Measurement Of Volume Changes Research Articles

Degradation Diagnostics of Ni-Rich NMC in Lithium-Ion Batteries Aged in Different Degrading Conditions

Ni-rich Nickel Manganese Cobalt Oxides (NMC) such as LiNi0.6Mn0.2Co0.2O2 (NMC622) and LiNi0.8Mn0.1Co0.1O2 (NMC811) have been widely used as the cathode active materials in lithium-ion batteries (LIB) of electric vehicles due to their high capacity. Thus, we can foresee millions of tons of end-of-life LIB will be accumulated by the next decades. This means that the efficient recycling method of batteries material, especially NMC which has the highest value, should be developed to reduce the cost and increase the efficiency of recycling. Direct recycling which is a novel method to recover cathode active materials in lithium-ion batteries by directly regenerating the chemical and physical structure of cathode materials, skipping the usage of harsh chemical and high energy consumption such as those of other recycling methods i.e. pyrometallurgy and hydrometallurgy. Such an attempt to directly reprocess the spent NMC back into the as good as new cathode requires and understanding what has happened with the materials through the battery life. This implies that the understanding of degradation mechanisms of Ni-rich NMC in different usage conditions is required to up-scale the direct recycling of Ni-rich NMC from degraded lithium-ion batteries.In this work, we investigated failure mode in controlled aged samples of LIB cells to understand the degradation mechanism of NMC622 and NMC811 which are to be connected with the method for direct regeneration. Lithium-ion batteries composed of NMC622 or NMC811 cathode active materials were aged through 1C-rate charge/discharge cycling at 25°C, 45°C or 55°C until 20% or 40% capacity fading. The degraded cells were analyzed via incremental capacity analysis (ICA), volume change measurement, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). Ex-situ X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), Scanning electron microscopy analysis (SEM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and Inductively Coupled Plasma Optical Emission spectroscopy (ICP-OES) were used to characterize the chemical and physical structure of degraded NMC from each different degrading conditions.Inspection of degraded cells shows that NMC811 cells exhibit larger cell expansion compared to NMC622 cells going through the same degrading condition. EIS results show that the solution resistance (R S) does not vary much between the different cells, while solid-electrolyte interphase resistances (R SEI) were found to increase with temperature at approximately similar level for both NMC622 and NMC811. Fig. 1a and Fig. 1b show the contour plot on the variation of charge transfer resistance (R CT) ratio after and before degradation of NMC622 and NMC811 cells. It can be seen that R CT in NMC811 cells were found to increase for the more highly cycled NMC811 coupled with high temperature. However, temperature does not seem to have much role in the increment of R CT in NMC622. Investigating the change in structure of the cycled NMCs at different temperatures and to level of different degradation, it was found that the results show that at the same level of capacity remaining, NMC622 has a much larger change in c/a ratio after vs. before compared to NMC811.The above impedance analysis coupled with the XRD results imply that the main cause of capacity fade of NMC811 cells is likely due to electrolyte decomposition which generates gas, resulting in high degree of cell expansion, causing loss of electrical contact. The electrolyte decomposition in NMC811 cell is further facilitated by the increment of temperature due to the lower onset potential limit for gas evolution in NMC811, causing more capacity fading in NMC811 cell at high temperature [1]. On the other hand, the capacity fading in NMC622 cells is mainly from the chemical/structural change in the cycled NMC622 cathode.These insight information on the degradation mechanism of LIB cells and structural variation of Ni-rich NMC after ageing in each degrading condition is then further inspected to elucidate the method to effectively directly regenerate both NMC622 and NMC811 cathode in the spent Li-ion batteries.

The role of pre-eruptive gas segregation on co-eruptive deformation and SO2 emissions

The presence of exsolved gas bubbles influences measurements of both volcanic surface deformation and SO2 emissions. In a closed-system, exsolved volatiles remain within the melt but in an open-system, the decoupled gas phase can either outgas or accumulate, leading to large variations magmatic gas fraction. Here we investigate the role of gas volume fraction and gas segregation processes on magma properties and co-eruptive monitoring data. First we use thermodynamic models of gas exsolution to model gas volume fraction and magma compressibility, and use these to calculate SO2 emissions and co-eruptive volume change. We find that volume change is equally sensitive to magma compressibility and chamber compressibility over realistic parameters ranges, and both must be considered when interpreting surface deformation data. Reservoir depth and magma composition are the dominant controls on gas volume fraction, but the initial content of H2O and S have strong influences on volume change and SO2 emissions, respectively. Pre-eruptive gas accumulation produces increased SO2 emissions and muted co-eruptive deformation, while degassing has the opposite effect. We then compare our models to a compilation of data from 20 recent eruptions where measurements of volume change, SO2 emissions and erupted volume are available. To the first order, shallow reservoirs produce smaller volume changes per volume erupted and silica-poor magmas yield greater co-eruptive volume changes than silica-rich systems, consistent with closed system degassing. Co-eruptive degassing causes high SO2 emissions during effusive eruptions. Comparison between model predictions and observations suggests that all magmatic systems experience a certain degree of outgassing prior to an eruption. Our findings are consistent with current conceptual models of transcrustal magmatic systems consisting of heterogeneous mixtures of gas and melt and have important implications for the interpretation of surface deformation and SO2 emission signals at all stages of the eruption cycle.

Branchial Motion Assessment in Abalone Using Photoplethysmography

The abalone, a gastropod mollusk belonging to the Haliotidae family, has been a subject of research with a focus on its behavior in response to various environmental factors, including temperature fluctuations and hypoxia. While existing studies have primarily explored abalone behavior in relation to environmental changes, there remains a significant amount to be discovered regarding their behavioral patterns. There are studies in which recordings of readings have been made (indirect methods) of the heart rate of the abalone since it is believed that it is one of the parameters affected due to the changes in temperature and dissolved oxygen in its environment. The main disadvantage of some procedures to measure heart rate in abalone is that an incision is made near the heart, through this incision the measurement is made using the photoplethysmography technique. Another parameter that is affected by these changes (temperature and hypoxia) is respiratory rate. Temperature is an important factor that can reduce oxygen solubility and thus alter abalone respiration; so in this work, we propose to use the technique of photoplethysmography: a method involving the measurement of changes in volume within a biological organ, which offers a unique opportunity to monitor these changes. We adapt this technique to measure gill movements in abalone, a critical indicator of respiratory activity in these marine mollusks. By utilizing a pulse oximetry setup and synchronous detection, we establish an innovative approach to gill movement analysis. This approach employs a pulse train and synchronous demodulation technique, the train of pulses is guided through an optical fiber to one of the respiratory orifices of the abalone to effectively detect and analyze the gill movements of abalone. Additionally, the role of frequency of its gill movements is highlighted as another critical variable of interest within the broader study of Haliotis fulgens, shedding light on the multifaceted nature of abalone behavior and responses to their surroundings. This research contributes to a deeper understanding of abalone physiology and behavior, offering insights into their adaptation to changing environmental conditions.

Fracturing and widening of grain boundary networks in quartz, plagioclase and olivine crystal aggregates during exhumation at low P-T conditions

Grain boundary networks of quartz, plagioclase and olivine crystal aggregates in metamorphic rocks have been investigated from the nanometer to the millimeter scale by polarized-light microscopy, SEM, and TEM. The studied materials show different grain sizes and experienced different retrograde P-T histories. The aggregates of quartz and plagioclase are traversed by networks of ∼90% continuously open boundaries with μm-sized cavities along the boundaries or at triple junctions. The boundaries are up to ∼500 nm wide open with typically parallel opposing grain faces. Olivine boundaries are filled with serpentine that does not replace olivine but fills the initially open space homogeneously and mostly with random orientation. For quartz there is no correlation between the crystallographic orientation of grain boundaries and their widths. Amongst all samples analyzed, a weak positive correlation exists between grain size and width of open grain boundaries. The application of measured volume changes and elasticity data from the literature to the cooling-decompression paths of the analyzed materials suggests that fracturing with subsequent widening of the grain boundaries starts at temperatures recognizably below the transition from crystal-plastic to brittle behavior of quartz, plagioclase and olivine but not only under surface conditions. The high amount of open boundaries causes an extensive permeability.

Preliminary study of immunomodulatory effects of fermented garlic honey on non-specific immune responses

Introduction: Honey and Garlic is recognized to offer several health advantages due to its numerous constituents, one of which being flavonoids. Flavonoids’ pharmacological activity includes antibacterial, antioxidant, antifungal, antiviral, and immunomodulatory properties. Honey's immunomodulatory action plays a vital role in immune system boosting. The purpose of this study is to determine the immunomodulatory effect of fermented garlic honey, which is considered to have a synergistic effect, using two alternative techniques. Methods: Macrophage phagocytic activity is the first approach, while the delayed type hypersensitivity is the second. Each method used 30 male rats (Rattus norvegicus) divided into 5 groups, where each group consisted of 6 rats. Group I negative (Placebo 0,005 g/kg BW), group II positive (Stimuno 0,005 g/kg BW), group III FGH dose I (1,5 g/kg BW), group IV FGH dose II (3 g/kg BW), group V FGH dose III (4,5 g/kg BW). The dosage form was orally given for 21 days. The Macrophage phagocytic activity method measured %activity of macrophage phagocytosis using a microscope. The rats were injected with an antigen which is Staphylococcus aureus by intraperitoneal route. Results: The Delayed Type Hypersensitivity was measured volume change of the rat’s feet at the 4, 24, and 48 hours using a plethysmometer. Based on the results, fermented garlic honey had an immunomodulatory effect. The dose 2 (3 g/kg BW) has the highest effectiveness as an immunomodulator. Fermented Garlic Honey may be concluded to be efficient as an immunomodulator by enhancing the macrophage phagocytic activity indicator and lowering the edema volume of the rat. Conclusion: Fermented garlic honey can increase the immune system and can be used as an immunostimulant. The most effective dose of fermented garlic honey as immunomodulator is dose 2 was 3 g/kg BW.

Volume compensation of large-deformation 3D-printed soft elastomeric elastocaloric regenerators

Elastomeric elastocaloric regenerators have great potential for use in low-stress elastocaloric cooling devices. However, these regenerators display an asymmetric fluid exchange when operating in an active elastocaloric cooling cycle, due to the large required strains and associated volume change. During strain, the fluid volume increases, which passively forces fluid flow into the regenerator; when the strain is released, the fluid volume decreases, which results in a fluid flow out of the regenerator. During a traditional elastocaloric cooling cycle, there are also active fluid flow periods provided by fluid displacers or pumps. Here, we study the passive fluid flow in high-strain regenerators using a numerical model and experiments in two types of regenerators. Hyperelastic models are used to fit the experimentally measured mechanical behavior of thermoplastic polyurethane elastocaloric elastomers, and the model is subsequently used to conduct finite-element simulations predicting regenerator volume changes for an applied strain of 200%–600%. We validated the results using a specifically designed setup for measuring volume changes using pressure differences on a parallel-plate regenerator. For a strain range of 200%–600%, the predicted volume change ratio is 69.5%, closely matching the experimental value of 66.7%. We observed that the middle region of the regenerator experiences a higher volume change, which can be accurately accounted by the numerical model.

Mechanical properties of the new cement composite mixture appropriate for robotic processing

This paper is focused on the development of new cement composite, which would be useable for robotic processing in terms of sculpting. The newly developed mixture is programmable, which means that a user is able to predict and determine the initial time of hardening. The results of the newly designed cement composite were compared to the commercially available mixtures. In our study, we had to firstly design optimal composition of the concrete mixture, or more precisely cement composite, to permit its treatment for required time-period. The final mixture was treated to the experimental investigation in order to obtain its mechanical and fracture properties. Beside the destructive tests, the specimens were also treated to the measurement of volume changes in the hardening phase. Finally, the individual relief was formed by fundamental sculpting techniques such as imprinting and dragging an impactor through the fresh concrete composite.

Properties of three collagen scaffolds in comparison with native connective tissue: an in-vitro study

PurposeTo evaluate collagen scaffolds (CS) in terms of their in vitro resorption behavior, surface structure, swelling behavior, and mechanical properties in physiologically simulated environments, compared with porcine native connective tissue.Materials and methodsThree test materials—one porcine collagen matrix (p-CM), two acellular dermal matrices (porcine = p-ADM, allogenic = a-ADM)—and porcine native connective tissue (p-CTG) as a control material were examined for resorption in four solutions using a high-precision scale. The solutions were artificial saliva (AS) and simulated body fluid (SBF), both with and without collagenase (0.5 U/ml at 37 °C). In addition, the surface structures of CS were analyzed using a scanning electron microscope (SEM) before and after exposure to AS or SBF. The swelling behavior of CS was evaluated by measuring volume change and liquid absorption capacity in phosphate-buffered saline (PBS). Finally, the mechanical properties of CS and p-CTG were investigated using cyclic compression testing in PBS.ResultsSolutions containing collagenase demonstrated high resorption rates with significant differences (p < 0.04) between the tested materials after 4 h, 8 h and 24 h, ranging from 54.1 to 100% after 24 h. SEM images revealed cross-linked collagen structures in all untreated specimens. Unlike a-ADM, the scaffolds of p-CM and p-ADM displayed a flake-like structure. The swelling ratio and fluid absorption capacity per area ranged from 13.4 to 25.5% among the test materials and showed following pattern: p-CM > a-ADM > p-ADM. P-CM exhibited higher elastic properties than p-ADM, whereas a-ADM, like p-CTG, were barely compressible and lost structural integrity under increasing pressure.Conclusions and clinical implicationsCollagen scaffolds vary significantly in their physical properties, such as resorption and swelling behavior and elastic properties, depending on their microstructure and composition. When clinically applied, these differences should be taken into consideration to achieve the desired outcomes.Graphical

Thermo-hydro-mechanical behaviour of a deep plastic clay formation

Several applications which are framed in the energy geotechnics field, particularly the design of energy geo-structures, energy geo-storage, enhanced geothermal energy systems and radioactive waste disposal, require a thorough thermo-hydro-mechanical (THM) characterisation of their host soil/rock formation. The present study comes up from the need to investigate the THM behaviour of deep Ypresian clays (Ycs, 300 to 400 m below ground) since they are one of Belgium’s potential host rock formations for deep geological disposal of heat-emitting and long-lived radioactive waste.&#x0D; The impact of temperature on the hydro-mechanical response of deep clays has been extensively tackled for the last four decades. Nevertheless, to the authors’ knowledge, the study of the evolution of radial stresses during drained thermal paths under oedometer conditions has never been addressed. Such information would allow for drawing a better-defined stress state while accurately measuring volume changes. To this aim, the present study used a newly designed and fully instrumented temperature-controlled oedometer cell [3] combined with well-planned test protocols. The local instrumentation consisted of a pore pressure transducer embedded in the soil 3 mm from the bottom boundary, thermocouples at various positions and radial displacement transducers with a localised thin-wall system to estimate radial stress.&#x0D; Two well-preserved Ycs core samples retrieved at different depths at Kallo (Belgium) and belonging to distinct lithological units were tested (see Table 1). Both slightly overconsolidated samples (Yield Stress Ratios of Ycs between 1.2 and 1.8, [1, 2, 3]) presented high initial matric suctions induced on deep water-undrained sampling. Consequently, the first stage of the well-planned test protocol consisted of loading at constant water content to bring the samples to the large in situ stresses and diminish the induced matric suction. The remaining matric suction was then reduced by soaking with synthetic water equivalent to in situ. Afterwards, drained loading and unloading paths were followed to attain different vertical effective stresses at varying overconsolidation ratios (OCRs) before performing the main research goal of drained thermal paths. The heating-cooling (H-C) cycles consisted of slowly stepwise increase/decrease in temperature (steps of 10ºC) with intermediate stabilising periods of around 15 hours controlled by the embedded pore pressure transducer.&#x0D; Figure 1 depicts the vertical deformation in terms of the mean effective stress (p’) beyond in situ stress. Changes in radial stresses ruled the variations in p’ during heating-cooling cycles since the vertical effective stress was kept constant during non-isothermal paths. At a slightly overconsolidated (OC) state (Core-48), the drained ‘1st H-C’ cycle showed a quasi-reversible response in volume changes and radial stresses. At OC state (OCR=2) on Core-103 (‘2nd H-C’), the response was reversible. However, the induced volume change in normally consolidated (NC) states was not reversible with a contractive response dependent on the stress level. Therefore, the nature of the thermal-induced volume changes aligned with the behaviour observed on other plastic clays. Nevertheless, the stress dependence of the contractive response at NC state differed from the observations made by [4] on NC Boom Clay -the other poorly indurated clay considered as potential host rock in Belgium. As observed in ‘2nd H-C’ (NC conditions) on Core-48, a reduction of the radial effective stress was only recorded at temperatures higher than 70°C. In contrast, the radial effective stress systematically increased on heating at values &lt; 70°C, tending the sample to lower deviatoric stress. This phenomenon might be&#x0D; associated with some change in the soil structure on heating that tends to a more isotropic stress state despite the oedometer condition. A clear transition between the elastic and elastoplastic domains was detected during the subsequent loading after each H-C cycle at NC states.&#x0D; Finally, the study included a thermo-mechanical elastoplastic interpretation: thermal expansion coefficients dependent on temperature and mean effective stress in the elastic domain and thermal softening function on post-yield drained heating.&#x0D;

Transient temperature and water distributions in compacted MX80 bentonite under high temperature gradients

Numerous element-scale and full-scale tests have been carried out on compacted bentonite to investigate its coupled thermo-hydro-mechanical (THM) behavior when used as a buffer material in high-level nuclear waste geological repositories, such as the Full-scale Engineered Barriers Experiment (FEBEX) and its forerunner laboratory mock-up test [5]. In these past studies the applied temperatures were below 100°C, while new repository conditions being explored in the recently started HotBENT project at the Grimsel Test Site involve waste canister temperatures up to 200°C [2]. Recently, Lu and McCartney [3] conducted a tank scale test where a temperature of 200°C was maintained by a cylindrical heating element having a diameter of 12.5 mm at the center of a compacted MX80 bentonite layer. A notable temperate drop in temperature was observed with distance from the small diameter heating element. A similar phenomenon was also reported by Gens et al. (2020) for heating tests on MX80 pellets during heating to 140°C. Measurements from the FEBEX project indicate a more distributed temperature decay away from the heater [3]. This discrepancy between laboratory and field tests provided the motivation for better understanding the temperature and water distribution near a heater under high temperature gradients to better guide the design of laboratory-scale experiments in the future.&#x0D; A one-dimensional heating test was performed in this study to investigate the coupled THM response of a MX80 bentonite layer in unconstrained conditions during basal heating. Measurements include the transient temperature and volumetric water content redistribution at different vertical distances from the flat plate heater under high-temperature gradients as well as global volumetric strains. Three dielectric sensors (Decagon 5TM) were placed into a compacted MX80 layer having an initial gravimetric water content of 12.2% and a dry density of 1.15 Mg/m3 within a PVC modified Proctor mold (inner diameter of 152 mm and height of 178 mm), as shown in Figure 1(a). Low-density polyethylene sheeting was stretched across the top and bottom of the soil layers to minimize any global loss of water from the compacted bentonite layer during heating. A temperature-controlled hot plate was used as the basal heat source, and a dial indicator was mounted on the top of the soil layer to measure volume changes. Fiberglass insulation was wrapped around the cell to minimize lateral heat loss from the side boundary. A basal temperature of 128°C was maintained during a heating stage lasting 4000 h to ensure THM equilibrium, after which three short-term (96 h for each) cooling-heating cycles were applied. Results indicate that soil temperatures increase rapidly in the first 20 h of heating then gradually stabilize (Figure 1(b)). The volumetric water content increases at the beginning of heating then slowly decreases (Figure 1(c)). This increasing-decreasing trend is due to the upward movement of a wetting front away from the heater due to coupled heat transfer and water flow. An initial increase in volumetric strain (swelling) was followed by a decrease (contraction) as heating progressed (Figure 1(d)). This is consistent with the observed thermal response of normally consolidated expansive soils (e.g., [4]). A sharp monotonic decrease in volumetric strain occurred during the three short-term cooling-heating cycles. The temperature and water content follow nearly identical trajectories in each cycle. The temperature distribution in the bentonite with distance from the heating element after 4000 h of heating is smoother than the sharp drop-off in temperature from the small-diameter heater observed by Lu and McCartney [3], as shown in (Figure 1(f)). The main implication of the results presented in this study is that the surface area of the heater in contact with the surrounding bentonite plays a major role in the temperature distribution and the associated coupled water flow. This is a critical finding that may help guide the geometric design of small-scale laboratory mock-up experiments used to study THM processes in controlled laboratory conditions.&#x0D;

The International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer Early Lung Imaging Confederation Open-Source Deep Learning and Quantitative Measurement Initiative

IntroductionWith global adoption of computed tomography (CT) lung cancer screening, there is increasing interest to use artificial intelligence (AI) deep learning methods to improve the clinical management process. To enable AI research using an open-source, cloud-based, globally distributed, screening CT imaging data set and computational environment that are compliant with the most stringent international privacy regulations that also protect the intellectual properties of researchers, the International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer sponsored development of the Early Lung Imaging Confederation (ELIC) resource in 2018. The objective of this report is to describe the updated capabilities of ELIC and illustrate how this resource can be used for clinically relevant AI research. MethodsIn this second phase of the initiative, metadata and screening CT scans from two time points were collected from 100 screening participants in seven countries. An automated deep learning AI lung segmentation algorithm, automated quantitative emphysema metrics, and a quantitative lung nodule volume measurement algorithm were run on these scans. ResultsA total of 1394 CTs were collected from 697 participants. The LAV950 quantitative emphysema metric was found to be potentially useful in distinguishing lung cancer from benign cases using a combined slice thickness more than or equal to 2.5 mm. Lung nodule volume change measurements had better sensitivity and specificity for classifying malignant from benign lung nodules when applied to solid lung nodules from high-quality CT scans. ConclusionsThese initial experiments revealed that ELIC can support deep learning AI and quantitative imaging analyses on diverse and globally distributed cloud-based data sets.

UAV-Based Quantification of Dynamic Lahar Channel Morphology at Volcán de Fuego, Guatemala

This study quantified erosional and depositional processes for secondary lahars in Las Lajas drainage at Volcán de Fuego, Guatemala, during the rainy season from May to October 2021. Abundant pyroclastic material from ongoing eruptive activity is remobilized seasonally during heavy precipitation, which can impact infrastructure and populations living near Fuego. Our region of focus was in an agricultural zone 6 to 10 km from the summit, surveyed with an unoccupied aerial vehicle (UAV) quadcopter at monthly intervals. Imagery was processed into overlapping time-lapse structure from motion digital elevation models (DEMs). DEMs were differenced to find volumetric changes as a function of the channel flow path distance (quantified in 500 m sections) to track channel morphology changes over time. The largest measured volume changes were a 490 m3/day loss in the upper section (~6 km from summit) and a 440 m3/day gain in the lower sections (~10 km from summit). We discussed how the natural channel’s constriction and widening of Las Lajas in more distal sections control the behavior and stability of the stream evolution. Above the constriction, the channel is primarily downcutting and meandering within an old flood plain, which had been filled in by pyroclastic materials deposited by the June 2018 paroxysm.

Impact of drying-wetting cycles on the small strain behaviour of compacted clay

Small strain shear modulus (Gmax) is an important parameter for assessing the performance of compacted soils that underlie typical transport infrastructure assets such as railway tracks. This is particularly important when considering changes in climate patterns, which are expected to yield larger seasonal soil-atmosphere moisture fluctuations. This in turn results in the progressive variation of the small strain properties of compacted soils during their service life (i.e. drying and wetting). In this study, the small strain shear behaviour was evaluated for an intermediate plasticity clay (i.e. kaolin) in a series of drying and wetting cycles. Four different dying and wetting boundaries were considered to explore a wide range of moisture amplitudes during 10 drying-wetting cycles. Drying and wetting was controlled using gravimetric water content in order to mimic realistic field conditions typically observed at substructure level. An ultrasonic pulse transmission method was used to capture the change in small strain stiffness and volume at discrete points during the drying-wetting cycles. The results reveal clear distinctions in behaviour for all four boundaries considered, with wetting boundaries having the greatest influence on behaviour. In this instance, specimens brought to full saturation during wetting exhibited an increase in the small strain shear modulus during progressive drying-wetting cycles. However, a reduction was observed when the wetting boundary was restricted to the compacted state. Measured volume changes were also in agreement with these findings, however there was some evidence of volume increase when drying to residual conditions. The results suggest that this is associated with the formation of the partial pendular state where a loss of capillary contacts between particles occurs. Furthermore, when all data for 10 drying-wetting cycles is plotted in the e-Gmax space, a linear relationship is observed for different constant water content levels. Remarkably, this trend is shown to be independent of the boundary conditions considered in this study or number of drying-wetting cycles.

Computed Tomography scanning in patients with COVID-19: artificial intelligence analysis of lesions volume and outcome.

The aim of this study was to summarize the computed tomography (CT) chest scanning results of COVID-19 patients, and to assess the value of artificial intelligence (AI) dynamics and quantitative analysis of lesion volume change for the evaluation of the disease outcome. First chest CT and reexamination imaging data of 84 patients diagnosed with COVID-19 who were treated at Jiangshan Hospital of Guiyang, Guizhou Province from February 4, 2020, to February 22, 2020, were retrospectively analyzed. Distribution, location, and nature of lesions were analyzed according to the characteristics of CT imaging and COVID-19 diagnosis and treatment guidelines. Based on the results of the analysis, patients were divided into the group without abnormal pulmonary imaging, the early group, the rapid progression group, and the dissipation group. AI software was used to dynamically measure the lesion volume in the first examination and in the cases with more than two reexaminations. There were statistically significant differences in the age of patients between the groups (p<0.01). The first chest CT examination of the lung without abnormal imaging findings mainly occurred in young adults. Early and rapid progression was more common in the elderly, with a median age of 56 years. The ratio of the lesion to the total lung volume was 3.7 (1.4, 5.3) ml 0.1%, 15.4 (4.5, 36.8) ml 0.3%, 115.0 (44.5, 183.3) ml 3.33%, 32.6 (8.7, 98.0) ml 1.22% in the non-imaging group, early group, rapid progression group, and dissipation group, respectively. Pairwise comparison between the four groups was statistically significant (p<0.001). AI measured the total volume of pneumonia lesions and the proportion of the total volume of pneumonia lesions to predict the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve from early development to rapid progression, with a sensitivity of 92.10%, 96.83%, specificity of 100%, 80.56%, and the area under the curve of 0.789. Accurate measurement of lesion volume and volume changes by AI technology is helpful in assessing the severity and development trend of the disease. The increase in the lesion volume proportion indicates that the disease has entered a rapid progression period and is aggravated.

Measurement of changes in uterine and fibroid volume during treatment of heavy menstrual bleeding (HMB).

Does application of an unbiased method for analysis of magnetic resonance (MR) images reveal any effect on uterine or fibroid volume from treatment of heavy menstrual bleeding (HMB) with three 12-week courses of the selective progesterone receptor modulator ulipristal acetate (SPRM-UPA)? Application of an unbiased method for analysis of MR images showed that treatment of HMB with SPRM-UPA was not associated with a significant reduction in the volume of the uterus or in the volume of uterine fibroids. SPRM-UPA shows therapeutic efficacy for treating HMB. However, the mechanism of action (MoA) is not well understood and there have been mixed reports, using potentially biased methodology, regarding whether SPRM-UPA has an effect on the volume of the uterus and fibroids. In a prospective clinical study (with no comparator), 19 women with HMB were treated over a period of 12 months with SPRM-UPA and uterine and fibroid size were assessed with high resolution structural MRI and stereology. A cohort of 19 women aged 38-52years (8 with and 11 without fibroids) were treated with three 12-week courses of 5 mg SPRM-UPA given daily, with four weeks off medication in-between treatment courses. Unbiased estimates of the volume of uterus and total volume of fibroids were obtained at baseline, and after 6 and 12 months of treatment, by using the Cavalieri method of modern design-based stereology in combination with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Bland-Altman plots showed good intra-rater repeatability and good inter-rater reproducibility for measurement of the volume of both fibroids and the uterus. For the total patient cohort, two-way ANOVA did not show a significant reduction in the volume of the uterus after two or three treatment courses of SPRM-UPA (P = 0.51), which was also the case when the groups of women with and without fibroids were considered separately (P = 0.63). One-way ANOVA did not show a significant reduction in total fibroid volume in the eight patients with fibroids (P = 0.17). The study has been performed in a relatively small cohort of women and simulations that have subsequently been performed using the acquired data have shown that for three time points and a group size of up to 50, with alpha (Type I Error) and beta (Type II Error) set to 95% significance and 80% power, respectively, at least 35 patients would need to be recruited in order for the null hypothesis (that there is no significant reduction in total fibroid volume) to be potentially rejected. The imaging protocol that we have developed represents a generic paradigm for measuring the volume of the uterus and uterine fibroids that can be readily incorporated in future studies of medical treatments of HMB. In the present study, SPRM-UPA failed to produce a significant reduction in the volume of the uterus or the total volume of fibroids (which were present in approximately half of the patients) after either two or three 12-week courses of treatment. This finding represents a new insight in respect of the management of HMB using treatment strategies that target hormone-dependence. The UPA Versus Conventional Management of HMB (UCON) trial was funded by the EME Programme (Medical Research Council (MRC) and National Institutes of Health Research (NIHR)) (12/206/52). The views expressed in this publication are those of the authors and not necessarily those of the Medical Research Council, National Institute for Health Research, or Department of Health and Social Care.Medical Research Council (MRC) Centre grants to the Centre for Reproductive Health (CRH) (G1002033 and MR/N022556/1) are also gratefully acknowledged. H.C. has clinical research support for laboratory consumables and staff from Bayer AG and provides consultancy advice (All paid to Institution) for Bayer AG, PregLem SA, Gedeon Richter, Vifor Pharma UK Ltd, AbbVie Inc., and Myovant Sciences GmbH. H.C. has received royalties from UpToDate for an article on abnormal uterine bleeding. L.W. has received grant funding from Roche Diagnostics (Paid to Institution). All other authors have no conflicts to declare. The study reported here is an embedded mechanism of action study (no comparator) within the UCON clinical trial (registration ISRCTN: 20426843).

An impedance based microfluidic sensor for evaluation of individual red blood cell solute permeability

—In this paper, we investigate a microfluidic based sensing device for cell membrane permeability measurements in real time with applications in rapid assessment of red blood cell (RBC) quality at the individual cell level. The microfluidic chip was designed with unique abilities to line up the RBCs in the centerline of the microchannel using positive dielectrophoresis (p-DEP) forces, rapid mixing of RBCs with various media (e.g. containing permeating or nonpermeating solutes) injected from different inlets to achieve high mixing efficiency. The chip detects the impedance values of the RBCs within 0.19 s from the start of mixing with other media, at ten electrodes along the length of the channel and enables time series measurements of volume change of individual cell caused by cell osmosis in anisosmotic fluids over a 0.8 s postmixing timespan. This technique enables estimating water permeability of individual cell accurately. Here we first present confirmation of a linear voltage-diameter relationship in polystyrene bead standards. Next, we show that under equilibrium conditions, the voltage-volume relationship in rat red blood cells (RBCs) is linear, corresponding to previously published Boyle van ‘t Hoff plots. Using rat cells as a model for human, we present the first measurement of water permeability in individual red blood cells and confirm that these data align with previously published population level values for human RBC. Finally, we present preliminary evidence for possible application of our device to identify individual RBCs infected with Plasmodium falciparum malaria parasites. Future developments using this device will address the use of whole blood with non-homogenous cell populations, a task currently performed by clinical Coulter counters.

Method for measuring the membrane penetration of triaxial specimens based on an external circular array of laser displacement sensors

In triaxial tests, membrane penetration is an important factor influencing the accuracy of volume change and pore pressure measurement. To measure and evaluate the membrane penetration of specimens made of gravelly sandy soils, a method using a newly developed measurement system based on an external circular array of laser displacement sensors is proposed in this paper. A series of experimental studies were conducted on the effects of several factors on membrane penetration. The result shows that there is a linear correlation between the unit membrane compliance and the effective confining pressure on a semilog plot. In addition, as the gravel content increases, the membrane penetration increases, but this trend weakens with increasing relative density. Notably, when the characteristic particle size is the same, the membrane penetration will be greater for more broadly graded soils. Moreover, the error caused by the thickness of the membrane increases as the diameter-to-thickness ratio decreases.

The effect of surfactant type and concentration on the pore structure of alumina aerogels

Alumina aerogels are excellent materials for thermal insulators used at high temperatures due to the good thermal stability of aluminum oxide. In this study, alumina aerogels treated with various types of surfactants (non-ionic (Triton X-100), cationic (cetyltrimethylammonium bromide), or anionic (sodium dodecyl sulfate)). The effect of the surfactant depended on the charge-charge interactions between it and the cationic inorganic species in the aluminum precursor. As determined by using small-angle scattering and pore volume change measurements, these interactions induced a change in the pore structure that could be controlled by controlling the concentration of the surfactant. The hindrance effect due to the ionic interference was more pronounced at a higher surfactant concentration than at a lower one. Thus, the concentration of surfactant plays an important role in determining the pore structure of the alumina aerogel.

Simultaneous photoplethysmography and blood flow measurements towards the estimation of blood pressure using speckle contrast optical spectroscopy.

Non-invasive continuous blood pressure monitoring remains elusive. There has been extensive research using the photoplethysmographic (PPG) waveform for blood pressure estimation, but improvements in accuracy are still needed before clinical use. Here we explored the use of an emerging technique, speckle contrast optical spectroscopy (SCOS), for blood pressure estimation. SCOS provides measurements of both blood volume changes (PPG) and blood flow index (BFi) changes during the cardiac cycle, and thus provides a richer set of parameters compared to traditional PPG. SCOS measurements were taken on the finger and wrists of 13 subjects. We investigated the correlations between features extracted from both the PPG and BFi waveforms with blood pressure. Features from the BFi waveforms were more significantly correlated with blood pressure than PPG features ( R = - 0.55, p = 1.1 × 10-4 for the top BFi feature versus R = - 0.53, p = 8.4 × 10-4 for the top PPG feature). Importantly, we also found that features combining BFi and PPG data were highly correlated with changes in blood pressure ( R = - 0.59, p = 1.7 × 10-4 ). These results suggest that the incorporation of BFi measurements should be further explored as a means to improve blood pressure estimation using non-invasive optical techniques.

Development of a dynamic hollow cylinder apparatus for investigating the cyclic response of unsaturated soils subjected to stress anisotropy

The construction of most geo-structures like earthfill dams, roads, highways, embankments, and airport runways deals with the compaction of unsaturated soils under anisotropic cyclic/dynamic loadings. Many of these partially saturated geo-structures also experience three-dimensional dynamic loadings during service life. This paper presents a new hollow cylinder apparatus developed for the investigation of the cyclic response of unsaturated soils subjected to stress anisotropy. The device is unique as it enables, for the first time, studying the combined effects of stress anisotropy (effects of both parameters α and b) and the degree of saturation on the dynamic properties of unsaturated soils, the aspects that cannot be thoroughly captured using existing soil laboratory testing equipment. It allows independent control of the magnitudes and rotations of the principal stresses and measuring strains as well as control/measurement of pore water and pore air pressures in the unsaturated soil samples. The paper describes the main challenges and the adopted solutions for the development of the hollow cylinder apparatus, including the complexities associated with the non-uniformity of water content in the sample height and the measurement of the sample volume change. The relations for determining the effective stresses and strains in the unsaturated soil samples are also derived. The results of several dynamic tests on unsaturated sand over a wide range of shear strains are presented to demonstrate the capabilities of the apparatus.