Parameters Of Control Research Articles

Perceived glucose levels matter more than CGM-based data in predicting diabetes distress in type 1 or type 2 diabetes: a precision mental health approach using n-of-1 analyses.

Diabetes distress is one of the most frequent mental health issues identified in people with type 1 and type 2 diabetes. Little is known about the role of glucose control as a potential contributor to diabetes distress and whether the subjective perception of glucose control or the objective glycaemic parameters are more important for the experience. With the emergence of continuous glucose monitoring (CGM), this is a relevant question as glucose values are now visible in real-time. We employed a precision monitoring approach to analyse the independent associations of perceived and measured glucose control with diabetes distress on a daily basis. By using n-of-1 analyses, we aimed to identify individual contributors to diabetes distress per person and analyse the associations of these individual contributors with mental health at a 3 month follow-up. In this prospective, observational study, perceived (hypoglycaemia/hyperglycaemia/glucose variability burden) and measured glucose control (time in hypoglycaemia and hyperglycaemia, CV) were assessed daily for 17 days using an ecological momentary assessment (EMA) approach with a special EMA app and CGM, respectively. Mixed-effect regression analysis was performed, with daily diabetes distress as the dependent variable and daily perceived and CGM-measured metrics of glucose control as random factors. Individual regression coefficients of daily distress with perceived and CGM-measured metrics were correlated with levels of psychosocial well-being at a 3 month follow-up. Data from 379 participants were analysed (50.9% type 1 diabetes; 49.6% female). Perceived glucose variability (t=14.360; p<0.0001) and perceived hyperglycaemia (t=13.637; p<0.0001) were the strongest predictors of daily diabetes distress, while CGM-based glucose variability was not significantly associated (t=1.070; p=0.285). There was great heterogeneity between individuals in the associations of perceived and measured glucose parameters with diabetes distress. Individuals with a stronger association between perceived glucose control and daily distress had more depressive symptoms (β=0.32), diabetes distress (β=0.39) and hypoglycaemia fear (β=0.34) at follow-up (all p<0.001). Individuals with a stronger association between CGM-measured glucose control and daily distress had higher levels of psychosocial well-being at follow-up (depressive symptoms: β=-0.31; diabetes distress: β=-0.33; hypoglycaemia fear: β=-0.27; all p<0.001) but also higher HbA1c (β=0.12; p<0.05). Overall, subjective perceptions of glucose seem to be more influential on diabetes distress than objective CGM parameters of glycaemic control. N-of-1 analyses showed that CGM-measured and perceived glucose control had differential associations with diabetes distress and psychosocial well-being 3 months later. The results highlight the need to understand the individual drivers of diabetes distress to develop personalised interventions within a precision mental health approach.

Laser-induced spectral tuning of single quantum dots embedded into microposts cladded with HfO2

Our work investigates the precise tuning of InGaAs quantum dots (QDs) embedded into microposts by leveraging HfO2 crystallization-induced micro-strain via laser annealing. We investigate the efficacy of laser annealing power as a parameter for spectral control, achieving a notable blue shift of QD emissions of up to 5 meV. Through comprehensive Raman thermometry, we reveal consistent dependencies in laser-induced heating relative to micropost diameter, with larger microposts exhibiting superior heat dissipation capabilities and smaller tuning range. For instance, a 5.0 μm micropost demonstrates a maximum local temperature increase of 260 K at 1.82 mW of annealing power, compared to 435 K for a 1.1 μm diameter micropost under the same conditions. By correlating local temperatures derived from the longitudinal optical phonon linewidth of the Raman spectra, with QD emission line blue shift at specific laser powers, the tunability across differing post diameters is studied. Our findings underscore the potential of strain-tuning QDs through laser-induced HfO2 crystallization, offering avenues for scalable resonant single-photon sources applicable in superradiance and multi-photon interference scenarios.

Impact on Glycemia Risk Index and other metrics in type 1 adult patients switching to Advanced Hybrid Closed-Loop systems: a one-year real-life experience

BackgroundAdvanced Hybrid Closed-Loop system (AHCL) has profoundly changed type 1 diabetes therapy. This study primarily aimed to assess the impact on Glycemia Risk Index (GRI) and other continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) metrics when switching from one of four insulin strategies to AHCL in type 1 adult patients.MethodsA single-center, retrospective pre/post observational study; 198 patients (age 44.4 ± 12.7 years, 115 females/83 males, diabetes duration 24.7 ± 11.6 years, HbA1c 7.4 ± 1%), treated with different insulin therapies (MDI, CSII, SAP with PLGS, HCL) were assessed before and after switching to an AHCL (MiniMed 780G, Diabeloop Roche, Tandem Control-IQ) at 1, 3, 6, and 12 months. Mixed-effects multivariable regression models were used to estimate the mean pre/post variations at different time points, adjusted for potential confounders.ResultsA month after the switch, there was an improvement in CGM metrics and HbA1c for all patients: GRI −10.7, GMI −0.27%, CV −2.1%, TAR>250 −3.7%, TAR180-250 −5.6%, TIR + 9.7%, HbA1c −0.54% (all p < 0.001). This improvement was maintained throughout the observational period (at 3, 6, and 12 months, with all p-values < 0.001). When improvements across the 780, Diabeloop, and Tandem CIQ devices were compared: Diabeloop demonstrated significantly better performance in terms of GRI, GMI, CV, TAR>250 at T1 (for all p < 0.01); 780 recorded highest average decrease in TAR180-250 (p = 0.020), while Tandem achieved the most significant reduction in TBR54-69 (p = 0.004).ConclusionsAdopting an AHCL leads to a rapid and sustained improvement in GRI and other parameters of metabolic control for up to a year, regardless of prior insulin therapies, baseline conditions or brands.

Combined corneal biomechanical and tomographical indices in subclinical and forme fruste keratoconus.

Evaluation of combined corneal tomographic and biomechanical parameters in subclinical/forme fruste keratoconus (ScKC/FFKC). Cross-sectional observational case-control study. Thirty-one eyes with ScKC (fellow eye of KC with any one sign: keratometry >47 diopters, cylinder >1.5 D, central corneal thickness <500 µm, with/without abnormal topography) or FFKC (fellow eye of KC with normal topography and slit lamp examination) >13 years (cases) and 44 eyes of age-matched 22 healthy subjects (controls). Clinically diagnosed KC, presence of corneal scars, and prior ocular surgery eyes. Sixteen Pentacam, 15 Corvis ST, and five Sirius parameters were analyzed using paired sample t -test, and a subsample found to be significantly different was used in receiver operating characteristic curve analysis. The Youden index was calculated, and Pearson's correlation analysis was done. Five Pentacam, three Corvis ST, and two Sirius parameters had an area under curve (AUC) >0.75. Tomographic and biomechanical index (TBI) (cutoff 0.59, 95% specificity, 77% sensitivity), Belin Ambrosio enhanced ecstasia display (cutoff 1.8, 81% specificity, 80% sensitivity), and symmetry index of posterior corneal curvature (cutoff 0.16, 97% specificity, 67% sensitivity) best identified early KC. TBI strongly correlated with maximum Pentacam parameters in both cases and controls. Corvis biomechanical index strongly correlated only in cases, and SP-A1-SD weakly correlated in cases. Upon combined analysis, the average sensitivity and specificity, respectively, of top three parameters (according to AUC) from Pentacam and Corvis ST were 74.1% and 95.4% for posterior elevation and TBI. The trial was registered in Clinical Trial Registry of India on January 28, 2022. The Trial Registration Number is REF/2022/01/050638.

Developing an online composition prediction for an HI–I2–H2O system using deep neural network

We developed a deep neural network (DNN) method to predict the composition of the HI–I2–H2O system in the iodine–sulfur (IS) process of thermochemical water-splitting hydrogen production using measurable properties. Unlike conventional titration analysis, this approach allows for a quick understanding of fluid composition, providing essential information for controlling operating conditions. This study focused on the HI–I2–H2O three-component system within the IS process. Gibbs’ phase rule was used to construct the DNN model using online measurement parameters, such as temperature, pressure, and density, as input conditions. The model was trained with experimental data, and the structural parameters were tuned. Composition prediction using actual trend data correlated well with titration analysis measurements. The local interpretable model-agnostic explanations method was incorporated to acquire insights into the significance of input parameters for compositions from the DNN model, providing valuable information on crucial parameters for effective composition control.

Markov fracture models of inhomogeneous media and design of layered structures synthesized by additive technology

We consider the problem of studying the fracture of a composite macrolayer synthesized by additive technology on a solid substrate, to which the boundary of the lower microlayer is rigidly bonded. The materials of the microlayers are homogeneous and isotropic. The thicknesses of microlayers and the total thickness of the macrolayer are the control parameters of synthesis. The physical and mechanical characteristics of the microlayers and their combination in the macrolayer are also controlling parameters. The layer is fractured by a crack, which may appear in the top layer (or any other layer) and move toward the substrate or free surface, perpendicular to the boundaries of the microlayers. The crack can stop at the boundaries between the layers (then it is treated as a separate state) or pass through the boundaries without stopping. Based on the theory of Markov chains, the average lifetime of a stratified layer synthesized on a substrate using additive technology and the variance of the number of cycles (lifetime) characterizing the quality of the synthesized structure are calculated. On the basis of the materials available for the synthesis of the layered coating, the problems of optimal design of the composite body with maximum average resource, minimum resource dispersion, maximum specific strength for given geometric and physical-mathematical constraints on the composite parameters are solved. To find optimal solutions, dynamic programming algorithms are used, implemented on circuits (graphs) of sequential selection of a combination of layer materials according to their synergistic properties.

The correlation between hepatic controlled attenuation parameter (CAP) value and insulin resistance (IR) was stronger than that between body mass index, visceral fat area and IR

BackgroundHepatic controlled attenuation parameter (CAP) is a novel marker for quantifying hepatic fat accumulation. Insulin resistance (IR) plays a major role in the pathogenesis and natural history of hepatic steatosis. This study aimed to investigate the possible relationship between CAP value and IR.MethodsThis study included a total of 420 patients with overweight or obesity who came to the obesity clinic at Tianjin Union Medical Center. Vibration-controlled transient elastography examination was conducted to detect CAP and liver stiffness measurement (LSM) values. Body composition, including visceral fat area (VFA), and body fat mass (BFM), was evaluated by the direct segmental multi-frequency bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA). The associations between CAP value, body mass index (BMI), VFA, BFM and homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) were analyzed.ResultsCAP value was positively associated with HOMA-IR (r = 0.568, P < 0.001), the strength of which was much stronger than BMI, VFA, and BFM. In multivariate linear regression, CAP value and HOMA-IR showed a significant positive association (adjusted β = 0.015, 95% CI 0.007–0.022, P < 0.001). Subgroup analysis suggested no significant interaction between CAP value and HOMA-IR across age, BMI, LSM, hypertension, and sex groups (all P for interaction > 0.05).ConclusionsHepatic CAP value is more remarkably than other obesity markers associated with HOMA-IR in individuals with overweight or obesity, regardless of age, BMI, LSM, hypertension, and sex.

Automatic Search for a Solution in the Information Management System to Monitor the State of the Production Environment

The article presents a method for monitoring and managing the state of a production environment based on an information management system with an automatic solution search module using a hybrid neural network. The object of the study is the state of the production environment. Monitoring and management are carried out on the basis of predicting changes within the environment state, taking into account the interdependence of the measured parameters. In addition to the task of regulating the value of the controlled parameter, there is an additional task of automatically compiling a control program depending on external parametersprovided by this method of monitoring and control. To do this, an automatic solution search device with software based on neural networks is installed in a closed control loop. This device analyzes many parameters of the production environment and supplies the control device with the required value of the controlled parameter. To analyze dependencies between parameters and predict the state of the production environment, a neural network is used, the weights and biases of which are calculated using the harmonic search algorithm; training was carried out with the gradient descent algorithm. To assess the accuracy and stability of the automatic search for solutions in the information management system for monitoring the state of the production environment, an experiment was conducted, the results of which made it possible to obtain the parameters of the hybrid model. Further study of the obtained parameters showed that its use in the control loop of the information system for monitoring the state of the production environment makes it possible to provide a high-quality and stable forecast of changes in the state of the production environment. The proposed method made it possible to obtain stable operation of the information and control system for monitoring the state of the production environment and maintaining controlled parameters within the acceptable range.

Comparing similarities and differences between NAFLD, MAFLD, and MASLD in the general U.S. population.

Recently, the multisociety Delphi consensus renamed non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) terminology [previously renamed metabolic-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD)] as metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD). The aim of this study was to compare the similarities and differences between NAFLD, MAFLD, and MASLD and to clarify the impact of this new name change. A cross-sectional study of 3,035 general subjects with valid vibration-controlled transient elastography data was conducted based on data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2017-2020. NAFLD, MAFLD, and MASLD were defined according to the corresponding consensus criteria. Using controlled attenuation parameter (CAP) ≥274 dB/m and liver stiffness measurements (LSM) ≥9.7 kPa as the cutoff values for the presence of hepatic steatosis and advanced liver fibrosis (ALF), the prevalence of NAFLD, MAFLD, and MASLD were 38.01% (95% CI 35.78-40.29%), 41.09% (39.09-43.12%), and 37.9% (35.70-40.14%), respectively, and the corresponding prevalence of ALF was 10.21% (7.09-14.48%), 10.13% (7.06-14.35%), and 10.24% (7.11-14.53%), respectively. The kappa values for the three definitions were above 0.9. The prevalence and severity of the three definitions remained similar when the sensitivity analyses were performed using different CAP thresholds. The prevalence of NAFLD, MAFLD, MASLD, and ALF increased as the number of cardiometabolic risk factors (CMRF) increased. Our findings highlight the consistency among the three definitions, especially between NAFLD and MASLD, so that the new consensus will not disturb the original NAFLD-related findings. Additionally, more attention should be paid to patients with a high number of CMRFs.

Effects of nitric oxide inhalation on pulmonary arterial impedance: differences between normal and pulmonary hypertension male rats.

Nitric oxide (NO) inhalation improves pulmonary hemodynamics in participants with pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). Although it can reduce pulmonary vascular resistance (PVR) in PAH, its impact on the dynamic mechanics of pulmonary arteries and its potential difference between control and participants with PAH remain unclear. PA impedance provides a comprehensive description of PA mechanics. With an arterial model, PA impedance can be parameterized into peripheral pulmonary resistance (Rp), arterial compliance (Cp), characteristic impedance of the proximal arteries (Zc), and transmission time from the main PA to the reflection site. This study investigated the effects of inhaled NO on PA impedance and its associated parameters in control and monocrotaline-induced pulmonary arterial hypertension (MCT-PAH) male rats (6/group). Measurements were obtained at baseline and during NO inhalation at 40 and 80 ppm. In both groups, NO inhalation decreased PVR and increased the left atrial pressure. Notably, its impact on PA impedance was frequency dependent, as revealed by reduced PA impedance modulus in the low-frequency range below 10 Hz, with little effect on the high-frequency range. Furthermore, NO inhalation attenuated Rp, increased Cp, and prolonged transmission time without affecting Zc. It reduced Rp more pronouncedly in MCT-PAH rats, whereas it increased Cp and delayed transmission time more effectively in control rats. In conclusion, the therapeutic effects of inhaled NO on PA impedance were frequency dependent and may differ between the control and MCT-PAH groups, suggesting that the effect on the mechanics differs depending on the pathological state.NEW & NOTEWORTHY Nitric oxide inhalation decreased pulmonary arterial impedance in the low-frequency range (<10 Hz) with little impact on the high-frequency range. It reduced peripheral pulmonary resistance more pronouncedly in pulmonary hypertension rats, whereas it increased arterial compliance and transmission time in control rats. Its effect on the mechanics of the pulmonary arteries may differ depending on the pathological status.

CRITERIA FOR THE OPTIMAL MODE OF NON-DESTRUCTIVE TESTING BY DIGITAL RADIOGRAPHY

Theoretically justified and experimentally confirmed criteria for the selection of modes and parameters of digital radiography control. The analysis of the digital image quality showed its dependence on the parameters and control modes, on the value of the signal-to-noise ratio. Analytical information was obtained a relationship linking the size of the defect in the plane perpendicular to the axis of the radiation beam, the size of the focal spot of the radiation source, the parameters of the control circuit and the pixel size of the detector system. The validity of the analytical expression has been confirmed experimentally.

Estimation of Serum TLR-9,TNF-α, and IL-6 Levels in the Iraqi Patients Diagnosed as Acute Myelogenous Leukemia

إن ابيضاض الدم النقوي الحاد (AML) هو مجموعة متنوعة من الأمراض التي تتضمن تغايرات حيوية وسريرية. تتميز بالتكاثر السريع للخلايا الشاذة في نخاع العظام، والتي تتداخل مع تكوين خلايا الدم الطبيعية. يتم إطلاق السيتوكينات بواسطة العديد من أنواع الخلايا استجابةً للمنبهات المختلفة ، وهي تؤثر على الاستجابة المناعية. تظهر العديد من الدراسات أن السيتوكينات التي تطلقها خلايا سرطان الدم بطريقة autocrine أو paracrine تؤثر على تكاثر خلايا AML. صُممت دراستنا لتقييم مستوى البروتين لـ TLR-9 و TNF-α و IL-6 في مرضى AML. تم إجراء الدراسة عن طريق تقنية المقايسة الإمتصاصية المناعية المرتبطة بالإنزيم (ELISA). اظهرت النتائج وجود فروق معنوية عالية في مستوى المصل لـكل من TLR-9 و TNF-α و IL-6 . يظهر الارتباط بين المعلمات المناعية لهذه الدراسة باستخدام معامل ارتباط بيرسون وللمرضى أن هناك علاقة ضعيفة بين TLR-9 وكلا من TNF- α, IL-6 مع (P- value) 0.47) و 0.23( على التوالي ، مما قد يشير إلى البيئة المعقدة الناتجة عن الالتهاب. ومع ذلك ، هناك علاقة قوية بين TNF- α و IL-6 بقيمة P=0.001)) مما يشير إلى أن إفراز هذه السيتوكينات كان مرتفعًا عند المرضى.تم تقييم جميع المعلمات المناعية (TLR-9 و TNF- α و IL-6) للمرضى باستخدام منحنى خصائص تشغيل المستلم (ROC) لإثبات أن أيًا منهم يمكن استخدامه كواسم حيوي لتحديد الالتهاب وامكانية تتبع اعراض المرض لمرضى ابيضاض الدم النقوي الحاد. كشفت نتائج منحنى ROC أن جميع المتغيرات لديها حساسية وخصوصية جيدة للكشف عن الالتهاب ونشاط المرض لدى مرضى ابيضاض الدم النقوي الحاد. وفقًا لنتائج الدراسة الحالية ، فأن مرض ابيضاض الدم النقوي الحاد مرتبطًا بأرتفاع مستويات البروتين لكل من TLR-9 و TNF-α و IL-6. قد يؤدي زيادة إنتاج هذه السيتوكينات في المرضى إلى تحفيز وزيادة الخطر على تطور المرض وربما قلة الاستجابة للعلاج مما يؤثر سلبا على المرضى .

Analytical model and flow velocity control of electrohydrodynamics system with multi-needle corona discharge

For the flow field distribution and control mechanism generated by the electrohydrodynamics (EHD) system with multi-needle corona discharge, this paper takes the multi-needle EHD pump as the research object, establishes different types of physical models through regional division, constructs multi-physical field coupling relationship, and derives a simplified EHD flow velocity equation suitable for the EHD system with multi-needle corona discharge. Combined with the intelligent optimization method of population evolution, a novel and effective intelligent algorithm is designed for the numerical analysis of the velocity profile distribution of a multi-needle EHD pump, and the flow velocity control law of the multi-needle EHD pump is analyzed by quantitative calculation. The validity of the model and analysis is verified by the electric field and flow field simulation of the multi-needle EHD pump system. The calculation results show that the voltage parameter is more dominant than the electrode spacing parameter in the steady-state flow velocity control of the multi-needle EHD pump, and both the maximum flow velocity and the average flow velocity are superlinearly controlled by voltage. In the design of multi-needle EHD pump with an electrode spacing of 1 cm, the simulation results show that the maximum gas flow velocity of 0.82 m/s can be obtained by providing 5000 V voltage, which verifies the design of a miniaturized multi-needle EHD pump and its feasibility in gas lasers and other application scenarios.

Relation Between Parameters of Indirect Texture Control and Properties of Brass and Improvement of the Quality of Rolled Products by Using Statistical Methods of Analysis and Advanced Online Management

Relation Between Parameters of Indirect Texture Control and Properties of Brass and Improvement of the Quality of Rolled Products by Using Statistical Methods of Analysis and Advanced Online Management

Analysis of the PID Controller Parameters for A Surface Mobility Platform Mobile Robot

Surface mobility control is a fundamental challenge in robotics, and its applications range from autonomous vehicles to industrial automation. The main aim of the paper is to analyze the PID controller parameters for the speed control of a surface mobility platform mobile robot. MATLAB simulation toolbox and mathematical model of the DC motor are used to find the optimal PID controller parameters to complete the DC motor speed control system. For the SMP motion control system, the mobile robot kinematic model is supported as a differential drive system. In this paper, the PID controller parameters for the DC motor control system are analyzed with simulation results using various KP, KI, KD gains. The experimental results of the SMP mobile robot with optimal PID controller parameters are analyzed by driving on the rough, slope and even terrains. According to simulation results and experimental tests, the proposed system effectively controls the speed of the SMP mobile robot, demonstrating satisfactory performance in settling time, rise time, and system overshoot. Among PI and PID controllers, the designed PID controller can quickly control to reach the desired DC motor speed. Using the optimal PID coefficient parameters, all motors reached their desired speed in 0.12 seconds during simulations. In the experimental tests on various terrain (even, slope and rough), all motors achieved their desired speed simultaneously within 25 seconds.Keywords: Differential drive, PID controller, motion trajectory, real-time speed control. skid steering, SMP mobile robot, surface mobility control

Retinal Perfusion Analysis of Children with Diabetes Mellitus Type 1 Using Optical Coherence Tomography Angiography.

(1) Background: This study aims to evaluate retinal perfusion by optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) in pediatric patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1D) without diabetic retinopathy (DR). (2) Methods: Thirty-one patients affected by T1D were enrolled. All participants were evaluated using OCTA. The foveal avascular zone (FAZ) and superficial and deep macular vessel density (VD) were analyzed. The correlation of these parameters with metabolic factors such as body mass index (BMI), glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c), and the type of insulin therapy (multiple daily injections, MDI vs. continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion, CSII) was determined. (3) Results: None of the OCTA parameters were significantly different between the groups. The patients' HbA1C level did not influence any of the OCTA parameters. The use of MDI tended to reduce the parafoveal and perifoveal deep VD (p = 0.048 and p = 0.021, respectively) compared to CSII. An elevated BMI tended to increase the deep macular (p = 0.005) and perifoveal VD (p = 0.006). (4) Conclusion: VD and FAZ are normal in pubescent children with T1D without signs of DR. Treatment with CSII may be a better choice compared to MDI, as CSII may be protective against retinal microvascular damage. Our results indicate the need for new clinical parameters of glycemic control in addition to HbA1c which could assess the risk of DR.

Study on the Influence of Some Ventilation Parameters on Dust Dispersion in Heading Face Coal Mine Using CFD Numerical Model

Coal dust is one of the environmental factors that seriously affect the health of workers as well as the mining equipment in underground coal mines. At present, coal dust is commonly generated during drilling, blasting, excavation, and transportation processes in mining operations. During mining blasting processes, coal dust is generated with varying particle sizes and high concentration levels. High concentrations of dust will affect mining operations and increase the ventilation time required for mining faces. In addition, coal dust exists in suspended form in the roadway and is harmful to human health, especially fine dust particles that have a negative impact on work efficiency. To improve ventilation efficiency and eliminate coal dust, this article presents a CFD-DPM numerical modeling method that integrates a DEM collision model based on the finite element method to analyze the motion characteristics of airflow and dust particles in the mine tunnel, while considering collisions between particles and between particles and walls. The article analyzes the distribution of wind speed, the dispersion of dust in the space around the roadway, and dust concentrations at distances of 1 m, 3 m, and 6 m from the working personnel and at a position 1.5 m above the roadway floor, corresponding to the breathing zone of the workers, with varying parameters such as velocity and duct position. The results indicate that with a wind velocity of V = 18 m/s and an air duct height h = 3.0 m, the best dust reduction results are achieved, and they provide theoretical guidance for selecting and optimizing ventilation parameters in dust control.

Laser Machining at High ∼PW/cm2 Intensity and High Throughput

Laser machining by ultra-short (sub-ps) pulses at high intensity offers high precision, high throughput in terms of area or volume per unit time, and flexibility to adapt processing protocols to different materials on the same workpiece. Here, we consider the challenge of optimization for high throughput: how to use the maximum available laser power and larger focal spots for larger ablation volumes by implementing a fast scan. This implies the use of high-intensity pulses approaching ∼PW/cm2 at the threshold where tunneling ionization starts to contribute to overall ionization. A custom laser micromachining setup was developed and built to enable high speed, large-area processing, and easy system reconfiguration for different tasks. The main components include the laser, stages, scanners, control system, and software. Machining of metals such as Cu, Al, or stainless steel and fused silica surfaces at high fluence and high exposure doses at high scan speeds up to 3 m/s were tested for the fluence scaling of ablation volume, which was found to be linear. The largest material removal rate was 10 mm3/min for Cu and 20 mm3/min for Al at the maximum power 80 W (25 J/cm2 per pulse). Modified surfaces are color-classified for their appearance, which is dependent on surface roughness and chemical modification. Such color-coding can be used as a feedback parameter for industrial process control.

Study of dust pollution control effect based on orthogonal test and CFD numerical simulations.

To control the diffusion of high concentrations of coal dust during tunnel boring and minimize the threat to the life and health of coal miners, theoretical analysis, numerical simulations, and field measurements were combined in this study. First, computational fluid dynamic simulation software was used to simulate the generation of dust particles and their transport pattern in the tunnel. Subsequently, an innovative orthogonal test was performed to study the effect of four ventilation parameters [the pressure airflow rate (Q), distance between the air duct center and heading face (LA), distance between the air duct center and tunnel floor (LB), and distance between the air duct center and nearest coal wall (LC)] on dust diffusion. According to the orthogonal test results, the optimal ventilation parameters for effective dust control are as follows: Q = 1400 m3/min, LA = 7 m, LB = 2.8 m, and LC = 1 m. The optimized set of ventilation parameters was applied to the Wangpo 3206 working face. The results show that dust diffusion in the tunnel was effectively controlled and that the air quality was sufficiently improved.

Simple Determination of Affinity Constants of Antibodies by Competitive Immunoassays.

The affinity constant, also known as the equilibrium constant, binding constant, equilibrium association constant, or the reciprocal value, the equilibrium dissociation constant (Kd), can be considered as one of the most important characteristics for any antibody-antigen pair. Many methods based on different technologies have been proposed and used to determine this value. However, since a very large number of publications and commercial datasheets do not include this information, significant obstacles in performing such measurements seem to exist. In other cases where such data are reported, the results have often proved to be unreliable. This situation may indicate that most of the technologies available today require a high level of expertise and effort that does not seem to be available in many laboratories. In this paper, we present a simple approach based on standard immunoassay technology that is easy and quick to perform. It relies on the effect that the molar IC50 approaches the Kd value in the case of infinitely small concentrations of the reagent concentrations. A two-dimensional dilution of the reagents leads to an asymptotic convergence to Kd. The approach has some similarity to the well-known checkerboard titration used for the optimization of immunoassays. A well-known antibody against the FLAG peptide, clone M2, was used as a model system and the results were compared with other methods. This approach could be used in any case where a competitive assay is available or can be developed. The determination of an affinity constant should belong to the crucial parameters in any quality control of antibody-related products and assays and should be mandatory in papers using immunochemical protocols.