Laminar Analysis Research Articles

Difficulties on the determination of the flammability limits of fuel mixtures by the Law of Le Chatelier

In the present article the inaccuracies related to the estimation of the upper flammability limits of fuel mixtures in air by using the Law of Le Chatelier are analyzed.A derivation of the Law of Le Chatelier was provided in order to understand the necessary conditions for its applicability. A statistical analysis was applied to the available experimental data for the lower and upper flammability limit of fuel mixtures. It was observed that the direction of flame propagation has a significant effect on the inaccuracies.The fuel mixtures for which the absolute values of the relative errors were higher than 10 % were selected for further study. Through the determination of the laminar flame speeds it was shown that those deviations were related to different heat release rates at the experimental and calculated upper flammability limits, respectively. A laminar flame speed sensitivity analysis was also applied to a selected group of fuel mixtures and two competing reactions for each mixture at the upper flammability limit were identified.

Distinct spatiotemporal mechanisms underlie extra-classical receptive field modulation in macaque V1 microcircuits.

Complex scene perception depends upon the interaction between signals from the classical receptive field (CRF) and the extra-classical receptive field (eCRF) in primary visual cortex (V1) neurons. Although much is known about V1 eCRF properties, we do not yet know how the underlying mechanisms map onto the cortical microcircuit. We probed the spatio-temporal dynamics of eCRF modulation using a reverse correlation paradigm, and found three principal eCRF mechanisms: tuned-facilitation, untuned-suppression, and tuned-suppression. Each mechanism had a distinct timing and spatial profile. Laminar analysis showed that the timing, orientation-tuning, and strength of eCRF mechanisms had distinct signatures within magnocellular and parvocellular processing streams in the V1 microcircuit. The existence of multiple eCRF mechanisms provides new insights into how V1 responds to spatial context. Modeling revealed that the differences in timing and scale of these mechanisms predicted distinct patterns of net modulation, reconciling many previous disparate physiological and psychophysical findings.

Association of blood pressure with knee cartilage composition and structural knee abnormalities: data from the osteoarthritis initiative.

To investigate the associations of systolic blood pressure (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) with changes in knee cartilage composition and joint structure over 48months, using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) data from the Osteoarthritis Initiative (OAI). A total of 1126 participants with right knee Kellgren-Lawrence (KL) score 0-2 at baseline, no history of rheumatoid arthritis, blood pressure measurements at baseline, and cartilage T2 measurements at baseline and 48months were selected from the OAI. Cartilage composition was assessed using MRI T2 measurements, including laminar and gray-level co-occurrence matrix texture analyses. Structural knee abnormalities were graded using the whole-organ magnetic resonance imaging score (WORMS). We performed linear regression, adjusting for age, sex, body mass index, physical activity, smoking status, alcohol use, KL score, number of anti-hypertensive medications, and number of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. Higher baseline DBP was associated with greater increases in global T2 (coefficient 0.22 (95% CI 0.09, 0.34), P = 0.004), global superficial layer T2 (coefficient 0.39 (95% CI 0.20, 0.58), P = 0.001), global contrast (coefficient 15.67 (95% CI 8.81, 22.53), P < 0.001), global entropy (coefficient 0.02 (95% CI 0.01, 0.03) P = 0.011), and global variance (coefficient 9.14 (95% CI 5.18, 13.09), P < 0.001). Compared with DBP, the associations of SBP with change in cartilage T2 parameters and WORMS subscores showed estimates of smaller magnitude. Higher baseline DBP was associated with higher and more heterogenous cartilage T2 values over 48months, indicating increased cartilage matrix degenerative changes.

Nonexudative Macular Neovascularization Supporting Outer Retina in Age-Related Macular Degeneration: A Clinicopathologic Correlation

Type 1 macular neovascularization (MNV) secondary to age-related macular degeneration (AMD) may sustain hypoxic and micronutrient-insufficient outer retinal cells compensatorily. We explored this hypothesis via histologic analysis of an eye with a shallow irregular retinal pigment epithelial elevation (SIRE) on OCT and good vision. Case study and clinicopathologic correlation. A white woman with untreated nonexudative neovascular AMD and 20/30 visual acuity (left eye) and neovascular AMD (right eye), with 9 years' multimodal imaging before dying at 90 years of age. The left eye was preserved 6.25 hours after death and prepared for submicrometer epoxy resin sections and transmission electron microscopy aligned to clinical OCT B-scans. Inside and outside the MNV area, layer thicknesses, phenotypes, and vascular density of native choriocapillaris and neovessels were measured. Lengths of choriocapillaries and intervening gaps in the index eye and in early AMD eyes and healthy eyes with similar age (n= 19 each) from the Project MACULA (Maculopathy Unveiled by Laminar Analysis) online histopathologic resource (http://projectmacula.cis.uab.edu/) were measured with custom software (Caps and Gaps). Descriptive features, vascular density, histologic and OCT layer thicknesses, and distribution of choriocapillaries and intervening gaps. The SIRE correlated to a type 1 MNV that expanded slowly without evidence of exudation and with numerous choroidal vessels traversing Bruch's membrane defects, some visible on OCT. Tissue layers in and adjacent to the MNV area showed continuous RPE and characteristic AMD deposits. Capillary-like neovessels with fenestrations and caveolae resembling native choriocapillaris lined the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) with a vascular density comparable with surrounding non-MNV areas. Relative to early AMD and healthy aged eyes, the index eye showed similar capillary lengths but larger gaps between vessels, indicating dropout. Outer nuclear layer thickness was preserved and showed less photoreceptor degeneration over areas of relative choriocapillaris health, including the type 1 MNV. Eyes with nonexudative type 1 MNV in AMD may progress to exudation, yet this stable MNV complex supported outer retinal structure for 9 years. Distinguishing features were numerous connecting vessels, high density of neovessels, continuous RPE, and slow growth. Maintaining beneficial type 1 MNV may be a therapeutic strategy.

Stagnation Flow and Heat Transfer From a Finite Disk Situated Perpendicular to a Uniform Stream

Abstract The stagnation flow and heat transfer from the blunt surface of a finite circular disk subjected to a uniform stream of an incompressible fluid is revisited in this paper. A laminar boundary layer analyses were carried out employing the method developed by Frössling. The involved auxiliary functions were calculated for several Prandtl numbers. It was found that the exact knowledge of the velocity at the outer edge of the boundary layer was essential to achieve an accurate velocity solution. In addition to the analytical work, computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations and a detailed experimental study were conducted including heat transfer measurements in a wind tunnel and a large water towing tank. The analytical treatment enabled a clear discussion of the effect of the Prandtl number on convective heat transfer from a blunt disk. A primary effect and a secondary effect were distinguished based on the analytical treatment. The boundary layer theory offered a rather efficient calculation method, and its results were in an excellent agreement with experimental data.

Resolvent Analysis of Compressible Laminar and Turbulent Cavity Flows

The present work demonstrates the use of a resolvent analysis to obtain physical insights for open-cavity flows. A resolvent analysis identifies the flow response to harmonic forcing, given a steady base state, in terms of the response and forcing modes and the amplification gain. The response and forcing modes reveal the spatial structures associated with this amplification process. In this study, a resolvent analysis is performed on both laminar and turbulent flows over a rectangular cavity with a length-to-depth ratio of at a freestream Mach number of in a spanwise periodic setting. Based on the dominant instability of the base state, a discount parameter is introduced to a resolvent analysis to examine the harmonic characteristics over a finite-time window. First, the underlying flow physics is uncovered and the findings are interpreted from laminar flow at . These findings from laminar flow are extended to a more practical cavity flow example at a much higher Reynolds number of . The features of response and forcing modes from the turbulent cavity flow are similar to the spatial structures from the laminar analysis. It is further found that the large amplification of energy in the flow response is associated with the high frequency () for turbulent flow, whereas the flow is more responsive to the low-frequency () excitation in the laminar case. These findings from the resolvent analysis provide valuable insights for flow control studies with regard to parameter selection and the placement of actuators and sensors.

Improved cortical boundary registration for locally distorted fMRI scans.

With continuing advances in MRI techniques and the emergence of higher static field strengths, submillimetre spatial resolution is now possible in human functional imaging experiments. This has opened up the way for more specific types of analysis, for example investigation of the cortical layers of the brain. With this increased specificity, it is important to correct for the geometrical distortions that are inherent to echo planar imaging (EPI). Inconveniently, higher field strength also increases these distortions. The resulting displacements can easily amount to several millimetres and as such pose a serious problem for laminar analysis. We here present a method, Recursive Boundary Registration (RBR), that corrects distortions between an anatomical and an EPI volume. By recursively applying Boundary Based Registration (BBR) on progressively smaller subregions of the brain we generate an accurate whole-brain registration, based on the grey-white matter contrast. Explicit care is taken that the deformation does not break the topology of the cortical surface, which is an important requirement for several of the most common subsequent steps in laminar analysis. We show that RBR obtains submillimetre accuracy with respect to a manually distorted gold standard, and apply it to a set of human in vivo scans to show a clear increase in spacial specificity. RBR further automates the process of non-linear distortion correction. This is an important step towards routine human laminar fMRI for large field of view acquisitions. We provide the code for the RBR algorithm, as well as a variety of functions to better investigate registration performance in a public GitHub repository, https://github.com/TimVanMourik/OpenFmriAnalysis, under the GPL 3.0 license.

Measurements of laminar flame speeds and flame instability analysis of E30-air premixed flames at elevated temperatures and pressures

Ethanol is regarded as one of the most promising alternative renewable fuels and as well as an oxygenate blending component in gasoline fuels, with widespread usage in many countries around the world. Laminar flame speeds can have strong influence on the stability and operability of Spark-Ignition combustion in certain operating regimes, and so the effects of different initial conditions on laminar combustion characteristics of E30 (gasoline blended with ethanol of 30% liquid volume) were analyzed in a constant-volume combustion vessel using the high-speed Schlieren method. This work presents results for equivalence ratios of 0.7–1.4, dilution ratios of 0%, 5%, 10%, and at different initial temperatures (408, 453 and 498 K) and initial pressures (1, 2 and 3 bar). It can be concluded that the laminar burning velocity has a positive correlation with initial temperature, but negative correlation with initial pressure and dilution ratio. The laminar burning velocity always reaches its maximum value at an equivalence ratio of 1.1 and does not change with varying initial conditions' the adiabatic flame temperature displays a similar variation with the initial conditions. The flame instability of E30-air mixture is enhanced as the initial pressure increases. Flame stability at lean and rich mixtures are exactly opposite at different initial temperature and dilution ratio. The laminar burning velocity was significantly promoted relative to gasoline and E10 by the addition of higher volume fractions of ethanol, highlighting one of the benefits of ethanol’s use as a blending component in gasoline fuels.

Lubrication Analysis of Micro-Dimple Textured Die Surface by Direct Observation of Contact Interface in Sheet Metal Forming

To investigate the underlying mechanism of the effects of surface texturing on lubricated sliding friction in the metal forming operation, an in-situ observation system using transparent silica glass dies and a high speed recording camera was newly developed. To correlate the dimensional parameters of micro-dimple textured structures and tribological properties in the metal forming operation, the in-situ observation was performed during bending with the ironing process of the stainless steel sheet with a thickness of 0.1 mm. The lubrication behavior were compared between the different lubricant viscosities and the micro-dimple textures with different diameters of 10 µm, 50 µm, 100 µm fabricated by using femto-/pico-second laser processing. As a result, the textured die with dimple diameters of 10 µm and 50 µm showed the lubricant flow transferred from one to the other dimples owing to the lubricant reservoir effect, while that of 100 µm indicated the less supply of the lubricant. However, the textured die with a dimple diameter of 10 µm demonstrated higher ironing force than that of 50 µm, due to the severe adhesion of work materials inside the dimple structures. Based on these experimental findings, the dimple size dependencies on lubricant reservoirs effects and the generation of the hydrodynamic pressure were discussed by correlating with the in-situ observation results, a fluid-flow analysis and a laminar two-phase flow analysis using the finite element method.

Distinct processing of tone offset in two primary auditory cortices

In the rodent auditory system, the primary cortex is subdivided into two regions, both receiving direct inputs from the auditory thalamus: the primary auditory cortex (A1) and the anterior auditory field (AAF). Although neurons in the two regions display different response properties, like response latency, firing threshold or tuning bandwidth, it is still not clear whether they process sound in a distinct way. Using in vivo electrophysiological recordings in the mouse auditory cortex, we found that AAF neurons have significantly stronger responses to tone offset than A1 neurons. AAF neurons also display faster and more transient responses than A1 neurons. Additionally, offset responses in AAF – unlike in A1, increase with sound duration. Local field potential (LFP) and laminar analyses suggest that the differences in sound responses between these two primary cortices are both of subcortical and intracortical origin. These results emphasize the potentially critical role of AAF for temporal processing. Our study reveals a distinct role of two primary auditory cortices in tone processing and highlights the complexity of sound encoding at the cortical level.

Abstracts from The 37th Annual National Neurotrauma Symposium June 29–July 3, 2019 Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Abstracts from The 37^th Annual National Neurotrauma Symposium June 29–July 3, 2019 Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Is treated HIV infection associated with knee cartilage degeneration and structural changes? A longitudinal study using data from the osteoarthritis initiative

BackgroundMetabolic disorders presenting in HIV-infected patients on antiretroviral therapy (ART) may increase the risk of osteoarthritis. However, structural changes of the knee in HIV infected subjects are understudied. The aim of this study is to investigate knee cartilage degeneration and knee structural changes over 8 years in subjects with and without HIV infection determined based on the use of ART.MethodsWe studied 10 participants from the Osteoarthritis Initiative who received ART at baseline and 20 controls without ART, frequency matched for age, sex, race, baseline body mass index (BMI) and Kellgren & Lawrence grade. Knee abnormalities were assessed using the whole-organ magnetic resonance imaging score (WORMS) and cartilage T2 including laminar and texture analyses were analyzed using a multislice-multiecho spin-echo sequence. Signal abnormalities of the infrapatellar fat pad (IPFP) and suprapatellar fat pad (SPFP) were assessed separately using a semi-quantitative scoring system. Linear regression models were used in the cross-sectional analysis to compare the differences between ART/HIV subjects and controls in T2 (regular and laminar T2 values, texture parameters) and morphologic parameters (subscores of WORMS, scores for signal alterations of IPFP and SPFP). Mixed effects models were used in the longitudinal analysis to compare the rate of change in T2 and morphological parameters between groups over 8 years.ResultsAt baseline, individuals on ART had significantly greater size of IPFP signal abnormalities (P = 0.008), higher signal intensities of SPFP (P = 0.015), higher effusion scores (P = 0.009), and lower subchondral cysts sum scores (P = 0.003) compared to the controls. No significant differences were found between the groups in T2-based cartilage parameters and WORMS scores for cartilage, meniscus, bone marrow edema patterns and ligaments (P > 0.05). Longitudinally, the HIV cohort had significantly higher global knee T2 entropy values (P = 0.047), more severe effusion (P = 0.001) but less severe subchondral cysts (P = 0.002) on average over 8 years.ConclusionsKnees of individuals with HIV on ART had a more heterogeneous cartilage matrix, more severe synovitis and abnormalities of the IPFP and SPFP, which may increase the risk of incident knee osteoarthritis.

A framework for cortical laminar composition analysis using low-resolution T1 MRI images.

The layer composition of the cerebral cortex represents a unique anatomical fingerprint of brain development, function, connectivity, and pathology. Historically, the cortical layers were investigated solely ex-vivo using histological means, but recent magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) studies suggest that T1 relaxation images can be utilized to separate the layers. Despite technological advancements in the field of high-resolution MRI, accurate estimation of whole-brain cortical laminar composition has remained limited due to partial volume effects, leaving some layers far beyond the image resolution. In this study, we offer a simple and accurate method for cortical laminar composition analysis, resolving partial volume effects and cortical curvature heterogeneity. We use a low-resolution 3T MRI echo planar imaging inversion recovery (EPI IR) scan protocol that provides fast acquisition (~ 12min) and enables extraction of multiple T1 relaxation time components per voxel, which are assigned to types of brain tissue and utilized to extract the subvoxel composition of six T1 layers. While previous investigation of the layers required the estimation of cortical normals or smoothing of layer widths (similar to VBM), here we developed a sphere-based approach to explore the inner mesoscale architecture of the cortex. Our novel algorithm conducts spatial analysis using volumetric sampling of a system of virtual spheres dispersed throughout the entire cortical space. The methodology offers a robust and powerful framework for quantification and visualization of the cortical laminar structure on the cortical surface, providing a basis for quantitative investigation of its role in cognition, physiology and pathology.

Steady and Transient State Analyses on Conjugate Laminar Forced Convection Heat Transfer

The term ‘conjugate heat transfer’ refers to a heat transfer process involving an interaction of heat conduction within a solid body with either of the free, forced, and mixed convection from its surface to a fluid flowing over it. It finds application in numerous fields starting from thermal interaction between surrounding air and fins to thermal interaction between flowing fluid and turbine blades. In this article, a systematic literature review of studies pertinent to laminar conjugate conduction-forced convection heat transfer analysis subjected to internal and external flow conditions is performed. The review reports both steady and unsteady state analyses related to experimental, analytical and numerical investigations, in both rectangular and cylindrical geometries with an exemption to micro and mini channel related studies. The studies are categorically put forth initially and an overview of these studies is presented in tabular and graphical form for a swift glance later under each section. This paper is concluded highlighting the salient features of the review, with respect to physical and mathematical models, methodology and applications. The challenges and scope for future study reported at the end of this paper gives the reader an insight into the gaps in the area of conjugate heat transfer analysis of steady and transient state under laminar forced convection flow regimes.

Nighres: processing tools for high-resolution neuroimaging

With recent improvements in human magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) at ultra-high fields, the amount of data collected per subject in a given MRI experiment has increased considerably. Standard image processing packages are often challenged by the size of these data. Dedicated methods are needed to leverage their extraordinary spatial resolution. Here, we introduce a flexible Python toolbox that implements a set of advanced techniques for high-resolution neuroimaging. With these tools, segmentation and laminar analysis of cortical MRI data can be performed at resolutions up to 500 μm in reasonable times. Comprehensive online documentation makes the toolbox easy to use and install. An extensive developer’s guide encourages contributions from other researchers that will help to accelerate progress in the promising field of high-resolution neuroimaging.

Mapping Cortical Laminar Structure in the 3D BigBrain.

Histological sections offer high spatial resolution to examine laminar architecture of the human cerebral cortex; however, they are restricted by being 2D, hence only regions with sufficiently optimal cutting planes can be analyzed. Conversely, noninvasive neuroimaging approaches are whole brain but have relatively low resolution. Consequently, correct 3D cross-cortical patterns of laminar architecture have never been mapped in histological sections. We developed an automated technique to identify and analyze laminar structure within the high-resolution 3D histological BigBrain. We extracted white matter and pial surfaces, from which we derived histologically verified surfaces at the layer I/II boundary and within layer IV. Layer IV depth was strongly predicted by cortical curvature but varied between areas. This fully automated 3D laminar analysis is an important requirement for bridging high-resolution 2D cytoarchitecture and in vivo 3D neuroimaging. It lays the foundation for in-depth, whole-brain analyses of cortical layering.

Structural differences of ethanol and DME jet flames in a hot diluted coflow

This study compares the flame structure of ethanol and dimethyl ether (DME) in a hot and diluted oxidiser experimentally and computationally. Experiments were conducted on a Jet in Hot Coflow (JHC) burner, with the fuel jet issuing into a 1250-K coflow at three oxygen levels. Planar measurements using OH-LIF, CH2O-LIF, and Rayleigh scattering images reveal that the overall spatial distribution and evolution of OH, CH2O, and temperature were quite similar for the two fuels. For both the ethanol and the DME flames, a transitional flame structure occurred as the coflow oxygen level increased from 3% to 9%. This indicates that the flames shift away from the MILD combustion regime. Reaction flux analyses of ethanol and DME were performed with the OPPDIF code, and ethane (C2H6) was also included in the analyses for comparison. These analyses reveal that the H2/O2 pathways are very important for both ethanol and DME in the 3% O2 cases. In contrast, the importance of fuel-specific reactions overtakes that of H2/O2 reactions when fuels are burnt in the cold air or in the vitiated oxidant stream with 9% O2. Unsteady laminar flamelet analyses were also performed to investigate the ignition processes and help interpret experimental results. Flamelet equations were solved in time and mixture fraction field, which was provided by non-reactive Large-Eddy Simulation (LES).

New boundary conditions for fluid interaction with hydrophobic surface

Solution of both laminar and turbulent flow with consideration of hydrophobic surface is based on the original Navier assumption that the shear stress on the hydrophobic surface is directly proportional to the slipping velocity. In the previous work a laminar flow analysis with different boundary conditions was performed. The shear stress value on the tube walls directly depends on the pressure gradient. In the solution of the turbulent flow by the k-ε model, the occurrence of the fluctuation components of velocity on the hydrophobic surface is considered. The fluctuation components of the velocity affect the size of the adhesive forces. We assume that the boundary condition for ε depending on the velocity gradients will not need to be changed. When the liquid slips over the surface, non-zero fluctuation velocity components occur in the turbulent flow. These determine the non-zero value of the turbulent kinetic energy K. In addition, the fluctuation velocity components also influence the value of the adhesive forces, so it is necessary to include these in the formulation of new boundary conditions for turbulent flow on the hydrophobic surface.

New boundary conditions for fluid interaction with hydrophobic surface

Solution of both laminar and turbulent flow with consideration of hydrophobic surface is based on the original Navier assumption that the shear stress on the hydrophobic surface is directly proportional to the slipping velocity. In the previous work a laminar flow analysis with different boundary conditions was performed. The shear stress value on the tube walls directly depends on the pressure gradient. In the solution of the turbulent flow by the k-ε model, the occurrence of the fluctuation components of velocity on the hydrophobic surface is considered. The fluctuation components of the velocity affect the size of the adhesive forces. We assume that the boundary condition for ε depending on the velocity gradients will not need to be changed. When the liquid slips over the surface, non-zero fluctuation velocity components occur in the turbulent flow. These determine the non-zero value of the turbulent kinetic energy K. In addition, the fluctuation velocity components also influence the value of the adhesive forces, so it is necessary to include these in the formulation of new boundary conditions for turbulent flow on the hydrophobic surface.

Laminar flow rate analysis on plate with stokes theorem

This experiment as conducted to analyze velocity of the laminar flow on a plate by using Stokes theorem. The sample used was honey and oil which has a density of 643,4gr / cm³ and 762,2 gr / cm³. When the density of the two samples have known, it will be easier to obtain viscosity with compared both sample and test samples each having results as 0,00594 Ns/m² for honey and 0,00503 for the oil. The results of these calculations will be obtained pressure for each samples treated with different speeds the flow of each sample was different. The plate which flowing honey has a velocity 0,046 m/s² and velocity 0,002 for oil with spiral plate, while for honey and oil in zigzag plate have both of velocity 0,02 m/s²and 0,0058 m/s².