Liquid Balance Research Articles

KGF‐2 targets alveolar epithelia and capillary endothelia to reduce high altitude pulmonary oedema in rats

High altitude pulmonary oedema (HAPE) severely affects non-acclimatized individuals and is characterized by alveolar flooding with protein- rich oedema as a consequence of blood-gas barrier disruption. Limited choice for prophylactic treatment warrants effective therapy against HAPE. Keratinocyte growth factor-2 (KGF-2) has shown efficiency in preventing alveolar epithelial cell DNA damages in vitro. In the current study, the effects of KGF-2 intratracheal instillation on mortality, lung liquid balance and lung histology were evaluated in our previously developed rat model of HAPE. We found that pre-treatment with KGF-2 (5 mg/kg) significantly decreased mortality, improved oxygenation and reduced lung wet-to-dry weight ratio by preventing alveolar-capillary barrier disruption demonstrated by histological examination and increasing alveolar fluid clearance up to 150%. In addition, KGF-2 significantly inhibited decrease of transendothelial permeability after exposure to hypoxia, accompanied by a 10-fold increase of Akt activity and inhibited apoptosis in human pulmonary microvascular endothelial cells, demonstrating attenuated endothelial apoptosis might contribute to reduction of endothelial permeability. These results showed the efficacy of KGF-2 on inhibition of endothelial cell apoptosis, preservation of alveolar-capillary barrier integrity and promotion of pulmonary oedema absorption in HAPE. Thus, KGF-2 may represent a potential drug candidate for the prevention of HAPE.

Experiment-based design optimization of a washing machine liquid balancer for vibration reduction

The most prevalent problem in washing machines is the vibration incurred during the spin cycles. The balance of the washing machine plays an important role in reducing the vibrations from an unbalanced mass by injecting salt water into an automatic balancer. In this study, we determined the optimal dimension of layers and the amount of salt water for an automatic liquid balancer in order to minimize the maximum displacement of a low-speed spin cycle while satisfying the design constraint on the maximum displacement of a high-speed spin cycle. The maximum displacements for a specified design point were obtained by performing laboratory experiments. For design optimization, approximate models of the maximum displacements were created by employing radial basis function regression (RBFr) models based on the experimental data at full factorial design points. Then, an optimization algorithm was applied to the RBFr models to obtain the optimum solution. Using the proposed design approach, the optimal value of the maximum displacement of a low-speed spin cycle was reduced by 13.1%, compared to the initial value, while satisfying the design constraint on the maximum displacement of a high-speed spin cycle.

Gas–liquid transfer of aroma compounds during winemaking fermentations

We precisely monitored the production kinetics of 16 volatile carbon compounds corresponding to the predominant higher alcohols and esters produced during the alcoholic fermentation of wine using an on-line GC system. We studied the gas–liquid partitioning of isobutanol, isoamyl acetate and ethyl hexanoate and showed that CO2 stripping had no impact on the partition coefficient (ki). We formulated a predictive model for ki changes during the fermentation and calculated the gas–liquid balances of these volatile compounds throughout the entire fermentation process. Losses in the off-gas were highly compound-dependent. They were negligible for higher alcohols but very high for esters, with losses of up to 70% for ethyl hexanoate at 30 °C. The rates of volatile compound production, accumulation and loss could also be calculated with high precision. Loss rates were maximal at the end of fermentation, indicating that high final temperatures, although helpful in avoiding sluggish fermentations, can be very detrimental to aroma losses.

The Transmission of Monetary Policy Through Conventional and Islamic Banks

We investigate the differences in banks’ responses to monetary policy shocks across bank size, liquidity, and type, i.e., conventional versus Islamic, in Pakistan between 2002:II to 2010:I. We find that following a monetary contraction, small banks with liquid balance sheets cut their lending less than other small banks. In contrast large banks maintain their lending irrespective of their liquidity positions. Islamic banks, though similar in size to small banks, respond to monetary policy shocks as large banks. Hence ceteris paribus the credit channel of monetary policy may weaken when Islamic banking grows in relative importance.

Price jump prediction in a limit order book

A limit order book provides information on available limit order prices and their volumes. Based on these quantities, we give an empirical result on the relationship between the bid-ask liquidity balance and trade sign and we show that liquidity balance on best bid/best ask is quite informative for predicting the future market order's direction. Moreover, we define price jump as a sell (buy) market order arrival which is executed at a price which is smaller (larger) than the best bid (best ask) price at the moment just after the precedent market order arrival. Features are then extracted related to limit order volumes, limit order price gaps, market order information and limit order event information. Logistic regression is applied to predict the price jump from the limit order book's feature. LASSO logistic regression is introduced to help us make variable selection from which we are capable to highlight the importance of different features in predicting the future price jump. In order to get rid of the intraday data seasonality, the analysis is based on two separated datasets: morning dataset and afternoon dataset. Based on an analysis on forty largest French stocks of CAC40, we find that trade sign and market order size as well as the liquidity on the best bid (best ask) are consistently informative for predicting the incoming price jump.

ATHLETIC PERFORMANCE OF SWIMMERS AFTER ALTITUDE TRAINING (2,300 M ABOVE SEA LEVEL) IN VIEW OF THEIR BLOOD MORPHOLOGY CHANGES

The aim of the study was to estimate changes in blood morphology caused by participation of record- seeking swimmers in a high altitude training camp at 2,300 m above sea level and to assess their performance during major competitions before and after the camp. Eight swimmers (two females and six males) - record-holders and medallists of the Polish National Championships, as well as finalists and medallists of the European and World Championships and the Olympic Games (including a two-time holder of the world record) - were recruited. During the 2006/2007 season the athletes attended a training camp organized according to the principle live high and train high. The camp lasted 23 days and consisted of three micro-cycles of training, each of them with specific training objectives. Before and after participation in the training camp erythrocyte (red blood cells; RBC) count, haemoglobin (Hb) concentration and haematocrit (Hct) were estimated at a hospital laboratory. Scores amassed by the examined athletes during major competitions were presented after their transformation into points based on the FINA (International Swimming Federation) tables for years 2005-2008. The best results (time for a distance) achieved during competitions organized before and after participation in the camp were regarded as reference points. Additionally, liquid balance of the body was monitored during 30 selected training units (15 in the morning and 15 in the evening). The response of the examined swimmers from the Polish Olympic Team to the high altitude training (at 2,300 m above sea level) was represented by an almost three-fold increase in blood reticulocyte count during the first micro-cycle of training as well as by an elevated erythrocyte count (by 14.4%), and haemoglobin (by 13.5%) and haematocrit (by 14.8%) levels estimated after completion of the training, as compared to the results obtained before the camp. Six out of eight subjects improved their performance in major competitions organized after the training camp, and four of them broke their personal bests.

A Dynamic Analysis of Higher Alcohol and Ester Release During Winemaking Fermentations

Isobutanol, isoamyl acetate and ethyl hexanoate production during winemaking fermentations was precisely described. Volatile compound concentrations and their rates of change and losses in the exhausted gas were determined throughout the fermentation. Negligible amounts of isobutanol were lost, whatever the fermentation temperature. In contrast, 56 % of the ethyl hexanoate and 34 % of the isoamyl acetate were stripped by CO2 when the temperature profile simulated red winemaking conditions. Even at a moderate temperature of 20 °C, typical of white wine fermentations, 40 % of the ethyl hexanoate and 21 % of the isoamyl acetate were lost. The effect of temperature on the production of the volatile compounds was assessed by running fermentations at different temperatures, with the same medium and strain. By taking into account the volatile compound losses in the exhausted gas, changes in volatile compound production were found to be smaller than those usually calculated from the concentrations in the wine. These findings highlight the potential importance of knowledge concerning aroma gas–liquid balances for both an understanding of yeast metabolism and the identification of innovative control strategies minimizing aroma losses.

Price Jump Prediction in Limit Order Book

A limit order book provides information on available limit order prices and their volumes. Based on these quantities, we give an empirical result on the relationship between the bid-ask liquidity balance and trade sign and we show that liquidity balance on best bid/best ask is quite informative for predicting the future market order's direction. Moreover, we de ne price jump as a sell (buy) market order arrival which is executed at a price which is smaller (larger) than the best bid (best ask) price at the moment just after the precedent market order arrival. Features are then extracted related to limit order volumes, limit order price gaps, market order information and limit order event information. Logistic regression is applied to predict the price jump from the limit order book's feature. LASSO logistic regression is introduced to help us make variable selection from which we are capable to highlight the importance of di erent features in predicting the future price jump. In order to get rid of the intraday data seasonality, the analysis is based on two separated datasets: morning dataset and afternoon dataset. Based on an analysis on forty largest French stocks of CAC40, we nd that trade sign and market order size as well as the liquidity on the best bid (best ask) are consistently informative for predicting the incoming price jump.

The Transmission of Monetary Policy Through Conventional and Islamic Banks

We investigate the differences in banks’ responses to monetary policy shocks across bank size, liquidity, and type, i.e., conventional versus Islamic, in Pakistan between 2002:II to 2010:I. We find that following a monetary contraction, small banks with liquid balance sheets cut their lending less than other small banks. In contrast large banks maintain their lending irrespective of their liquidity positions. Islamic banks, though similar in size to small banks, respond to monetary policy shocks as large banks. Hence ceteris paribus the credit channel of monetary policy may weaken when Islamic banking grows in relative importance.

Effects of capital investment on working capital management: Evidence on Tunisian export small and medium enterprises (SMEs)

The main objective of this study is to investigate empirically the impact of companies’ capital investment on working capital management. For this purpose, data of 386 small and medium companies were collected from the Tunisian Export Center over the period 2001 to 2008. Capital, financial and operating expenditures are principally used to explain working capital management measured by net liquidity balance and working capital requirement. The statistical analyses included descriptive statistics and regressions on panel data. The findings indicate that net liquidity balance and working capital requirement have respectively positive and negative relationship with companies’ capital investment. Key words: Capital investment, capital expenditure, operating expenditure, working capital management, Tunisian export small and medium enterprises (SMEs).

The efficacy and safety of Tolvaptan on treating congestive heart failure patients with hyponatremia

ObjectiveTo evaluate the efficacy and safety of Tolvaptan on treating congestive heart failure patients with hyponatremia.MethodsThis randomised double-blind placebo–controlled trial enrolled 65 patients with congestive heart failure and hyponatremia (serum...

The efficacy and safety of tolvaptan on treating congestive heart failure patients with hyponatremia

ObjectiveTo evaluate the efficacy and safety of Tolvaptan on treating congestive heart failure patients with hyponatremia.MethodsThis randomised double-blind placebo–controlled trial enrolled 65 patients with congestive heart failure and hyponatremia (serum...

A computational study on the flow characteristics of a self-compensating liquid balancer

An automatic washing machine undergoes rotational unbalance due to unbalanced mass during the spinning process. A liquid balancer is an assembly that plays a role in controlling this unbalance. In recent years, washing machines (drum and automatic types) are becoming larger to handle large laundry items such as comforters. A large-sized washing machine generates a huge centrifugal force in its high speed rotating drum. Thus, a specific vibration reduction technique is required. The design of a liquid balancer has, to date, depended on conventional methods such as experiments and dynamic models. A dynamic model classifies the behavior of liquid inside the balancer into three different patterns, and solutions can be obtained by approximating these patterns as rigid bodies. This method, however, is limited to two-dimensional (2-D) analysis for simple geometry. In the present study, a three dimensional (3-D) computational fluid dynamics (CFD) method is used to analyze flow characteristics inside the liquid balancer for various design parameters. The main parameters include rotational speed, eccentricities of the center of rotation, viscosity of the liquid, gravity orientation, surface tension, and the number of baffles. In particular, the effects of these parameters on the hydraulic force (restoration force) of the liquid balancer are studied.

Dynamic Performance of the LeBlanc Balancer for Automatic Washing Machines

The paper describes a high-speed camera and a particle image velocimetry (PIV) technique used on a transparent liquid balancing device for washing machines. Experimental results indicate that the baffle-liquid interaction renders fluid modes of vibration of circumferential and axial types. This complex swirl flow is comprised of two inertial waves; one of such waves is synchronous with the rigid body motion, while the other is a fluid backward traveling wave, thus enhancing the system damping capability. This damping phenomenon was revealed by the fluid flow visualization and PIV technique employed.

Alveolar recruitment for treatment of hypoxemia in acute respiratory failure

Summary. The objective of this study was to select the optimal method of alveolar recruitment in patients with refractory hypoxemia. We used the APACHE II scale to assess the severity of the patient's status. We also investigated effects of alveolar recruitment on the blood gas exchange, the central haemodynamics and liquid balance in patients with acute respiratory failure. Patients involved in the study (n = 100) were divided into 3 groups. The control group (n = 45) was treated with conventional mechanical ventilation. A group with moderate hypoxemia (n = 32) was treated using a "sparing" alveolar recruitment technique with noninvasive monitoring of the arterial pressure, the heart beat rate, and SpO2. A group with severe hypoxemia (n = 23) was treated using an "aggressive" alveolar recruitment technique with noninvasive monitoring of the arterial pressure, the heart beat rate and SpO2, blood gases analysis, monitoring of the central haemodynamics, measurements of cardiac output (СО), cardiac index (СI), intrathoracic blood volume index (ITBVI), global end-diastolic volume index (GEDVI), extravascular lung water index (ELWI), and systemic vascular resistance (SVR) by the PICCO monitor. Both methods of alveolar recruitment significantly increased arterial oxygenation but did not worsen the haemodynamics. After the procedure, tidal volume and dynamic lung compliance increased. Alveolar recruitment did not influence on ELWI but decreased peak ITBVI and peak GEDVI. After the procedure of alveolar recruitment, these parameters returned to the baseline. Therefore, alveolar recruitment could improve arterial blood oxygenation and increase number of ventilated alveoli without any negative effects on haemodynamics.

Ion Transport by Pulmonary Epithelia

The lung surface of air-breathing vertebrates is formed by a continuous epithelium that is covered by a fluid layer. In the airways, this epithelium is largely pseudostratified consisting of diverse cell types such as ciliated cells, goblet cells, and undifferentiated basal cells, whereas the alveolar epithelium consists of alveolar type I and alveolar type II cells. Regulation and maintenance of the volume and viscosity of the fluid layer covering the epithelium is one of the most important functions of the epithelial barrier that forms the outer surface area of the lungs. Therefore, the epithelial cells are equipped with a wide variety of ion transport proteins, among which Na+, Cl−, and K+ channels have been identified to play a role in the regulation of the fluid layer. Malfunctions of pulmonary epithelial ion transport processes and, thus, impairment of the liquid balance in our lungs is associated with severe diseases, such as cystic fibrosis and pulmonary oedema. Due to the important role of pulmonary epithelial ion transport processes for proper lung function, the present paper summarizes the recent findings about composition, function, and ion transport properties of the airway epithelium as well as of the alveolar epithelium.

Agricultural Waste Management: Case Study of a Waste Treatment Plant for Animal Manure

The problem of agricultural waste management is studied in the Northern agricultural region of the Galilee. There are 25 villages and four urban centers in the region neighboring Lake Kinneret (the Sea of Galilee). The animal manure and residues produced in the region is as follows: cattle and poultry manure, green stuff from orchards, residues from food industry, and residues from the neighboring Wastewater Treatment Plant. The aim of this article is to present a method for evaluating comprehensive solution for agricultural waste treatment, including choosing the suitable technology relating to economic aspects, to agricultural needs, and complying with environmental regulations and acts of the region. The following methods and tools were implemented: data questionnaire was conducted by surveying the region; technology evaluation was carried out; mass, energy and liquid balances were calculated; methane emission was predicted; business and environmental impact evaluation report was prepared. The recommended technology is the Anaerobic Digestion. All the waste is disposed at one site; there will be no need for another disposal site in the future. The plant will treat 320 thousand tons of agricultural waste per year, within 45 km range of service. The investment cost is 8.4 million €. The annual income is 2.69 million €, of which 11% are from Carbon Emission Reductions. The payback period is 9 years; the Internal Rate of Return is 19%. The Waste Treatment plant meets the regulations for noise, odor, air pollution, and soil and underground water contamination.

Is Price Behavior Scaling and Multiscaling in a Dealer Market? Perspectives from Multi-Agent Based Experiments

Empirical findings point out that the scaling and multiscaling properties can be found in many dealer markets. But how do these properties emerge from these financial markets? What are the dynamical causes for these nonlinear properties? Are they the results of random perturbations, or of the intrinsic characteristics of the markets? To answer these questions, first of all, I proposed a minimally structured agent-based model of a dealer market, and then conducted many experiments under several scenarios. This artificial financial market is occupied with heterogeneous agents characterized with bounded rationality and heterogeneity, and a dealer who is responsible for market liquidity and supply-demand balance. By means of simulations based on different scenarios, trading time series (prices, volumes, volatilities, etc) are generated and then are analyzed by Multi-Fractal Detrended Fluctuation Analysis (MF-DFA). Interestingly, the generated price series display scaling and multiscaling features, which is consistent with empirical findings in the real markets. Furthermore, the plausible explanation for these properties is nonlinear temporal correlation instead of probability distribution after the series are shuffled and phase randomized. All of the results imply that these properties of nonlinearity may derive from market participants' heterogeneity and mutual interactions; thereby, they may be the underlying characteristics of dealer markets.

Settlement delays in the money market

We track 38,000 money market trades from execution to delivery and return, and provide a first empirical analysis of settlement delays in financial markets. In accord with the predictions of recent models of strategic settlement of financial claims, we document a tendency by lenders to delay delivery of loaned funds until the afternoon hours. We find banks to follow a simple strategy to manage the risk of account overdrafts, by delaying settlement of large payments relative to that of small payments. More sophisticated strategies such as increasing delays when own liquid balances are low and when dealing with small trading partners play a marginal role. We find evidence of strategic delay also when returning borrowed funds, although we can explain a smaller fraction of the dispersion in delays in the return than in delivery leg of money market lending.

Does national culture affect international corporate cash holdings?

The current literature frequently examines the effects of shareholder rights protection on corporate cash holdings in the context of agency theory. In this study, we show that national culture influences corporate managers’ cash holding behavior beyond the effects of corporate governance and financial market developments in each country through the perception of agency costs and value of financial flexibility. Using Hofstede's cultural dimension indices, we find that corporations hold larger cash and liquid balances in countries where the people tend to avoid uncertainty more, are culturally more masculine, and have longer term orientation.