Discharge Side Research Articles

Analysis of cognitive function in refractory frontal epilepsy

Objective To investigate the effect of abnormal electrical activity and seizure on cognitive function in patients with refractory frontal lobe epilepsy. Methods From August 2010 to August 2013, the clinical data of 42 patients with frontal lobe epilepsy (Engel classification grade Ⅰ) treated surgically at the Epilepsy Center, Yuquan Hospital, Tsinghua University were analyzed retrospectively. The reasoning ability, language ability, attention function, and executive function of the patients were analyzed, and the influence of the above factors on different cognitive function was investigated in accordance with abnormal electrical activity discharge index, sides, and seizure characteristics. Results The Wisconsin Card Sorting Test of 42 patients was affected by the sides of abnormal electrical activity, the scores of the left side, bilateral sides, and multifocal abnormal electrical activities were decreased significantly (all P 50%) or the secondary tonic-clonic seizures occurred frequently (>1 time/day), the semantic processing scores were decreased (all P 50%) and secondary tonic-clonic seizures were decreased (all P<0.05). Conclusion Discharge index, sides of abnormal electrical activity, seizure frequency, and seizure types during waking and sleeping periods affects cognitive function in different degrees. Key words: Epilepsy, frontal lobe; Cognition disorders; Electroencephalography; Discharge index

Insights into the Chemical Nature and Formation Mechanisms of Discharge Products in Na–O2 Batteries by Means of Operando X-ray Diffraction

The chemical nature of discharge products in nonaqueous Na–O2 batteries attracts attention due to the differing electrochemical behavior of seemingly similar battery cells forming either sodium peroxide (Na2O2) or sodium superoxide (NaO2). The experimental control parameters for the exclusive formation of one or the other phase during discharge are still unknown. In this paper, the important role of gas phase moisture on the chemical nature of these products is demonstrated by means of operando XRD. Operando XRD is rarely reported for alkali-O2 systems but provides valuable real time information about the solid discharge products, growth/decomposition rates, and side reactions in the cell. In addition, the discharge/charge mechanisms of Na2O2·2H2O are monitored in detail evidencing important differences from the cell reactions forming NaO2 and Li2O2 and refuting previous incorrect conclusions. Moreover, the effect of the applied potential window during cycling is discussed, as it provides valuable information for the future development of Na–O2 batteries as electrochemical energy stores.

Experimental and numerical studies on the effect of inlet pressure on cavitating flows in rotor pumps

This paper aims to investigate the effect of the inlet pressure on the cavitating turbulent flows in rotor pumps through experimental and numerical studies. The cavitation experiment of rotor pumps was carried out and both the flow rates and the inlet/outlet instantaneous pressures under different inlet pressures were monitored during the experiment. Furthermore, a simplified 2D numerical model for analyzing the cavitation flows in rotor pumps was established and the influences of the inlet pressure on the volumetric efficiency, the distribution of bubble volume fraction and the pressure fluctuation were included. The results show that numerical results agree well with experimental data and the inlet pressure indicates a strong influence on the cavitation characteristics. For instantaneous pressures of the inlet/outlet, they pulsate periodically and its dominated frequency changes with the inlet pressure. For the volumetric ratio of the pump, it decreases significantly for the inlet but slightly for the outlet when the inlet pressure drops. For the volume fraction of the vapor phase, it increases with the dropping inlet pressure and the peak of the vapor fraction generally offsets backward as the inlet pressure decreases. For the pressure fluctuations, the pressures of the suction side and the discharge side present a sudden increase at some moment. Moreover, the time for pressure mutations delays with the decreasing inlet pressures.

烘丝工序物料含水率过程控制评价方法研究

通过对烘丝工序出料含水率在线数据采集分布图进行分析，将整个烘丝过程分成起始、中间和结束三段分别进行研究，对起始和结束段采用曲线拟合和图形面积构筑的方法进行评价，对中间段采用过程能力指数值进行评价，最后对各段赋予权重，采用功效系数法形成总得分，从而对烘丝工序出口水分控制情况进行综合评价。通过模型验证，该功效系数得分模型结果和出料过程水分稳定性、准确性、干头干尾量高度关联，可以使用功效系数得分评价烘丝过程控制效果，代替干头干尾量和过程曲线波动大小的评价。实际应用可以起到减少评价数据量，减少检测过程人力投入，为实现自动评价创造条件。 According to analysis the distribution map of online data acquisition for the drying procedure, it could be divided into 3 stages for researching. For the initial and end stages, the methods of curve-fitting and figure acreage building could be used while process capability index will be used in the mid-stage. Finally, each stage will be given a weight and get a total score which could be used to state a comprehensive evaluation for the moisture controlling status of drying procedure at discharge side. Through the model validation, the results of this efficiency coefficient method are high relative to the stability, accuracy and the amount of over dried tobacco of the tobacco discharging process. The score of efficiency coefficient for the controlling results of drying procedure could be used to replace the amount of over-dried tobacco and the wave of process curve. Indeed, for practical applications, less data evaluation and human resource for detection will be involved by using this method. It will create advantage qualification for realizing automatic valuation.

Experimental evaluation of MPC-based anti-surge and process control for electric driven centrifugal gas compressors

The present work concerns model predictive control (MPC) of centrifugal gas compressors and describes the development of an MPC application for the tasks of anti-surge and process control. More specifically, the MPC formulation focuses on the question of how the transient manipulation of driver torque can be used to improve the performance of anti-surge and process control. For the purpose of testing and validating the proposed control algorithm, an experimental compressor test rig is presented, which is designed to mimic a typical centrifugal compressor application in the oil and gas industry. Modeling and parameter identification of the experimental setup is followed by the realization of the MPC solution on an embedded system to comply with the stringent real-time requirements for anti-surge control. Testing is performed with experiments using suction and discharge side disturbances, which are created by rapid valve closures. For comparison the same tests are repeated with conventional control approaches. The test results indicate improvements in maintaining the distance to surge by up to 11%, while at the same time reducing the process control settling time by up to 50%.

Computational fluid dynamics simulation study of gas flow in dry scroll vacuum pump

Based on CFD method and dynamics mesh method, the transient flow simulation model of dry scroll vacuum pump was established. Numerical calculation was carried out under three kinds of typical working conditions of viscous flow state including under-compression, slightly over-compression and over-compression. Simulation results are in line with the results of experiment or theoretical calculation on the whole. The maximum error of pumping speed between the simulation and the experiment is about 30%, and the minimum is close to 10%. The predicted compression power accords with the theoretical prediction of approximate polytropic process. The simulation pressure inside the pump also has a consistent change process with experimental results. The contrast and analysis of the simulation model and the physical experiments suggest that the further correctly modified geometric parameters and boundary conditions according to practical situations can significantly improve the accuracy of the numerical calculation. Further analysis of the main flow phenomena and characteristics of scroll compression chamber at the discharge side during the discharge process confirms that under-compression and over-compression lead to the large variation of gas pressure and dramatic fluctuation of compression torque.

Do bird assemblages predict susceptibility by e-waste pollution? A comparative study based on species- and guild-dependent responses in China agroecosystems.

Indirect effects of electronic waste (e-waste) have been proposed as a causal factor in the decline of bird populations, but analyses of the severity impacts on community assembly are currently lacking. To explore how population abundance/species diversity are influenced, and which functional traits are important in determining e-waste susceptibility, here we surveyed breeding and overwintering birds with a hierarchically nested sampling design, and used linear mixed models to analyze changes in bird assemblages along an exposure gradient in South China. Total bird abundance and species diversity decreased with e-waste severity (exposed < surrounding < reference), reflecting the decreasing discharge and consequent side effects. Twenty-five breeding species exclusively used natural farmland, and nine species decreased significantly in relative abundance at e-waste polluted sites. A high pairwise similarity between exposed and surrounding sites indicates a diffuse effect of pollutants on the species assembly at local scale. We show that sensitivity to e-waste severity varies substantially across functional guild, with the prevalence of woodland insectivorous and grassland specialists declining, while some open farmland generalists such as arboreal frugivores, and terrestrial granivores were also rare. By contrast, the response of waterbirds, omnivorous and non-breeding visitors seem to be tolerable to a wide range of pollution so far. These findings underscore that improper e-waste dismantling results in a severe decline of bird diversity, and the different bird assemblages on polluted and natural farmlands imply species- and guild-dependent susceptibility with functional traits. Moreover, a better understanding of the impact of e-waste with different pollution levels, combined multiple pollutants, and in a food-web context on bird is required in future.

Vibration and Cylinder Chamber Pressure Characteristics of an Air Reciprocating Compressor

In the application of a reciprocating compressor failures are often caused by valve malfunction. The failure can be minimized by a proper valve design. This research described an experimental study to investigate characteristics of vibration and cylinder chamber pressure diagrams, as results of open-close valve processes in a single-stage, single-acting air reciprocating compressor. Vibration and pressure were measured at the same crank angle. The modification was materialized by a change in a valve seat profile of a discharge side. The study was conducted for several working loads. Compared to the discharge valve which was (commonly) supplied by the manufacturer, the result showed that a provision of a taper angle on a discharge valve seat would decrease vibration level, made longer discharge opening, and would increase discharge pressure.

CALCULATION OF DEGREE OF COMPRESSION OF GAS AT THE COMPRESSOR STATION AT UNPROJECT MODES OF PUMPING OVER

A significant proportion of the time of trunk gas pipelines (MG) operate with a capacity different from the design values. Reasons for this situation are: changes in amounts of gas production from the fields, unevenness, failure of the linear part of the pipeline or compressor stations. In all these cases it is necessary to regulate the work of the COP. The challenge put pressure balance equation at the beginning of the linear portion of main gas pipelines. Unfortunately, in this formulation, the problem is still not solved. Only estimates were obtained according to the performance of finding the main gas pipeline, which will install it when you turn off the individual COP or gas pumping units (GPU). However, these formulas are impaired due to the use is not quite correct dependencies describing the change of pressure in the linear portion of the pipeline and on the discharge side of the COP. In the first case, the pressure drops due to a dust collector and AVO gas in the second - erroneously introduced a term that takes into account the change in the gas flow rate, although this factor takes full account of the variable compression ratio. The proposals on the definition of the required degree of compression of the gas in the regulation of the operation mode of the COP MG in the following situations: disabling interim COP; increase productivity by building MG additional COP, changes in operating pressures of MG and gaskets looping. Found the necessary degree of gas compression should be used in determining the required rotor speed TSBN. In conclusion, provides examples of calculations that illustrate the application of these methods for regulation of compressor stations.

Optimization of the Loop Seal in the Counter-Current Reactor of the Dual Circulating Fluidized Bed System for Chemical Looping Processes

The dual circulating fluidized bed (DCFB) system for chemical looping processes includes an internal solids loop on the fuel reactor (FR) side. The particles elutriated from the fuel reactor are separated from the gas stream in a cyclone and directed back into the fuel reactor through a fluidized J-type loop seal, the so-called internal loop seal (ILS). The present work seeks to improve operation stability of this internal solids loop by modification of the design. The study is carried out in a cold flow model specially built for the fluid-dynamic characterization of the 120 kW chemical looping pilot plant unit at the Vienna University of Technology. The cold flow rig is provided with a system for determination of solids residence time distribution using ferromagnetic tracer particles. Pressure profiles and residence time distribution curves are used for the evaluation of the proposed geometry changes. The increase in the loop seal size has avoided the seal failure at low internal solids circulation rates. The back-flow of particles from the bottom of the reactor to the loop seal via the return leg was corrected. The slugging in the downcomer of the ILS has been eliminated by using a larger downcomer diameter. By shifting the ILS upward high pressures at the discharge side are avoided and a smaller amount of particles need to be accumulated in the downcomer and are available for circulation. Overloading of bed material at the bottom of the FR seems to be avoided and particles concentration grows in the upper part of the reactor.

Feasibility study of a combined Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion method in South Korea

Considering the geographical position of South Korea, the concept of C-OTEC (Combined Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion) is thought to be feasible. C-OTEC uses the latent heat of the steam exhausted into the condenser of a power plant as a heat source, in contrast to the conventional OTEC cycle, which is based on warm surface water. More specifically, the C-OTEC heat source can always be maintained at around 32 °C which is the temperature of saturated steam when it is condensed. This paper describes the selection of the working fluid, thermodynamic analysis, and the impact on the Rankine cycle when providing steam to the C-OTEC process. Based on the analysis, C-OTEC is expected to be beneficial for power plants through increased output and plant efficiency. Especially in the case of old power plants which cannot easily maintain their rated output during the summer, C-OTEC is expected to help to improve the condenser vacuum, reduce the necessary pumping power, and reduce the temperature of the discharge side. Given the current economic scenario situation, the focus is on optimizing the fabrication of the main components which can be done with the design of a prototype C-OTEC. Presently, the KEPCO (Korea Electric Power Corporation) Research Institute is conducting a national research project involving the construction of a prototype C-OTEC for a demonstration. It is expected to be operational by the end of 2014.

Using the Fan Assessment Numeration System (FANS) in Situ: A Procedure for Minimizing Errors During Fan Tests

Abstract. The Fan Assessment Numeration System (FANS), developed by the USDA-ARS Southern Poultry Research Laboratory and refined at the University of Kentucky, has become a useful tool to measure airflow of agricultural ventilation fans in situ. However, procedures for using FANS for in situ ventilation fan performance have not been standardized. A common practice for changing the static pressure inside tunnel-ventilated animal housing during fan tests is to energize other fans, although little is known about the effects of adjacent operating fans on FANS test results. Therefore, this study evaluated the effect of the position of various operating fans relative to the FANS unit and test fan. Tests were conducted for ten 1.22 m diameter fans of two different models in two types of poultry barns in which fans were installed either immediately next to each other or 1.6 m apart. The effect of the FANS unit placement at both the intake and discharge sides of the tested fans was also evaluated. Airflow values obtained for different FANS unit placement and operating fan combinations at constant static pressure differed by as much as 12.6% ±4.4% compared to the control configuration with the FANS placed on the intake side of the sidewall fans. In contrast, placing the FANS unit on the fan discharge provided valid fan test results compared with the (inside) control configuration. A standardized procedure for using the FANS unit to test fans in situ was developed and is suggested for future FANS use.

Epileptic nystagmus: A case report and systematic review.

PurposeWe aimed to define the characteristics of epileptic nystagmus and correlate those with other clinical findings in a large number of patients.MethodsWe report a patient with epileptic nystagmus and additionally reviewed the reported clinical features of 36 more patients through a systematic literature search. We analyzed the characteristics of epileptic nystagmus and attempted correlations of those with alertness of the patients and epileptic foci on EEG.ResultsAll 33 patients with unilateral horizontal nystagmus showed nystagmus beating away from the side of ictal discharges. Epileptic nystagmus was preceded by gaze deviation in 21 patients, with contraversive in 19 and ipsiversive in 2. Seizures associated with epileptic nystagmus were mostly focal (25/29, 86.2%) with or without loss of awareness. Ictal discharges originated from the occipital (n = 16), parietal (n = 9), temporo-occipital (n = 6), frontal (n = 4), and temporal (n = 3) areas, and two patients had multiple epileptic foci. Seizures were usually symptomatic (24/37, 64.9%). The presence of preceding gaze deviation and midline crossing of the nystagmus did not correlate with the ictal onset zone or alertness of the patients. Recording of epileptic nystagmus was available only in 6 patients, and the epileptic nystagmus could be localized to the saccadic areas in two and to the smooth pursuit areas in another two. Two patients showed the features of epileptic nystagmus from both areas.ConclusionEven though the localizing value of epileptic nystagmus seems limited in previous reports, the fast phase of epileptic nystagmus was almost always directed away from the epileptic focus that mostly arose from the posterior part of the cerebral hemisphere.

Transmission and Consumption of Air Power in Pneumatic System

In recent 20 years, energy saving has been done in many projects. However, in pneumatic system, it is not easy to determine or measure the air power flow because of the compressibility of pneumatic system. In this paper, we used air power meter (APM) to measure the energy consumption of flow in pneumatic cylinder actuator system. Meter-in circuit and meter-out circuit of speed control system are used in this research. The model of cylinder system is based on four equations: state equation of air, energy equation, motion equation and flow equation. The model estimates the pressure change in charge and discharge side of cylinder, and also the displacement and velocity of the piston. Furthermore, energy consumption could theoretically be calculated when the change of air state is regarded as isothermal change. Lastly, some data of these two circuits are shown, and the consumption of energy is discussed.

초고층 건축물 연결송수관 설비의 효과적 활용에 관한 실험 연구

최근 해외뿐만 아니라 국내에서도 건축물이 초고층화 되고 있으며 다양한 복합건물의 건축이 진행되고 있다. 초고층 건축물은 물리적 특성상 공간의 수직적 분포로 인하여 화재발생 시 화재확산의 위험이 크고 이에 따른 소방 활동상에 어려움을 동반하게 된다. 연결송수관 설비에서 정전되거나 펌프고장이 발생한 다면 소방차로부터 급수된 소화용수는 정지된 펌프의 임펠러를 통과하는데 장애가 발생 수 있을 것으로 예상된다. 본 연구에서는 소화활동설비 중 연결송수관설비를 화재 시 소방대원이 효과적으로 활용하기 위하여 실험을 통하여 기존 연결송수관시스템의 문제점을 확인하고 개선사항을 제안하였다. 실험 결과 중간가압펌프를 통과한 경우와 바이패스배관을 통과한 경우 유량 및 방사압력에 현격한 차이가 발생함을 확인하였고, 이러한 결과를 토대로 중간가압펌프 정지 시를 대비하여 중간가압펌프 토출측에 직접 연결되는 바이패스 배관을 추가로 설치하여야함을 제안하였다. Recently, the building has been higher and more complicated. High-rise buildings are more dangerous when fire occurs because of fast fire spreading through vertical space. This makes difficulty for fire fighter's moving when they suppress fire. The pump impeller will be obstacle when fire water is supplied from fire department connection, if the power is failure or the pump is breakdown. This study identifies the defect of fire department connection system and compensates that. It is verified the difference of flow rate and pressure in the case through pump impeller and in the case through bypass piping by test. Based on the result of this study, it suggest that the installation of bypass piping at the discharge side of pressurization pump have to be prepared in case of pressurization pump stopping.

Immunoadsorption and cyclophosphamide in a relapse of an anti-NMDA-receptor-encephalitis

WCN 2013 No: 282 Topic: 1 — Epilepsy Lesionectomy of the contralateral epileptogenic focus may help epilepsy control F. Al Ghamdi. Pediatric Neurology, KFMC, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia Background: Epilepsy is a common exhaustive and strenuous chronic neurological disorder. Epilepsy is usually controlled, but not cured, with medications. However, over 30% of people with epilepsy do not have seizure control with the best medications. Epilepsy surgery is an option for people with focal seizures that remain resistant to treatment. Patient: We report an eight year old girl who had a road accident followed by right frontal encephalomalacia and resistant seizures. The EEGs confirmed contralateral seizures. She had been resistant to all AEDs. VNS did not make a difference. There was no full agreement that she would benefit from a lesionectomy on the other side of the seizure discharges. After the operation and for 18 months, the girl's seizures dropped from 3–6 daily to only 3 brief seizures for the whole post-operative period. Results: Her seizures have been described as two different types, starting while awake with abnormal eye movements to many different directions and screamingwith subsequent forward tonicmovements of upper limbs. Type 2 while awake, her eyes move upwards and to the right. She would be unresponsive. Interictal EEG revealed sharp wave activities on the left frontocentral and centroparietal regionswith phase reversals at C3. Ictal EEG showed evidence of epileptiform activities starting from the frontocentral and centroparietal regionswith fast recruitment of the right hemisphere.MRI revealed right frontal lobe cystic encephalomalaciawith gliosis. Conclusion: Children with intractable epilepsy and focal brain lesions are candidates for surgery even when they have generalized or contralateral epileptiform discharges. doi:10.1016/j.jns.2013.07.185 Abstract — WCN 2013 No: 2651 Topic: 1 — Epilepsy Immunoadsorption and cyclophosphamide in a relapse of an anti-NMDA-receptor-encephalitis WCN 2013 No: 2651 Topic: 1 — Epilepsy Immunoadsorption and cyclophosphamide in a relapse of an anti-NMDA-receptor-encephalitis G. Caravias, M. Stefflbauer, M. Vosko, O. Janko, M. Guger, G. Ransmayr, F. Gruber. Department of Neurology, General Hospital Linz, Linz, Austria; Department of Internal Medicine II, General Hospital Linz,

Intravenous acetaminophen vs. ketorolac for postoperative analgesia after ambulatory parathyroidectomy

Background and methodsMinimally invasive parathyroidectomy requires limited analgesia and short recovery times. The preferred post-operative analgesic regimen for this patient population has not been established but non-narcotic components would be quite appropriate. The aim of the study was to determine whether intravenous (IV) acetaminophen (1 g) or ketorolac (30 mg) provide better pain control after parathyroidectomy. A parallel, randomized, double blind, comparative study was completed on 180 patients scheduled for outpatient parathyroidectomy utilizing general anesthesia. Patients were randomized to a blinded administration of either intravenous acetaminophen 1g or ketorolac 30mg intraoperatively. Upon arrival but before premedication, baseline pain scores were assessed in all patients. A consecutive series of postoperative pain scores were collected every 15min using a 10cm visual analog pain scale (VAS) upon arrival to the post anesthesia care unit (PACU) until discharge by blinded study personnel. Other data collected included: anesthesia time, surgical time, time to discharge, supplemental morphine and postoperative side effects. ResultsOverall mean postoperative VAS scores were not significantly different between the two treatment groups (p=0.07). However, ketorolac produced significantly lower pain scores compared with acetaminophen in the later postoperative periods (3.9±1.9 vs. 4.8±2.4 at 45min, p=0.009; 3.4±1.7 vs. 4.5±2.1 at 60min, p=0.04; and 3.2±2.1 vs. 4.4±2.1 at 75min, p=0.03). Supplemental morphine was administered to 3 patients in the ketorolac group and 9 patients in the acetaminophen group but total consumption was not significantly different between groups (p=0.13). The occurrence of nausea was significantly lower in the ketorolac group compared with the IV acetaminophen group (3.4% vs. 14.6%, respectively; p=0.02). The overall incidence of morphine supplementation, vomiting, headache, muscular pain, dizziness, and drowsiness were not significantly different when compared between the treatment groups. ConclusionsBoth postoperative regimens provided adequate analgesia but patients receiving ketorolac intraoperatively had significantly lower pain scores at later recovery time points and significantly lower occurrences of nausea. ImplicationsThe large volume of patients undergoing parathyroidectomies at our facility warranted a study to develop a standardized postoperative analgesic regimen. We conclude both medications can be utilized safely in this patient population, but there is a slight advantage in pain control with the usage of ketorolac for minimally invasive parathyroidectomies.

Sensitivity study on the counter-current flow limitation in the DEG LBLOCA with the TRACE code

The counter-current flow limitation (CCFL) model plays a key role in any large break loss of coolant accident (LBLOCA) analysis since it affects the calculated discharge flow, reflooding time and peak cladding temperature (PCT). In this paper, a sensitivity study on the CCFL model is performed, by modeling LBLOCA occurring at the Chinshan BWR/4 plant. The scenario assumes 102% power and 75% core flow, with a double-ended guillotine (DEG) break on the recirculation loop, which is the most limiting LBLOCA for a BWR/4 reactor. Two break locations, i.e. on the suction and the discharge side of a recirculation pump, are evaluated, with high pressure core injecting (HPCI) and low pressure core spraying (LPCS) available while low pressure core injecting (LPCI) has failed. The TRACE code is used for the analysis. The Chinshan TRACE model was benchmarked against steady-state and transient data contained in the plant FSAR report, as well as start-up data and the transient results using the RETRAN code. The thermal hydraulic phenomena in the lower plenum area and the jet pumps are also analyzed.

Influence of initial heterogeneities and recharge limitations on the evolution of aperture distributions in carbonate aquifers

Abstract. Karst aquifers evolve where the dissolution of soluble rocks causes the enlargement of discrete pathways along fractures or bedding planes, thus creating highly conductive solution conduits. To identify general interrelations between hydrogeological conditions and the properties of the evolving conduit systems the aperture-size frequency distributions resulting from generic models of conduit evolution are analysed. For this purpose, a process-based numerical model coupling flow and rock dissolution is employed. Initial protoconduits are represented by tubes with log-normally distributed aperture sizes with a mean μ0 = 0.5 mm for the logarithm of the diameters. Apertures are spatially uncorrelated and widen up to the metre range due to dissolution by chemically aggressive waters. Several examples of conduit development are examined focussing on influences of the initial heterogeneity and the available amount of recharge. If the available recharge is sufficiently high the evolving conduits compete for flow and those with large apertures and high hydraulic gradients attract more and more water. As a consequence, the positive feedback between increasing flow and dissolution causes the breakthrough of a conduit pathway connecting the recharge and discharge sides of the modelling domain. Under these competitive flow conditions dynamically stable bimodal aperture distributions are found to evolve, i.e. a certain percentage of tubes continues to be enlarged while the remaining tubes stay small-sized. The percentage of strongly widened tubes is found to be independent of the breakthrough time and decreases with increasing heterogeneity of the initial apertures and decreasing amount of available water. If the competition for flow is suppressed because the availability of water is strongly limited breakthrough of a conduit pathway is inhibited and the conduit pathways widen very slowly. The resulting aperture distributions are found to be unimodal covering some orders of magnitudes in size. Under these suppressed flow conditions the entire range of apertures continues to be enlarged. Hence, the number of tubes reaching aperture sizes in the order of centimetres or decimetres continues to increase with time and in the long term may exceed the number of large-sized tubes evolving under competitive flow conditions. This suggests that conduit development under suppressed flow conditions may significantly enhance the permeability of the formation, e.g. in deep-seated carbonate settings.

Impact of side of lesion, seizure outcome and interictal epileptiform discharges on attention and memory after surgery in temporal lobe epilepsy

To determine the impact of side of surgery, seizure outcome and interictal epileptiform discharges (IEDs) on attention and memory in a cohort of patients with temporal lobe epilepsy who had undergone unilateral mesial temporal lobe resection. Ninety-four patients were investigated pre- and postoperatively by means of a standardised neuropsychological battery measuring subcomponents of attention, as well as short-term, working and long-term memory. The side of epilepsy surgery, seizure outcome and the presence of postoperative IEDs, as well as their possible relationship to the neuropsychological changes, were assessed. Statistical data were analysed using a repeated-measures MANOVA. The absence of seizures following surgery had a positive effect on short-term memory and attentional control. The occurrence of IEDs was found in patients with impaired figural learning. In terms of attentional control and working memory, patients who continued to present IEDs had also scored lower in these domains prior to surgery. IEDs had an effect independent of seizure presence, but were found to have a "supplementary negative effect" when the two variables were combined.