Drop In Number Research Articles

Effect of Lavender Aromatherapy on Anxiety and Fatigue in Hemodialysis Patients: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Several studies have evaluated the effects of lavender essential oil on the anxiety of hemodialysis (HD) patients, but most of them did not estimate the pooled effect size. The current systematic review and meta-analysis was conducted to evaluate the effects of lavender on anxiety and fatigue among HD patients. Eligible studies were selected based on the PRISMA steps and protocol. Literature was retrieved from PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus databases, Cochrane, ClinicalTrials.gov, and Google Scholar Search Engines until Sep 2022. The risk of bias and analysis were evaluated using version 2 of the Cochrane risk-of-bias tool and STATA v.14 software, respectively. Effect sizes were pooled using random effect models. Nine studies were included. Lavender oil significantly reduced the average anxiety of HD patients compared to the control group (SMD: -2.51, 95% CI: [-3.56, -1.45], Z=4.67, P<0.001, I2 :89.9%). Also, it significantly reduced the average fatigue compared to the control group (SMD: -1.56, 95% CI: [-2.49, -0.63], Z=3.29, P=0.001, I2:92.2%). Subgroup analysis indicated controversial results regarding session frequency and drop number of lavender oil. Using Lavender oil significantly reduced fatigue and anxiety in HD patients.

Piezo inkjet formation of Ag nanoparticles from microdots arrays for surface plasmonic resonance

The study aims to explore a novel approach for fabricating plasmonic nanostructures to enhance the optical properties and performance of various optoelectronic devices. The research begins by employing a piezo-inkjet printing technique to deposit drops containing Ag nanoparticles (NPs) onto a glass substrate at a predefined equidistance, with the goal of obtaining arrays of Ag microdots (Ag-µdots) on the glass substrate. This process is followed by a thermal annealing treatment. The printing parameters are first optimized to achieve uniform deposition of different sizes of Ag-µdots arrays by controlling the number of Ag ink drops. Subsequently, the printed arrays undergo thermal annealing at various temperatures in air for 60 min, enabling precise and uniform control over nanoparticle formation. The printed Ag nanoparticles are characterized using field emission scanning electron microscopy and atomic force microscopy to analyze their morphological features, ensuring their suitability for plasmonic applications. UV–Vis spectrophotometry is employed to investigate the enhanced surface-plasmonic-resonance properties of the printed AgNPs. Measurements confirm that the equidistant arrays of AgNPs obtained from annealing Ag microdots exhibit enhanced light-matter interaction, leading to a surface plasmon resonance response dependent on the Ag NPs’ specific surface area. These enhanced surface plasmonic resonances open avenues for developing cutting-edge optoelectronic devices that leverage the benefits of plasmonic nanostructures, thereby enabling new opportunities for future technological developments across various fields.

Socio-economic impact of COVID-19 pandemic on dairy farm households in West Bengal state

India is one of the leading economies that have been stuck hard by the COVID-19 pandemic and the stringent measures were put in place to combat it. Among several sectors, dairy sector is the most affected as dairy products are highly perishable and rely on time-sensitive supply chains. Though studies are available on the impact of COVID-19 pandemic on dairy sector, there are no studies on COVID-infected dairy farm households. The present study was an attempt to assess the socio-economic impact of COVID-19 pandemic on infected and uninfected dairy farm households in West Bengal. The study covered pre-lockdown, lockdown (both 1st and 2nd wave) and post-lockdown phases of COVID-19 pandemic. The primary data was collected from 150 dairy farm households (COVID-19 infected-75 and uninfected-75) in Murshidabad and Nadia districts of West Bengal. Dairy Economic Performance Index consisting of number of milch animals, milk yield, marketed milk, milk procurement price, concentrate price and veterinary cost was developed using principal component analysis. In order to make infected and uninfected groups statistically comparable, propensity score matching technique was employed. The index values were compared between matched infected and uninfected groups over different phases of COVID-19 pandemic. Dairy households incurred significant economic losses during the lockdown and post-lockdown periods due to increase in cost of concentrates, decline in the number of milch animals and drop in milk procurement prices. Dairy households faced constraints in procuring dry fodder, concentrate feed and in accessing veterinary care. COVID-19 infected dairy farm households had a greater socio-economic hurdle than that of uninfected households.

Interpreting Image Patterns for Agricultural Sprays Using Statistics and Machine Learning Techniques

The atomization of liquid spray solutions through nozzles is a mechanism for delivering many pesticides to the target. The smallest drop sizes (&lt;150 μm) are known as driftable fines and have a propensity for wind-induced convection. Many agricultural applications include oil-in-water formulations. The experimental metrics obtained from spray images of these formulations include the distance from the nozzle origin to the drop centroid once a drop has formed; the hole location and surface area for holes that form in the liquid sheet (all hole areas approximated as polygons); the angles formed between polygon segments (whose vertices are represented as boundary points); and the ligament dimensions that form from intersecting holes, such as the ligament aspect ratio (R/L), ligament length (L), and ligament radius (width), along with the number of drops a ligament breaks up into. These metrics were used in a principal component regression (PCR) analysis, and the results illustrated that 99% of the variability in the response variable (DT10) was addressed by 10 principal components. Angles formed by the colliding holes, hole distance from the nozzle, drop distance, hole number, ligament number, and drop number were negatively correlated to the atomization driftable fine fraction, while hole area, ligament distance, ligament area, and boundary area were positively correlated. Thus, to decrease/minimize driftable fines, one needs to increase the negatively correlated metrics.

Conducting Gold Nanoparticle Films via Sessile Drop Evaporation.

The deposit patterns obtained from the evaporation of drops containing insoluble solute particles are vital for several technologies, including inkjet printing and optical and electronic device manufacturing. In this work, we consider the evaporation of an aqueous reaction mixture typically used for gold nanoparticle (AuNP) synthesis. The patterns obtained from the evaporation-driven assembly of in situ generated AuNPs are studied using optical microscopy and SEM analyses. The evaporation of drops withdrawn at different reaction times is found to significantly influence the distribution of AuNPs in the dried patterns. The evolution of the deposit patterns is also explored by drying multiple drops on the solid substrate, wherein a drop of a fresh reaction mixture is introduced over the deposit pattern left by the evaporation of the drop dispensed at an earlier time. Using quantitative image analysis, we show that the interparticle separation between the AuNPs in the dried patterns left on the solid substrate decreases when the number of drops is increased. We find optimal conditions to achieve solid-supported AuNP films, wherein the particles are in close physical contact, leading to a conducting deposit. The current through the AuNP deposit is found to increase with increase in the number of drops due to evaporation-driven self-assembly of AuNPs into branch-like structures with reduced interparticle separation. In addition, we also show that it is possible to produce conducting AuNP deposits by drying multiple drops withdrawn from the same reaction mixture. The evaporation-driven assembly of the in situ grown nanoparticles from a reaction mixture presented in this work can be further exploited in optical and electronic device fabrication.

Design of microfluidic chromatographs through reinforcement learning

Chromatography is one of the most valuable techniques chemists possess at their disposal, conducive to everything from developing vaccines, food, beverage, and drug testing to catching criminals. The diverse applications allow it to be used for analytical and preparative purposes. On the other hand, droplet microfluidics has significantly evolved from simple droplet generators to complex and integrated tasks through specially designed networks. Microfluidics finds itself at the center of various Lab-on-Chip studies, enabling single-cell analysis, biochemical synthesis, etc. We demonstrate a microfluidic chromatograph machine that can produce an ordered droplet arrangement for a large number of drops. The droplets are sent into the device using a novel methodology where the conventional droplet train is made into smaller batches. The study describes the use of droplet batch methodology and compares it with the traditional droplet train approach. Using this platform, different droplet sequences are sent through the chromatograph, which preferably allows some droplets to exit first while others take a longer time to flow across the chromatograph based on the droplet properties and device design. The droplet sequences contain various drops; however, the type of drops in these sequences is limited to 2. The chromatograph can handle any number of drops in a single machine is enough for handling diverse droplet sequences. The stability of the microfluidic chromatography is also studied by varying the droplet properties and the droplet batch size.

Understanding Inconsistencies in Thermohydraulic Characteristics Between Experimental and Numerical Data for DI Water Flow Through a Rectangular Microchannel

Abstract Facing discrepancies between numerical simulation, experimental measurement, and theory is common in studies of fluid flow and heat transfer in microchannels. The cause of these discrepancies is often linked to the transition from the macroscale to the microscale, where the flow dynamics might be expected to deviate due to possible changes in dominant forces. In this work, an attempt is made to achieve agreement between experiment, numerical simulation, and theoretical description within the usual framework of laminar flow theory. For this purpose, the pressure drop, friction factor, and Poiseuille number under isothermal conditions and the temperature profile, heat transfer coefficient, Nusselt number, and thermal performance index under diabatic conditions (heating power of 10 W) in a heat sink with a stainless steel microchannel with a hydraulic diameter of 850 μm were investigated numerically and experimentally for mass flow rates between 1 and 68 gmin−1. The source of inconsistencies in pressure drop characteristics is found to be linked to the geometrical details of the utilized microchannel, for example, the design of inlet/outlet manifolds, the artifacts of manufacturing technique, and other features of the experimental test rig. For the heat transfer characteristics, it is identified that an appropriate estimation of the outer boundary condition for the numerical simulation remains the crucial challenge to obtain a reasonable agreement. The paper provides a detailed overview of how to account for these details to mitigate the discrepancies and to establish a handshake between experiments, numerical simulations, and theory.

Antidiarrhoeal and anti-emetic activities of aqueous leaf extract of &lt;i&gt;Ficus thonningii&lt;/i&gt; Blume in young chicks

Treatments for diarrhoeal and vomiting with modern drugs have been associated with unwanted effects such as sedation and extrapyramidal effects. In this study, Ficus thonningii Blume leaf extract (FTE) was investigated for its anti-diarrhoeal and anti-emetic properties. Two study groups, namely anti-diarrhoeal and anti-emetic groups (n=36), were sorted into: placebo; drug-treatment, and 3 plant-extract treatment (FT100, FT200 and FT300) subgroups (n = 6). In the placebo group, chicks were administered only saline solution (0.9 %) while chlorpromazine (150 mg/kg) and loperamide (2.5 mg/kg) served as positive control in the anti-emetic and antidiarrhoeal study groups, respectively. The plant-extract treatment groups (FT100, FT200 and FT300) were treated with 100, 200, and 300 mg/kg doses of FTE, respectively. Vomiting was induced using oral copper sulphate solution (50 mg/kg) and chicks were observed for latency as-well-as number of retches. In the anti-diarrhoea study group, 30 mins after treatment with extracts, diarrhoea was induced with oral castor oil and latency as-well-as number of defecation was observed. Results revealed that treatment with 200 and 300 mg/kg of FTE, similar to chlorpromazine, inhibited the number of retching in chicks by 71% and 78%, respectively. Treatment with 100, 200 and 300 mg/kg of FTE, similar to loperamide, reduced the number of droppings in chicks by 45.4%, 42.9%, and 58.4%, respectively. Thus, the results showed that FTE possess anti-emetic and anti-diarrhoeal properties which qualifies it a potential research candidate in search of new drugs.

The impact of COVID‐19 on the wait times and severity of surgical glaucoma cases evaluated at a tertiary eye center

Aims/Purpose: COVID‐19 has caused shortages in health services worldwide. In Canada, this led to a relocation of medical staff, which paradoxically acted as potential barriers to access to care when considering the significant delays reported in elective surgeries. The purpose of this study was to assess the effect of pandemic related delays on the wait times and severity of surgical glaucoma cases in a single tertiary referral center in Quebec, Canada.Methods: In this retrospective cohort study, 182 and 201 eyes of patients who underwent glaucoma surgery at Hôpital Saint‐Sacrement, Quebec City, between the periods of March 1 to June 30, 2019 (pre‐pandemic) and 2021 (pandemic), were included. Severity data included mean visual field deficit, intraocular pressure (IOP), number of drops, and preoperative best corrected visual acuity (BCVA). The times from referral to surgery (referral time) and from listing date to surgery (listing time) were calculated.Results: Visual field deficit was −11.6 ± 7.7 dB in 2019 versus −11.6 ± 7.5 dB in 2021 (p = 0.92). Mean preoperative IOP was 21.1 ± 9.70 mmHg in 2019 versus 20.0 ± 9.52 mmHg in 2021 (p = 0.25). The mean MAVC in the affected eye was 0.60 ± 0.72 LogMAR in 2019 versus 0.55 ± 0.73 LogMAR (p = 0.07). The mean number of preoperative drop classes was 3 ± 1 in both groups (p = 0.56). The mean number of patients referred with oral glaucoma medication increased from 45 to 70 in 2019 and 2021 respectively (p = 0.03). Time to consultation was 122 ± 120 days in 2019 versus 144 ± 136 days in 2021 (p = 0.17), whereas time to list was 48 ± 57 days in 2019 versus 38 ± 43 days in 2021 (p = 0.05).Conclusions: There were no statistically significant differences in the severity of surgical glaucoma cases operated on during the pandemic. Waiting list time decreased, possibly secondary to the prioritization of more urgent glaucoma cases over other ophthalmic surgeries. These reassuring data suggest that the barriers of the pandemic did not lead to a severe worsening of access to care for surgical glaucoma patients.ReferencesFelfeli, Tina et al. The ophthalmic surgical backlog associated with the COVID‐19 pandemic: a population‐based and microsimulation modelling study. CMAJ Open. vol.9 (4) 1063–1072. 23 Nov. 2021, https://doi.org/10.9778/cmajo.20210145

ДОСЛІДЖЕННЯ ЕФЕКТИВНОСТІ ЗАСТОСУВАННЯ БПЛА ДЛЯ ПРОВЕДЕННЯ УЛЬТРАМАЛООБ’ЄМНОГО ОПРИСКУВАННЯ ПОСІВІВ

The purpose of the work is to study the effectiveness of using UAVs for ultra-small-volume spraying of crops by assessing the degree of coverage of the target plant surface with drops. Methods and materials: The study of the effectiveness of the use of UAVs in agriculture for high-quality spraying of crops was carried out on the lands of UkrNDIPVT named after L. Pohorily, using mobile sprayers «JT 6L-606» and «JT 15L-608P». Research of the «JT 6L-606» mobile sprayer model was carried out with a colored aqueous solution. The evaluation indicators were the median mass diameter of the settled droplets and the density of the coating of the treated surface with drops of the working solution, which were evaluated in accordance with the standard methodology of SOU 74.3-37-266:2005 “Testing of agricultural machinery. Tractor and self-propelled sprayers. Program and test methods”. Results. The size of the drops is a determining qualitative indicator of spraying. It characterizes the degree of grinding of the liquid and significantly affects the effectiveness of action and the rate of consumption of plant protection products. The value of the median mass droplet diameter, obtained as a result of tests of the «JT 6L-606» mobile sprayer, showed that the relative number of droplets whose diameter is less than or equal to 100 μm is 50% of the total number of droplets. However, asymmetry of droplet deposition on the right and left sides of the UAV and high unevenness of the distribution of drops of the working fluid along the width of the grip were found.Therefore, this sprayer model required additional settings in the future. Under the established conditions and modes of testing of the «JT 15L-608P» mobile sprayer, the obtained value of the median mass droplet diameter proved that the relative number of drops whose diameter is less than or equal to 100 μm is 60% of the total number of drops. The degree of coverage with drops of the target surface on the right and left sides of the UAV (grip width) of the «JT 15L-608P» sprayer was relatively symmetrical. Conclusions. According to the results of experimental studies of the effectiveness of the use of unmanned aerial sprayers «JT 6L-606» and «JT 15L-608P», it was established that in both unmanned mobile sprayers, the obtained values of the median mass diameter of drops, which are characteristic of the process of mechanical spraying, meet the requirements of ultra-small-volume spraying. However, the uneven distribution of drops of the working fluid along the width of the UAV was noted, which requires additional settings. When setting up agricultural drones, it is recommended to pay attention to the degree and impact of drift, which can be significantly reduced by following the following recommendations: reduce the distance between the rod and the target (the height of the rod should be approximately the same as the distance between the nozzles); use the coarsest effective droplet size typically achieved with drift-reducing nozzles such as air induction. Keywords: unmanned aerial vehicles, distribution uniformity, aerial spraying, quality of surface coverage, droplet size.

Comparative Analysis of Sucrose and Moringa (Moringa oleifera Lam.) Leaf Extracts as Natural Additives to Prolong the Vase Life of Rose (Rosa x hybrida) Cut Flowers

Roses, one of the most iconic flowers in the world, symbolize love, beauty, and elegance. Their vibrant colors and soft petals make them popular for special occasions like weddings, anniversaries, and romantic gestures. People from different walks of life usually admire roses for their aesthetic appeal and pleasant fragrance. Both florists and consumers in the flower industry depend on keeping cut roses fresh. Placing roses in water-filled vases is a standard method to extend their lifespan. This study explored the effectiveness of natural additives in prolonging the life of cut roses. A completely randomized design (CRD) was used, and four treatments were used: distilled water (control), a sucrose solution, moringa leaf extracts, and a combination of sucrose and moringa. The roses were observed over eight days to assess various factors such as leaf drop, stem rotting, bent necks, petal drop, flower condition, and petal color. The results showed that the combined treatment of sucrose and moringa led to the highest number of leaf drops, with 15 leaves dropping by day five. Distilled water resulted in 12 dropped leaves, moringa extract caused four leaves to drop, and sucrose had the least impact, with only two leaves dropping. The combination treatment also caused the most significant stem rotting (32.75 mm) and the most bent necks (14 roses). In contrast, roses treated with sucrose or moringa separately had better outcomes, with the least bent necks and minimal leaf drops. The combined treatment again had the worst results for petal drops, with eight petals dropping, followed by distilled water with six petals. The overall flower condition was poorest with the combined treatment, scoring 1 (completely open/damaged), while roses treated with sucrose or moringa separately had better scores, indicating they remained fresher. Petal color was also most affected by the combined treatment, which resulted in a light brown color, whereas the separate treatments maintained a darker red hue. Hence, while sucrose and moringa are beneficial when used individually, their combination negatively impacts the longevity and appearance of cut roses.

Prevalence of visual loss and compliance to the management plan of primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) patients (hospital-based study)

Background Glaucoma treatment seeks to improve the patient’s health and quality of life by maintaining visual function without producing unwanted side effects. Currently, the only known and treatable risk factor for primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) is decreased intraocular pressure. Numerous studies have shown that treating glaucoma or ocular hypertension with ocular hypotensive medications slows the onset of POAG or the progression of visual field loss. Aims The purpose of this study was to determine how much visual impairment from glaucoma correlated with how well POAG patients adhere to their care plan. Patients and methods From January 2018 to December 2019, 200 Egyptians with POAG were selected for this cross-sectional study from Tanta University’s glaucoma outpatient clinic. Results High education, regular follow-up visits, fewer prescription adverse effects, ease of medication use, good visual status, and favorable perception of their vision were all characteristics in univariate analysis that significantly improved adherence levels. Only low education levels, higher difficulty using glaucoma drops, and increased adverse drug reactions were statistically significant predictors of poor adherence to glaucoma treatment in multivariate analysis. Age, sex, visual acuity, the number of glaucoma drops used, the length of therapy, financial support, and glaucoma control did not have a statistically significant prognostic value for low compliance. Conclusion This study showed that noncompliance is mostly a multifaceted issue among Egyptian glaucoma patients.

Электоральная активность молодёжи в качестве кандидатов в депутаты Законодательного собрания Новосибирской области 2005-2020 гг

The object of the study was the Novosibirsk Region, which has the status of a border area, characterized by a high level of economic development and political competition among other Siberian regions. The study analyzed information about young candidates for deputies to the Legislative Assembly of the Novosibirsk Region, who participated in election campaigns in the period 2005-2020. A young candidate is a person under the age of 35 having the passive voting right. At the present stage, the majority of Russian researchers acknowledge the political passivity of young people. The analysis of the data posted on the official website of the Electoral Commission of the Novosibirsk Region allows to draw the following conclusions: the number of candidates, including young ones, nominated by political parties is growing; the number of young self-nominated candidates is decreasing with each electoral cycle. This fact may be explained by difficulties of signature collection process for non-partisan candidates. It is at this stage that a significant number of candidates drop out of the electoral race. At the same time, the number of young people elected to deputies over the course of four electoral cycles has consistently been 7-9 people from different political parties (in single-mandate constituencies and on party lists). Meanwhile, the number of vacant deputy mandates decreased from 98 to 76. Over the course of four electoral cycles, the LDPR has attracted the greatest number of young people as candidates for deputies in single-mandate constituencies and party lists. The United Russia party has the smallest percentage of young candidates in its ranks. Such a personnel policy of the ruling party is connected with the presence of a great number of well-known and trusted candidates. Other parties are experiencing a shortage of personnel and during the election campaign they run young candidates. Thus, young people have a real opportunity to be elected from different parties (the ruling party, parliamentary opposition parties).

Isolated versus combined XEN‐implant surgery

Aims/Purpose: A minimally invasive surgical technique in glaucoma surgery is XEN implant. It allows direct evacuation of aqueous humour from anterior chamber to subconjunctival space. It is indicated in mild or moderate primary open angle glaucoma in patients with treatment with 2 or more active ingredients and good conjunctival status. The objective is to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of XEN implant isolated versus combined cataract surgery.Methods: Single‐centre retrospective observational study, conducted between 2018 and 2023. Follow‐up of 1 year in a sample of 44 eyes operated with XEN implant, 15 with isolated implant and 29 combined surgeries with cataract. Quantitative variables are expressed as mean ± standard deviation. Comparison between variables was performed using Student's t‐test after testing for normality of distribution using the Shapiro–wilk test.Results: Combined cataract surgery with respect to XEN implant placement showed no significant difference in visual acuity improvement, nor in the decrease in post‐surgical hypotensive treatment and intraocular pressure, except in the first month in favour of isolated surgery (p &gt; 0.02). Follow‐up with visual field and optical coherence tomography showed no significant differences, suggesting that there was no progression of glaucoma with both techniques. There were no intraoperative complications. Needling manoeuvre was performed in 60% of patients with isolated XEN compared to 30% with combined surgery. Good safety profile. Other studies find no significant differences in the postoperative success rate between combined surgery or not with phacoemulsification, nor differences in outcomes in phakic versus pseudophakic patients.Conclusions: The XEN implant is effective and safe in terms of IOP lowering and the number of hypotensive drops. There are no significant differences in IOP lowering or in the number of drugs to be administered between the XEN implant alone and combined cataract surgery.

Modeling of growth and dynamics of droplets during dropwise condensation of steam

Computational modeling is essential for understanding dropwise condensation (DWC) mechanisms, droplet life-cycle, and predicting heat transfer. However, the multiscale nature of DWC increases the computational cost, thus making the study of the droplet distribution more difficult. Population-based models available in the literature rely on empirical or statistical methods for determining the drop-size distribution. Differently, in the present study, a new individual-based model developed in hybrid MATLAB® and C codes and based on parallel computing is developed to simulate the whole dropwise condensation process, addressing the growth of each droplet, without making any assumption on the droplet population and considering a number of drops never reached in previous similar studies. The proposed model's computational efficiency is significantly improved when considering more than 1 million drops in the computational domain. To optimize the calculation time, the effects of time step, computational domain size, and simulation duration on the overall heat flux and drop-size distribution are discussed. The numerical results are compared against predictions from population-based models available in the literature. The proposed model is also used to study the droplet population and the instantaneous heat flux during DWC at different positions along a vertical condensing surface (upper, middle and lower areas). As a final step, a preliminary comparison is carried out between the present model and experimental data acquired during dropwise condensation on a nearly hydrophobic vertical surface. Considering a nucleation size density of 5 × 1012 m−2 (11 × 106 drops in the computational domain), the simulation is able to predict the experimental heat flux and the large drop-size distribution.

Thermophysical evolution during different decompression of N2‐containing S‐CO2 pipelines

AbstractPipelines transporting impure supercritical carbon dioxide in the carbon capture, utilization, and storage (CCUS) chain exhibit varying decompression characteristics due to engineered emissions or accidental leakage, resulting in diverse temperature drops and heat transfer mechanisms in the media and pipe walls. Therefore, studying heat transfer characteristics during slow and instantaneous decompression is crucial to investigating pipeline operational risks. In this work, supercritical CO2 pipeline valve release and rupture disc release experiments were performed with a 1.5% molar ratio of N2 content in an experimental pipeline (16 m long, 100 mm inner diameter). The evolution of the medium and pipe wall's physical properties was measured and discussed. Two methods of depressurization were employed to analyze the phase changes and heat transfer processes in the pipe. The instantaneous decompression process has a shorter decompression time and undergoes fluctuating and stable decompression stages. The slow decompression process has a slower temperature drop rate, but the wall during the process can reach a lower minimum temperature. Both release methods cause a larger temperature drop and Nusselt number at the bottom of the pipe wall due to evaporation heat transfer compared to the middle and top. The slow decompression process demonstrates a higher peak Nusselt number at the bottom, resulting in superior heat transfer efficiency compared to the instantaneous decompression process. © 2023 Society of Chemical Industry and John Wiley &amp; Sons, Ltd.

New insight into the heat transfer and pressure drop correlations for laminar and turbulent flow in a circular tube with a twisted-tape insert: A discriminated dimensional analysis

Discriminated dimensional analysis combined with the scale analysis has been implemented to obtain new correlations describing the dimensionless pressure drop as Hagen number and Nusselt number for laminar and turbulent swirl flow in a circular tube with a classical twisted-tape insert. The new insight into the phenomenon revealed that the swirl parameter Swh, as a criterion of similarity, governs the process in the entire region of swirl fluid flow in a circular tube with a classical twisted-tape insert. The validity of the analysis has been demonstrated by an excellent agreement between a large experimental data set for isothermal pressure drop and Nusselt number from many different sources with the predictions of the Hgh+−Swh and Nuh+−Swh correlations.

Selective Laser Trabeculoplasty as a Substitute for Medications in Patients with Mild-to-moderate Glaucoma in the Brazilian Public Health System.

Selective laser trabeculoplasty can be used as a substitute for medications in patients with mild-to-moderate glaucoma, reducing the cost of eye drop distribution in the Brazilian public health system. To observe the effectiveness of selective laser trabeculoplasty (SLT) as a substitute for eye drops in patients with open angle glaucoma in the Brazilian Public Health System. SLT was performed bilaterally after medication washout. This is a prospective interventional study comparing intraocular pressure (IOP) when using eye drops at baseline (post-washout), and at 12-month follow-up after SLT. Medication was added if the target IOP was not achieved, following the Brazilian Public Health System eye drops protocol, based on medication costs. Absolute (without eye drops) and qualified (with eye drops) success were measured with IOP ≤ 21, IOP ≤ 18, IOP ≤ 15 and IOP ≤ 12 mm Hg. Besides IOP evolution, the ability to reduce IOP (in %), and eye drops reduction were evaluated. Ninety-two eyes of 46 patients were included, 70 eyes with mild glaucoma and 22 with moderate glaucoma; the mean number of eye drops was 2.26±1.06 (82.6% were using a prostaglandin analogue), and post-washout IOP of 21.10±5.24 mm Hg. There was relative success at IOP ≤18 mm Hg, where the mild group had greater success than the moderate group (88.1% vs. 71.4%, P =0.824). The average IOP reductions were 23.04% and 25.74% at 6 and 12 months, respectively. The average number of eye drops was 1.02, with 1.1% using a prostaglandin analogue. Furthermore, 68.19% of the patients had a decrease in the quantity of eye drops used. SLT is effective in reducing IOP and replacing eye drops in patients in the Brazilian Public Health System. Moreover, there was a significant reduction in the use of prostaglandin analogues.

The Effect of Glaucoma Treatment on Aniridia-Associated Keratopathy (AAK) - A Report from the Homburg Register for Congenital Aniridia.

Congenital aniridia is a severe malformation of almost all eye segments. Aniridia-associated keratopathy (AAK) and secondary glaucoma, which occur in more than 50% of affected individuals, are typically progressive and pose a high risk of blindness for patients with congenital aniridia. Our aim was to investigate the effect of glaucoma treatment on AAK in patients of the Homburg Aniridia Center. Our retrospective monocentric study included patients who underwent a comprehensive ophthalmological examination at the Homburg Aniridia Center between June 2003 and January 2022. There were 556 eyes of 286 subjects (20.1 ± 20.1 years; 45.5% males) included. In 307 (55.2%) eyes of 163 subjects (27.5 ± 16.3 years; 43.1% males), glaucoma was present at the time of examination. The mean intraocular pressure in the glaucoma group was 19.0 mmHg (± 8.0), while in the non-glaucoma group, it was 14.1 mmHg (± 3.6) (p < 0.001). In the glaucoma group, 68 patients used antiglaucomatous topical monotherapy, 51 patients used 2 agents, 41 patients used 3agents, 7 patients used quadruple therapy, and 140 did not use topical therapy (e.g., after pressure-lowering surgery, pain-free end-stage glaucoma, or incompliance). Patients were classified according to the following stages of AAK: Stage 0 (96 eyes [17.2%], no keratopathy), Stage 1 (178 eyes [32.0%]), Stage 2 (107 eyes [19.2%]), Stage 3 (67 eyes [12.0%]), Stage 4 (62 eyes [11.1%]), Stage 5 (45 eyes [8.0%]). The mean stage of AAK was 1.4 (1.2 - 1.5) in the group without eye drops, 1.9 (1.5 - 2.2) in the group with monotherapy, 1.8 (1.5 - 2.1) in the group with 2 drugs, 1.9(1.5 - 2.2) in the group with 3 drugs, 3.4 (2.3 - 4.6) in the group with 4 drugs, and 3.3 (3.1 - 3.6) after antiglaucomatous surgery. The stage of AAK was significantly positively correlated with the number of pressure-lowering eye drops (p < 0.05) and prior pressure-lowering surgery (p < 0.05). Prostaglandin analogues were not correlated with a higher AAK stage compared to the other drug groups. At the Homburg Aniridia Center, patients using topical antiglaucomatous quadruple therapy or who had previously undergone antiglaucomatous surgery had by far the highest AAK stage. The different drug groups had no influence on the AAK stage.

Secondary droplet activation during condensational growth in convective clouds and its detection from satellites

By acting as cloud condensation nuclei (CCN), aerosol particles play a key role in the climate system. The CCN can be activated into cloud droplets at the cloud base (i.e., primary activation), or above it (i.e., secondary activation). This study shows the conditions required for secondary activation during the condensational growth phase in convective clouds. It also proposes a methodology for detecting this secondary activation from satellites. Using a spectral bin adiabatic parcel model, we simulate the vertical profile of cloud microphysical properties and demonstrate how different aerosol size distributions and updraft velocities greatly affect the secondary activation initiation and the cloud properties. The secondary activation slows down the cloud drop effective radius (re) growth rate with increasing height, and decreasing temperature (T), due to the relatively larger population of smaller droplets in the cloud parcel. Therefore, the vertical profile of re growth with height is slower than the adiabatic rate when the secondary activation occurs.The proposed physical principle was verified by satellite-retrieved T-re profiles and adiabatic cloud drop number concentrations (Nd) over the Amazon region. The results obtained from this study can be utilized to identify the secondary droplet activation during the condensational growth phase, which can lead to an overestimation of the retrieved Nd as well as suppression of warm rain. This improves our knowledge and observational capabilities of the role of aerosol particles in the microphysics, dynamics, and precipitation behavior of convective clouds. Plain text summarySmall particles serve as sites for cloud droplets' condensation at the cloud base (primary droplet activation) or above it (secondary activation). Once a droplet is activated at the cloud base, the surrounding water vapor condenses on it and the droplet grows - this is called condensational growth. The cloud droplet number concentrations (Nd) can be obtained by the satellite-retrieved vertical growth rate of droplet size in the condensational growth phase. However, new small droplets formed during this phase (i.e., secondary activation), might cause an overestimate in the retrieved Nd. This study presents the physical principle of secondary activation during condensational growth. Using a model, we simulate the condensational growth of aerosol particles, which act as cloud condensation nuclei (CCN), for different particle size distributions and thermodynamic conditions (i.e., vertical velocities). Our simulations show that secondary activation slows the cloud droplet growth rate with height due to the larger competition for the available water vapor promoted by the new drops. Comparisons between satellite-retrieved Nd of convective clouds and in-situ measurements show that the satellite retrievals overestimate Nd when the secondary activation of droplets is neglected. Our findings improve the understanding of aerosols' role in the condensational growth of droplets in convective clouds.