Extensive Measurements Research Articles

Wake of two tandem square cylinders

The wake of two tandem square cylinders of identical width (d) is experimentally studied, with a view to understanding the dependence of the flow structure, aerodynamics forces and Strouhal number on the centre-to-centre spacing ratio L/d and Reynolds number Re, where L is the distance between the cylinder centres. Extensive measurements are carried out, using hot-wire, particle imaging velocimetry, laser-induced fluorescence flow visualization, surface-oil-flow visualization and surface pressure scanning techniques, for L/d = 1.0 ~ 5.0 and Re ≡ U∞d/ν = 2.8 × (103 ~ 104), where U∞ is the free-stream velocity and ν is the kinematic viscosity of the fluid. The flow is classified into four regimes, i.e. the extended-body (L/d ≤ 1.5–2.0), reattachment (1.5–2.0 < L/d < 2.7–3.2), co-shedding (L/d ≥ 3.0–3.4) and transition (2.7 ≤ L/d ≤ 3.3) where both reattachment and co-shedding phenomena may take place. The mean drag and fluctuating drag and lift exhibit distinct features for different flow regimes, which is fully consistent with the proposed flow classification. Comparison is made between this flow and the wake of two tandem circular cylinders, which provides valuable insight into the profound effect of the flow separation point and the presence of sharp corners on the flow development and classification.

Rapid generation of massive thermodynamic datasets using frequency comb spectroscopy.

We demonstrate massively parallel spectroscopic measurements of 12C2H2 using an optical frequency comb. This allows for the rapid and simultaneous estimation of self-broadening and self-shifting of more than 50 optical transitions between 1512 and 1538nm. The use of a temperature-controlled sealed gas cell allows us to measure both pressure- and temperature-mediated broadening and shifting. We present the results for the pressure-mediated self-broadening and self-shifting coefficients for 59 optical lines that make up the v1 + v3 combination band and a selection of hot bands. Our ability to measure the broadening of numerous transitions allows for the confirmation of prior work that shows that there is no measurable vibrational dependence across all acetylene bands, despite the strong dependence of the broadening coefficient on the rotational number. We also present an extensive measurement of the temperature dependence of the self-broadening for each of these 59 lines. This work shows the revolutionary power afforded by the frequency combs for rapid generation of large datasets related to thermodynamic variations of the key spectroscopic parameters of important gases.

A new workflow for the effective curation of membrane permeability data from open ADME information.

Membrane permeability is an in vitro parameter that represents the apparent permeability (Papp) of a compound, and is a key absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion parameter in drug development. Although the Caco-2 cell lines are the most used cell lines to measure Papp, other cell lines, such as the Madin-Darby Canine Kidney (MDCK), LLC-Pig Kidney 1 (LLC-PK1), and Ralph Russ Canine Kidney (RRCK) cell lines, can also be used to estimate Papp. Therefore, constructing in silico models for Papp estimation using the MDCK, LLC-PK1, and RRCK cell lines requires collecting extensive amounts of in vitro Papp data. An open database offers extensive measurements of various compounds covering a vast chemical space; however, concerns were reported on the use of data published in open databases without the appropriate accuracy and quality checks. Ensuring the quality of datasets for training in silico models is critical because artificial intelligence (AI, including deep learning) was used to develop models to predict various pharmacokinetic properties, and data quality affects the performance of these models. Hence, careful curation of the collected data is imperative. Herein, we developed a new workflow that supports automatic curation of Papp data measured in the MDCK, LLC-PK1, and RRCK cell lines collected from ChEMBL using KNIME. The workflow consisted of four main phases. Data were extracted from ChEMBL and filtered to identify the target protocols. A total of 1661 high-quality entries were retained after checking 436 articles. The workflow is freely available, can be updated, and has high reusability. Our study provides a novel approach for data quality analysis and accelerates the development of helpful in silico models for effective drug discovery. Scientific Contribution: The cost of building highly accurate predictive models can be significantly reduced by automating the collection of reliable measurement data. Our tool reduces the time and effort required for data collection and will enable researchers to focus on constructing high-performance in silico models for other types of analysis. To the best of our knowledge, no such tool is available in the literature.

Failure analysis of gas turbine in first stage turbine blades in an urban power plant

The Combined Cycle Power Plants (CCPP) are widely known as the most efficient power plants. The concept of CCPP represented in Brayton and Rankin cycles combined to achieve the highest efficiency in power generation. During the fact finding, while performing the major outage, at 77,521 running hours some of the turbine blades at 1st stage found suffering from severe damages and sulfuric acid thick layer accumulated in the cooling airfoils. The blades were new, also known as the most essential and costly component installed after Hot Gas Path Inspection (HGPI) at 42,000 running hours. The main objective of this work is to study the surrounding parameters that directly affect the lifetime of the turbine blades. Furthermore, XRD analysis for new and used turbine blades are studied as well as the EDS analysis for the coating layers which are used to enhance the surface life of gas turbine blades. Corrective maintenance, on the other hand, has been undertaken to overcome the performance deterioration caused by wear, which is the result of any machine or plant’s operation. A gas turbine cannot be run reliably unless wear reserves are checked and, if necessary, restored during inspections and maintenance operations. These are performed to determine the machine's condition and the necessary condition-based repairs. The principal types of gas turbine inspection have been investigated and presented, including minor inspection, hot gas inspection, extended-scope hot gas path examination, and major inspection. Lifetime extension (LTE) measures are derived from these inspection types and go beyond the scope of a major inspection. Nondestructive testing is performed on the gas turbine’s key components. Furthermore, due to the high degree of contamination in the fuel, the turbine section must be cleaned at regular intervals. As a result of the examinations, replacement, and refurbishment intervals for important components, as well as outage time, could be recommended.

Carbon Emission Accounting Model for Comprehensive Medical Facilities Based on Population Flow

China is striving to reach a peak in its carbon dioxide emissions by 2030 and achieve carbon neutrality by 2060. The accurate accounting of carbon emissions is important for achieving these dual carbon goals. An extensive literature review and field measurements were conducted to investigate the specific impact of population density on carbon emissions in large integrated healthcare organizations. This research uses VOSviewer to visualize the literature analysis. We determined that the flow of people is a key factor affecting carbon emissions during the operational phase of large-scale comprehensive medical institutions. Through field measurements, the relationship between the density of pedestrian flow and indoor environment measurements was derived, and the incremental equipment operating loads caused by changes in the indoor environment were analyzed. Using the carbon emission factor method advocated by the IPCC, a carbon emission accounting model based on different flow intervals was constructed, and the energy consumption of different equipment was fully considered according to its proportion. The validation results showed that the error between the calculated value and the actual values of the model was 3.07% (less than 5%), which has good validity. The model calculates the direct and indirect carbon emissions in the operational phase based on the population flow perspective, which can provide a reference for the energy-saving design and green operation of large-scale comprehensive medical institutions. The research will continue to focus on the population flow, and the accounting model will be further optimized through machine learning algorithms.

Cooperative Effect of Cations and Catalyst Structure in Tuning Alkaline Hydrogen Evolution on Pt Electrodes.

The kinetics of hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) in alkaline media, a reaction central to alkaline water electrolyzers, is not accurately captured by traditional adsorption-based activity descriptors. As a result, the exact mechanism and the main driving force for the water reduction or HER rate remain hotly debated. Here, we perform extensive kinetic measurements on the pH- and cation-dependent HER rate on Pt single-crystal electrodes in alkaline conditions. We find that cations interacting with Pt step sites control the HER activity, while they interact only weakly with Pt(111) and Pt(100) terraces and, therefore, cations do not affect HER kinetics on terrace sites. This is reflected by divergent activity trends as a function of pH as well as cation concentration on stepped Pt surfaces vs Pt surfaces that do not feature steps, such as Pt(111). We show that HER activity can be optimized by rationally tuning these step-cation interactions via selective adatom deposition at the steps and by choosing an optimal electrolyte composition. Our work shows that the catalyst and the electrolyte must be tailored in conjunction to achieve the highest possible HER activity.

Flow Characteristics in Partly Vegetated Channels: An Experimental Investigation

In this study, we attempt to experimentally investigate the flow turbulence structure in a partly vegetated channel. To achieve the objective of this study, we conducted extensive measurements of flow velocities within and outside the vegetated area, where the flow is fully developed. The experiments were conducted in a very large channel at the Coastal Engineering Laboratory of the Department of Civil, Environmental, Building Engineering and Chemistry at the Polytechnic University of Bari, Italy. The instantaneous three flow velocity components were accurately measured using a 3D-Acoustic Doppler Velocimeter (ADV)-Vectrino system at high frequency. Flow behaviors through the vegetated area, at the interface, and in the unobstructed area were analyzed via time-averaged velocities, turbulence intensity, correlation properties, spectral analysis, and vortex identification. Experimental results showed the development of three distinct characteristic flow zones: (i) a vegetated area of low streamwise velocity, high turbulence intensities, dominant inward interactions, and more intense power spectrum, (ii) a shear layer zone of increasing streamwise velocity, more enhanced transverse flow motion, exponential decrease in turbulence intensities, and frequent ejection and/or outward interaction events, and (iii) a free-stream zone of higher and almost constant streamwise velocity, lower turbulence intensities, frequent sweep and/or inward interaction events, and less intense streamwise power spectrum. The results brought further insights into the flow behaviors in these characteristic flow zones. The extensive and detailed measured data can provide a basis for improving and calibrating numerical simulations of partly vegetated channels.

DYNAMICS OF DISABILITY AMONG THE CHILD POPULATION DUE TO THE NERVOUS DISORDERS IN UKRAINE

In the study, data from the state statistical reporting forms ‘Report on Children with Disabilities Aged 0-18 for the Years 2010-2022’ were analyzed using the statistical analysis of medical data. The disability analysis was conducted using absolute values and widely accepted intensive measures (the rate of first-time and overall disability per 10,000 of child population aged 0-17 inclusive) as well as extensive measures (the structure of first-time and overall disability by causes). The disability of children due to nervous system disorders (NSDs) represents a significant medical, social, and economic problem. Disorders of the central nervous system cause every seventh case of disability in children in Ukraine and rank third in terms of prevalence (with a relative weight of 14.7% in 2022) among all causes of childhood disability. Approximately half of all cases of disability due to NSDs (48.5% in 2022) are associated with cerebral palsy (CP). Among children newly recognized as disabled individuals, CP is the cause of disability in almost every fourth case (27.7% in 2022). The obtained data on the rate of firsttime and overall disability among children with NSDs will contribute to the development of an optimized model of rehabilitation assistance for children with this pathology and the implementation of modern rehabilitation technologies.

Motivation and associated factors of health development army in the implementation of health extension packages in Northwest Ethiopia: a cross-sectional study

IntroductionHealth development army is a network of women volunteers organised to promote health and prevent disease through community empowerment and participation.ObjectiveTo assess the level of motivation and associated factors of...

Modeling of Schottky diode and optimal matching circuit design for low power RF energy harvesting

This work designs and implements a single-stage rectifier-based RF energy harvesting device. This device integrates a receiving antenna and a rectifying circuit to convert ambient electromagnetic energy into useful DC power efficiently. The rectenna is carefully engineered with an optimal matching circuit, achieving high efficiency with a return loss of less than −10 dB. The design uses a practical model of the Schottky diode, where both RF and DC characteristics are derived through extensive experimental measurements. The results from both experiments and simulations confirm the effectiveness of the design, showing its proficiency in efficient RF energy harvesting under low-power conditions. The antenna produced operates in the wifi band with a gain close to 4 dBi and a bandwidth of 100 MHz. With a load resistance of 1600 Ω, the proposed device achieves an impressive RF-to-DC conversion efficiency of approximately 52% at a low incident power of −5 dBm. These findings highlight the potential and reliability of rectenna systems for practical and efficient RF energy harvesting applications. The study significantly contributes to our understanding of rectenna-based energy harvesting, providing valuable insights for future design considerations and applications in low-power RF systems.

U.S. Economic Policy Towards China under the Biden Administration

Since the inception of the open-door policy in 1978, China has progressively become more integrated into the global economy through trade, foreign direct investment, and, more recently, outward direct investment. This economic integration has gained momentum with initiatives like the ‘Go Global’ strategy, China’s entry into the World Trade Organization (WTO) in 2001, and the launch of the Belt and Road Initiative in 2013. China’s economic ascent, coupled with its increasing political influence and military power, prompted the United States (US) to initiate a strategy of rebalancing in the Asia Pacific region, starting with the Bush administration and continuing through the Obama, Trump, and Biden administrations. During the Trump administration, this rebalancing strategy was supported by decoupling strategy, ultimately leading to a trade war with China. Despite its intention to avoid the initiation of a new Cold War and to adopt a more moderate stance towards China, the US-China trade war has evolved further into a tech war under the Biden administration. Given this context, this article aims to outline the primary characteristics of the US economic policy towards China during the Biden administration, comparing it to the Trump administration and assessing its impact on both nations. The central argument of this article is that the primary characteristics of the US economic policy towards China under Biden administration are rebalancing and decoupling, carried over from the policies of the preceding Trump administration, and there are clear signs that these characteristics are deepening. Furthermore, the article demonstrates that the extensive decoupling measures enacted by the US have proven effective in diminishing China’s role in global industrial and supply chains, particularly in industries related to semiconductors and chipmaking equipment.

Translating medical devices: A rule-driven game

Translation for medical devices often presents a unique set of challenges arising from the products’ complex natures and associated regulatory requirements. Beyond medical expertise, linguists – from translators and editors to bilingual quality assessors – may require strong software localisation skills and knowledge of intricate engineering topics. Supply chain audits related to medical devices can, in many cases, demand more extensive compliance measures for language service providers than those required by most other clients.

LoRa Technology Propagation Models for IoT Network Planning in the Amazon Regions.

Designing and deploying telecommunications and broadcasting networks in the challenging terrain of the Amazon region pose significant obstacles due to its unique morphological characteristics. Within low-power wide-area networks (LPWANs), this research study introduces a comprehensive approach to modeling large-scale propagation loss channels specific to the LoRaWAN protocol operating at 915 MHz. The objective of this study is to facilitate the planning of Internet of Things (IoT) networks in riverside communities while accounting for the mobility of end nodes. We conducted extensive measurement campaigns along the banks of Universidade Federal do Pará, capturing received signal strength indication (RSSI), signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), and geolocated point data across various spreading factors. We fitted the empirical close-in (CI) and floating intercept (FI) propagation models for uplink path loss prediction and compared them with the Okumura-Hata model. We also present a new model for path loss with dense vegetation. Furthermore, we calculated received packet rate statistics between communication links to assess channel quality for the LoRa physical layer (PHY). Remarkably, both CI and FI models exhibited similar behaviors, with the newly proposed model demonstrating enhanced accuracy in estimating radio loss within densely vegetated scenarios, boasting lower root mean square error (RMSE) values than the Okumura-Hata model, particularly for spreading factor 9 (SF9). The radius coverage threshold, accounting for node mobility, was 945 m. This comprehensive analysis contributes valuable insights for the effective deployment and optimization of LoRa-based IoT networks in the intricate environmental conditions of the Amazon region.

The Influence of Insurance Status on Extensor Tendon Repair Outcomes

Background: Little is known regarding how patient insurance status influences outcomes after extensor tendon-injury repair. We aim to establish a relationship between the outcomes of primarily repaired extensor tendon injuries and patient insurance status. We hypothesize that commercially insured patients will achieve superior outcomes due to more facile access to postoperative hand therapy and fewer barriers to appropriate postoperative care. Methods: A retrospective chart review was conducted of patients who underwent primary extensor tendon repair in any zone, excluding the thumb, at a single large safety-net hospital. Inclusion criteria included a minimum of eight weeks of follow-up, complete data available for review, and an extensor tendon injury requiring primary surgical repair. Four cohorts were examined: patients with commercial insurance, patients with Medicare/Medicaid, patients with county hospital-sponsored insurance, and uninsured patients. Statistical analysis was performed using Chi-Square and ANOVA analyses, with significance defined as p ≤ 0.05. Results: Of the 62 patients (100 digits) included, 20 had commercial insurance, 12 had Medicare/Medicaid, 13 had hospital-sponsored insurance, and 17 were uninsured. Except for mean age, there were no significant differences between groups in terms of demographic data, medical comorbidities, or digit characteristics. There were also no significant differences in mean follow-up, time to return to full activity, or surgical complications among groups. Procedure duration differed significantly between groups, with procedures lasting longer in uninsured patients. Postoperative final flexion total arc of motion (TAM) and extension measurements were similar across all groups. Additionally, hand therapy visits did not differ significantly between groups. Conclusions: Following extensor tendon repair, patient insurance status did not affect outcomes in terms of final range of motion, return to full activity, or postoperative complications.

Wastewater generation model to predict impacts of urine separation on wastewater treatment plants.

Wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) are under increasing pressure to enhance resource efficiency and reduce emissions into water bodies. The separation of urine within the catchment area may be an alternative to mitigate the need for costly expansions of central WWTPs. While previous investigations assumed a spatially uniform implementation of urine separation across the catchment area, the present study focuses on an adapted stochastic wastewater generation model, which allows the simulation of various wastewater streams (e.g., urine) on a household level. This enables the non-uniform separation of urine across a catchment area. The model is part of a holistic modelling framework to determine the influence of targeted urine separation in catchments on the operation and emissions of central WWTPs, which will be briefly introduced. The wastewater generation model is validated through an extensive sampling and measurement series. Results based on observed and simulated wastewater quantity and quality for a catchment area of 366 residents for two dry weather days indicate the suitability of the model for wastewater generation and transport modelling. Based on this, four scenarios for urine separation were defined. The results indicate a potential influence of spatial distribution on the peaks of total nitrogen and total phosphorus.

Arthroscopic Posterior Capsular Release Improves Range of Motion and Outcomes for Flexion Contracture After Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction in Athletes

To assess outcomes of arthroscopic posterior capsular release among athletes for loss of terminal extension following anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction. A retrospective review of prospectively collected data was performed for patients undergoing arthroscopic posterior capsular release for knee extension loss following ACL reconstruction between January 2014 and December 2019. Procedure indications included extension loss greater than 10° at least 3 months after ACL reconstruction that was refractory to physical therapy. Patients were included if they were involved in either high school or college athletics, had complete outcomes of interest, and had at least 2 years of follow-up. Prospectively collected outcomes included preoperative and postoperative measurement of knee extension, International Knee Documentation Committee score, Lysholm score, return to sport data, and complications. Eighteen athletes with minimum 2 years of follow-up who underwent posterior capsular release following ACL reconstruction performed by a single surgeon were included in the analysis. Patients underwent surgery at an average of 16 weeks after ACL reconstruction. Knee extension improved an average of 13.8° at 2 years' follow-up (prerelease mean extension deficit 15.1°, postrelease mean extension deficit 1.3°, P < .005). Improvements in the International Knee Documentation Committee score averaged 21.7 at 6 months and 35.0 at 24 months, both of which were statistically significant (P < .001). Similarly, differences in Lysholm included a significant improvement of 23.0 and 34.2 at 6 months and 2 years, respectively (P < .001). In total, 77.8% returned to sport at an average of 9.8 months from their primary ACL surgery and 6.5 months following posterior capsular release surgery. No infections or neurovascular complications were observed. One patient required secondary release to achieve adequate extension. For athletes with persistent knee extension loss after ACL reconstruction, knee extension was significantly improved at 2 years following arthroscopic posterior capsular release. Substantial improvements in patient-reported outcomes also were seen. In addition, subjects demonstrated a high rate of return to sport and return to preinjury performance levels. Level IV, therapeutic case series.

The influence of ethnic family and intercultural communication on women’s perceptions of higher education

In Betawi families, not all daughters are provided with the opportunity to pursue higher education. The prevailing societal stigma suggests that women do not require higher education due to the presumption that their primary focus should be on domestic responsibilities. This research aims to comprehend and explore the influence of the communicative role of the Betawi ethnic family on the attitudes of female offspring towards pursuing higher education. The participants of this study are 254 females who are presently enrolled in or have completed their education at higher education institutions. They primarily reside in Jakarta, Bogor, Depok, Tangerang, and Bekasi. The analysis is conducted through Spearman-Rank analysis. The results indicate a strong correlation between family communication and the attitudes of female offspring towards pursuing higher education. Based on these findings, it can be concluded that the parental capacity to appreciate and respect a child’s decisions, particularly in selecting majors and schools, significantly influences their interest in pursuing higher education. However, the researcher acknowledges several limitations of this study, especially pertaining to the sample size utilized. Hence, future research should utilize more extensive methodologies and measures to obtain a more comprehensive understanding of the motives and attitudes of female descendants towards pursuing higher education. Moreover, it is anticipated that future researchers will be able to devise effective communication strategies involving stakeholders, such as the government and educational institutions, to implement inclusive programs regardless of ethnicity, race, and religion.

AntiPhishStack: LSTM-Based Stacked Generalization Model for Optimized Phishing URL Detection

The escalating reliance on revolutionary online web services has introduced heightened security risks, with persistent challenges posed by phishing despite extensive security measures. Traditional phishing systems, reliant on machine learning and manual features, struggle with evolving tactics. Recent advances in deep learning offer promising avenues for tackling novel phishing challenges and malicious URLs. This paper introduces a two-phase stack generalized model named AntiPhishStack, designed to detect phishing sites. The model leverages the learning of URLs and character-level TF-IDF features symmetrically, enhancing its ability to combat emerging phishing threats. In Phase I, features are trained on a base machine learning classifier, employing K-fold cross-validation for robust mean prediction. Phase II employs a two-layered stacked-based LSTM network with five adaptive optimizers for dynamic compilation, ensuring premier prediction on these features. Additionally, the symmetrical predictions from both phases are optimized and integrated to train a meta-XGBoost classifier, contributing to a final robust prediction. The significance of this work lies in advancing phishing detection with AntiPhishStack, operating without prior phishing-specific feature knowledge. Experimental validation on two benchmark datasets, comprising benign and phishing or malicious URLs, demonstrates the model’s exceptional performance, achieving a notable 96.04% accuracy compared to existing studies. This research adds value to the ongoing discourse on symmetry and asymmetry in information security and provides a forward-thinking solution for enhancing network security in the face of evolving cyber threats.

Conclusion instead of exclusion-The clinical diagnosis of functional movement disorders

Functional neurological movement disorders are common in neurological practice and lead to ahigh degree of impairment and chronification. Affected patients usually receive adiagnosis with considerable delay and often do not get disease-specific treatment. The reasons for this delay are related to extensive diagnostic measures to exclude other nonfunctional neurological diseases. As aconsequence, functional movement disorders are typically communicated as diagnoses of exclusion, which makes it difficult for patients to understand and accept the diagnosis. This is particularly unfortunate, because in the majority of patients the diagnosis can be made with confidence based on clinical features, i.e., inconsistency and incongruence. The clarification of the symptoms and the resulting treatment options should be supplemented by patient-friendly explanations of the pathophysiological basis of the disease. In this way, patients are enabled to understand and accept the diagnosis. Moreover, it can put an end to the search for adiagnosis, which can sometimes take decades, and paves the way for treatment. Thus, the diagnosis by exclusion itself becomes the starting point for treatment and can itself have a therapeutic effect.

Terrestrial Laser Scanning for Fast Spatially Resolved Cleanliness Assessment of Heliostat Fields

This paper presents a novel method for the assessment of cleanliness levels (i.e. specular relative reflectance) in the solar field by use of laser scanning. The detected backscattered laser intensity caused by soil and dust, on the otherwise specular mirror surfaces, can be used for determining the cleanliness of mirrors in the solar field with an excellent spatial resolution and acquisition speed. The backscatter behavior of soiled mirrors with distance and incident angle is analyzed and used for transferring the raw measurements values to a reference distance and incident angle. The experimental results of the novel laser scanning measurement technique as well as new insights on soiling behavior are presented. First, the calibration measurements with artificially soiled mirror samples are analyzed, followed by an extensive measurement campaign in a heliostat field. A correlation for the backscatter power and the cleanliness is found, and the first spatially resolved cleanliness measurement for a heliostat field is shown, successfully validating the measurement principle.