were positively associated with aquatic vegetation. Considering sites with complex (stable) or simplified (unstable) geomorphology separately, only vegetation at stable sites showed strong relationships to flow regime components, with variables related to flow flashiness negatively associated with both amphibious and aquatic vegetation, and Julian day low flow variability positively associated with aquatic vegetation.We identified channel complexity, variables related to flow flashiness and variation in low flow timing, as key geomorphic and flow drivers of instream vegetation, respectively. Importantly, our results suggest that instream vegetation benefits from improving geomorphic complexity are likely to be limited without also addressing altered flow regimes.