Positive Velocity Research Articles

Sonographic Venous Velocity Index Identifies Patients with Chronic Kidney Disease and Severe Diastolic Dysfunction

ObjectiveDiagnosing cardiorenal syndrome (CRS) in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) continues to remain challenging in outpatient practice. In this study, we investigate whether a newly developed venous velocity ultrasound index (VVI) can differentiate between patients with CRS and patients with CKD of other cause or normal renal function (NRF).Methods Patients with CRS (n = 30), CKD (n=30), and NRF (n=30) were included in the study. For each patient, duplex ultrasound scans of intrarenal segmental veins were retrospectively analyzed. The VVI was calculated from the renal venous doppler curve as the ratio of the maximal positive venous velocity to the maximal negative venous velocity. Patients with CRS were compared to age-matched controls with NRF and to GFR-matched controls with CKD. Results:The GFRs of patients with CRS and those with CKD were comparable (26.4±5 and 25.6±7 ml/min/m2), as was the age in patients with CRS and NRF (6 ±12 years and 68±16 years, respectively). There was no significant difference in ejection fraction between patients with CRS and those with CKD (44.2±6.2% vs. 47.4 ±7.2), but there was a significant decrease compared to those with NRF (52.6 ±5.1, p<0.01). The VVI was significantly higher in the CRS group (0.81± 0.18) compared to the CKD group (0.18± 0.17, p<0.01) or NRF group (0.22± 0.20, p<0.01). The positive predictability of CRS was 96.4% in patients with VVI values of >0.6.ConclusionThe newly developed VVI was useful in successfully predicting severe diastolic dysfunction (CRS) in patients with severe kidney injury in outpatient care.

Molecular gas and dark neutral medium in the outskirts of Chamaeleon

Context. More gas is inferred to be present in molecular cloud complexes than can be accounted for by H I and CO emission, a phenomenon known as dark neutral medium (DNM) or CO-dark gas for the molecular part. Aims. We aim to investigate whether molecular gas can be detected in Chamaeleon where gas column densities in the DNM were inferred and CO emission was not detected. Methods. We took λ3 mm absorption profiles of HCO+ and other molecules toward 13 background quasars across the Chamaeleon complex, only one of which had detectable CO emission. We derived the H2 column density assuming N(HCO+)/N(H2) = 3 × 10−9 as before. Results. With the possible exception of one weak continuum target, HCO+ absorption was detected in all directions, C2H in eight directions and HCN in four directions. The sightlines divide into two groups according to their DNM content, with one group of eight directions having N(DNM) ≳ 2 × 1020 cm−2 and another group of five directions having N(DNM) &lt; 0.5 × 1020 cm−2. The groups have comparable mean N(H I) associated with Chamaeleon 6−7 × 1020 cm−2 and total hydrogen column density per unit reddening 6−7 × 1021 cm−2 mag−1. They differ, however, in having quite different mean reddening 0.33 vs. 0.18 mag, mean N(DNM) 3.3 vs. 0.14 × 1020 cm−2 and mean molecular column density 2N(H2) = 5.6 vs. 0.8 × 1020 cm−2. The gas at more positive velocities is enriched in molecules and DNM. Conclusions. Overall the quantity of H2 inferred from HCO+ can fully account for the previously inferred DNM along the sightlines studied here. H2 is concentrated in the high-DNM group, where the molecular fraction is 46% vs. 13% otherwise and 38% overall. Thus, neutral gas in the outskirts of the complex is mostly atomic but the DNM is mostly molecular. Saturation of the H I emission line profile may occur along three of the four sightlines having the largest DNM column densities, but there is no substantial reservoir of “dark” atomic or molecular gas that remains undetected as part of the inventory of dark neutral medium.

Unsteady Peristaltic Transport of a Particle-Fluid Suspension: Application to Oesophageal Swallowing

Abstract This model characterises the flow behaviour of suspended particles when swallowing through oesophagus. Transport of particle-fluid mixture induced by dilating peristaltic waves on a circular cylindrical tube was considered for investigation. Unsteady closed-form solutions for pressure gradient, velocity and stream function are obtained by applying regular perturbation technique up to the first order of wavenumber (the ratio of the tube radius to the wavelength). It is observed that the axial velocity of the fluid is greater than that of the solid particles almost everywhere. However, at the wall the axial velocity of the fluid is zero due to the no-slip condition imposed on it; but the suspended particulate material has non-zero positive axial velocity. Thus, the axial velocity of the suspended particles near the tube wall is more than that of the fluid velocity. It is further observed that the axial velocity is negative in the regions close to maximum occlusions giving way to instantaneous backward flow. It is also inferred that the maximum axial velocity of the particle-fluid suspension with non-zero wavenumber is more than that of the particle-free fluid with zero wavenumber. We examined the effect of volume fraction of suspended particulate matter on pressure gradient and velocity. An increase in the volume fraction diminished the pumping performance and also the axial and radial velocities. The results are also compared with those which were obtained for zero wavenumber. The outcome of the investigation endorses the doctors’ advice to patients suffering from achalasia, oesophageal stricture and oesophageal tumors to take liquid or food items with lesser solid contents. Streamline patterns are changed by increasing the flow rate while trapping occurs at high flow rates.

Influence of Relative Humidity, Mixed-Layer Height, and Mesoscale Vertical-Velocity Variations on Column and Surface Aerosol Characteristics Over an Urban Region

Investigations into the influence of variations in relative humidity, mixed-layer height, and mesoscale vertical velocity on column and surface aerosol characteristics over urban regions are quite rare. Here we report on a comprehensive investigation that was conducted over Ahmedabad, an urban location in western India, during December 2006. In this campaign columnar and surface aerosol characteristics were measured and compared to relative humidity, mixed-layer height, and mesoscale vertical velocity to examine their influence on urban aerosol characteristics. The 500-nm aerosol optical depth was found to be approximately 0.8 between 24 and 26 December while on a cleaner day such as 7 and 18 December the aerosol optical depth was 0.1. Aerosol optical depths based on Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) level-2 and level-3 data, and on in situ Sun photometer measurements, show good agreement. The scattering coefficient ( $$\beta _{\mathrm{sca}}$$ ) and absorption coefficient ( $$\beta _{\mathrm{abs}}$$ ) increased by a factor of 5–10 on 26 December compared to 7 December (a normal day). This latter date was characterized by a clear atmosphere, a lower mixed-layer height ( $$\approx $$ 1650 m), positive vertical velocity and higher aerosol scale height (>3 km), while 26 December was marked with hazy and smoky conditions, a larger mixed-layer height ( $$\approx $$ 2500 m), negative vertical velocity and smaller aerosol scale height ( $$\approx $$ 1 km). These atmospheric conditions lead to lower and higher values of surface and columnar aerosol concentrations on 7 and 26 December respectively. A measure of spectral aerosol absorption, $$\alpha '_{\mathrm{abs}}$$ > 2, indicating the dominance of carbonaceous aerosols from biomass/biofuel emissions (open biomass burning), is rather surprising as fossil-fuel emissions that produce strongly light absorbing carbonaceous particles usually dominate urban regions. The single-scattering albedo on both days is 0.56 and 0.67 respectively, while monthly mean hemispheric backscatter fraction b and asymmetry parameter g values are 0.16 and 0.53 respectively. Higher b and lower g values on 7 December, and lower b and higher g values on 26 December, provide the relative scale of variation in the amount of sub-micron aerosols that dominate on a normal/clear day vis-a-vis a smoky/perturbed day. Lower single-scattering albedo indicates the dominance of absorbing aerosols above Ahmedabad, and higher b and lower g values suggest the abundance of fine mode particles in aerosol size distribution. The in-depth results serve as representative inputs to modelling the column and surface characteristics, and the resultant radiative forcing of urban aerosols influenced by variations in relative humidity, mixed-layer height, and mesoscale vertical velocity.

Sheath criterion in constant mean free path collisional plasma with two distinct temperature q-nonextensive electrons

A constant mean free path collisional plasma sheath model is investigated in the presence of two-temperature q-nonextensive electrons and fluid ions. By using Sagdeev potential technique, a modified Bohm sheath criterion is derived and also verified. It is shown that the density distribution of positive ions reduces monotonically when the Bohm velocity lies between the derived limits. The effect of collision on the plasma sheath profiles viz. density, potential, net space charge density and positive ion velocity in the sheath in presence of the proposed plasma configuration is investigated. It is also shown that the increasing values of ion-neutral collisionality leads to a decrease of sheath thickness, increase of sheath potential and net space charge density in the sheath region.

Stable dispersion-managed soliton molecules in Yb-doped polarization-maintaining fiber laser with chirped fiber Bragg grating

We present stable dispersion-managed soliton (DMS) molecules in a passively mode-locked Yb-doped polarization-maintaining fiber laser based on chirped fiber Bragg grating in the anomalous dispersion regime. The generation of DMSs are characterized by their sech2-like spectral profile with no steep spectral edges, which is distinct from those of dissipative solitons generated in Yb-doped fiber lasers with a large net positive cavity group velocity dispersion regime. The pulse width is 4.8 ps if the sech2 profile is assumed. The corresponding pulses width could be compressed to 278 fs with grating pair compressor. Furthermore, DMS molecules exhibit multiple discrete equilibrium distances and a regular spectral modulation pattern. All these DMS molecules are stable in the sense that after being obtained they can remain several days. The proposed laser proves its great potential to future practical use in high-resolution optics for coding and optical communication.

GaiaData Release 2

Context.The secondGaiadata release (GaiaDR2) contains high-precision positions, parallaxes, and proper motions for 1.3 billion sources as well as line-of-sight velocities for 7.2 million stars brighter thanGRVS= 12 mag. Both samples provide a full sky coverage.Aims.To illustrate the potential ofGaiaDR2, we provide a first look at the kinematics of the Milky Way disc, within a radius of several kiloparsecs around the Sun.Methods.We benefit for the first time from a sample of 6.4 million F-G-K stars with full 6D phase-space coordinates, precise parallaxes (σϖ∕ϖ≤ 20%), and precise Galactic cylindrical velocities (median uncertainties of 0.9-1.4 km s-1and 20% of the stars with uncertainties smaller than 1 km s-1on all three components). From this sample, we extracted a sub-sample of 3.2 million giant stars to map the velocity field of the Galactic disc from ~5 kpc to ~13 kpc from the Galactic centre and up to 2 kpc above and below the plane. We also study the distribution of 0.3 million solar neighbourhood stars (r&lt; 200 pc), with median velocity uncertainties of 0.4 km s-1, in velocity space and use the full sample to examine how the over-densities evolve in more distant regions.Results. GaiaDR2 allows us to draw 3D maps of the Galactocentric median velocities and velocity dispersions with unprecedented accuracy, precision, and spatial resolution. The maps show the complexity and richness of the velocity field of the galactic disc. We observe streaming motions in all the components of the velocities as well as patterns in the velocity dispersions. For example, we confirm the previously reported negative and positive galactocentric radial velocity gradients in the inner and outer disc, respectively. Here, we see them as part of a non-axisymmetric kinematic oscillation, and we map its azimuthal and vertical behaviour. We also witness a new global arrangement of stars in the velocity plane of the solar neighbourhood and in distant regions in which stars are organised in thin substructures with the shape of circular arches that are oriented approximately along the horizontal direction in theU−Vplane. Moreover, in distant regions, we see variations in the velocity substructures more clearly than ever before, in particular, variations in the velocity of the Hercules stream.Conclusions. GaiaDR2 provides the largest existing full 6D phase-space coordinates catalogue. It also vastly increases the number of available distances and transverse velocities with respect toGaiaDR1.GaiaDR2 offers a great wealth of information on the Milky Way and reveals clear non-axisymmetric kinematic signatures within the Galactic disc, for instance. It is now up to the astronomical community to explore its full potential.

Foreshadowing elastic instabilities by negative group velocity in soft composites

We reveal the existence of a state in soft composites, characterized by the omni-directional negative group velocity in the vicinity of elastic instability. We show that the appearance of the negative group velocity in layered and fibrous composites foreshadows microscopic loss of the stability. In contrast with classical instability-induced pattern transformations, the transition between states with positive and negative group velocities is not accompanied by geometrical rearrangements and can be triggered by very fine variation of the compressive deformation in stable composites. Finally, we analyze the effect of the geometrical characteristics and elastic moduli of the constituents on the strain range for induced state with negative group velocities.

Probing Quantum Turbulence in ^{4}He by Quantum Evaporation Measurements.

Theory of superfluid ^{4}He shows that, due to strong correlations and backflow effects, the density profile of a vortex line has the character of a density modulation and it is not a simple rarefaction region as found in clouds of cold bosonic atoms. We find that the basic features of this density modulation are represented by a wave packet of cylindrical symmetry in which rotons with a positive group velocity have a dominant role: The vortex density modulation can be viewed as a cloud of virtual excitations, mainly rotons, sustained by the phase of the vortex wave function. This suggests that in a vortex reconnection some of these rotons become real so that a vortex tangle is predicted to be a source of nonthermal rotons. The presence of such vorticity induced rotons can be verified by measurements at low temperature of quantum evaporation of ^{4}He atoms. We estimate the rate of evaporation and this turns out to be detectable by current instrumentation. Additional information on the microscopic processes in the decay of quantum turbulence will be obtained if quantum evaporation by high energy phonons should be detected.

Absolute instability and transient growth near the band edges of a traveling wave tube

An electron beam in the slow wave structure of a traveling wave tube may be subjected to absolute instability at the lower and upper band edges, where the group velocity is zero. From a careful re-examination of the immediate vicinity of these band edges, we use the Briggs-Bers criterion to show that, contrary to previous findings, an absolute instability may arise at the lower band edge if the beam current is sufficiently high, even if the beam mode intersects with the circuit mode with a positive group velocity. However, the upper band edge was found to be more susceptible to absolute instability than the lower band edge. The threshold condition for the onset of absolute instabilities is derived analytically at both band edges. The Green's function shows possible transient temporal growth with an exponentiation rate proportional to t1/3, whether or not the band edge is subject to an absolute instability.

Newton’s equation of motion with quadratic drag force and Toda’s potential as a solvable one

The family of exactly solvable potentials for Newton’s equation of motion in the one-dimensional system with quadratic drag force has been determined completely. The determination is based on the implicit inverse function solution valid for any potential shape, and hence exhaustive. This solvable family includes the exponential potential appearing in the Toda lattice as a special limit. The global solution is constructed by matching the solutions applicable for positive and negative velocity, yielding the piecewise analytic function with a cusp in the third-order derivative, i.e., the jerk. These procedures and features can be regarded as a generalization of Gorder’s construction (2015 Phys. Scr. 90 085208) to the energy-dissipating damped oscillators. We also derive the asymptotic formulae by solving the matching equation, and prove that the damping of the oscillation amplitude is proportional to t−1.

Species-dependent ion escape on Titan

The X-discontinuity, which appears at the depth of approximately 300 km, is an important seismic interface with positive velocity contrasts in the upper mantle. Detecting its presence and topography can be useful to understand phase transformations of relevant mantle minerals under the high-temperature and high-pressure circumstance of the Earth's interior. In this study, we detect the X-discontinuity beneath the Ryukyu subduction zone using five intermediate-depth events recorded by the dense Alaska Regional Network (AK). The X-discontinuity is successfully revealed from the robust slant stacking of the secondary down-going and converting SdP phases. From the depth distribution of conversion points, we find that the X-discontinuity's depth ranges between 269 km and 313 km, with an average depth of 295 km. All the conversion points are located beneath the down-dipping side of the Philippine Sea slab. From energy comparisons in vespagrams for observed and synthetic seismograms, the strong converted energy is more likely from a thin high-velocity layer, and the S-wave velocity jumps across the X-discontinuity are up to 5% to 8% with an average of 6.0%. According to previous petrological and seismological studies, the X-discontinuity we detected can be interpreted as the phase transformation of coesite to stishovite in eclogitic materials within the oceanic crust.

Compressible Subsonic Impinging Flows

This paper establishes the existence and the uniqueness of two dimensional steady compressible subsonic impinging flows. It is demonstrated that there exists a critical value mcr > 0 such that when the mass flux m0 of the incoming flow is less than mcr, a subsonic irrotational impinging flow also exists, but such a subsonic impinging flow does not exist if m0 > mcr. The impinging flows possess a positive horizontal velocity, except on the wall, and a unique stagnation point on the plate. It is also shown that there exists a smooth streamline which separates the fluids flowing out of the different outlets of the nozzle. Several results on the uniqueness of the subsonic impinging flow are provided. The asymptotic behaviors of the impinging flows both in the upstream and the downstream are also described. Finally, some examples and comparison results are given for special nozzles.

Vertical wind velocity measurements using a five-hole probe with remotely piloted aircraft to study aerosol–cloud interactions

Abstract. The importance of vertical wind velocities (in particular positive vertical wind velocities or updrafts) in atmospheric science has motivated the need to deploy multi-hole probes developed for manned aircraft in small remotely piloted aircraft (RPA). In atmospheric research, lightweight RPAs (&lt; 2.5 kg) are now able to accurately measure atmospheric wind vectors, even in a cloud, which provides essential observing tools for understanding aerosol–cloud interactions. The European project BACCHUS (impact of Biogenic versus Anthropogenic emissions on Clouds and Climate: towards a Holistic UnderStanding) focuses on these specific interactions. In particular, vertical wind velocity at cloud base is a key parameter for studying aerosol–cloud interactions. To measure the three components of wind, a RPA is equipped with a five-hole probe, pressure sensors, and an inertial navigation system (INS). The five-hole probe is calibrated on a multi-axis platform, and the probe–INS system is validated in a wind tunnel. Once mounted on a RPA, power spectral density (PSD) functions and turbulent kinetic energy (TKE) derived from the five-hole probe are compared with sonic anemometers on a meteorological mast. During a BACCHUS field campaign at Mace Head Atmospheric Research Station (Ireland), a fleet of RPAs was deployed to profile the atmosphere and complement ground-based and satellite observations of physical and chemical properties of aerosols, clouds, and meteorological state parameters. The five-hole probe was flown on straight-and-level legs to measure vertical wind velocities within clouds. The vertical velocity measurements from the RPA are validated with vertical velocities derived from a ground-based cloud radar by showing that both measurements yield model-simulated cloud droplet number concentrations within 10 %. The updraft velocity distributions illustrate distinct relationships between vertical cloud fields in different meteorological conditions.

Reprogrammable magnonic band structure of layered permalloy/Cu/permalloy nanowires

Reprogrammability of magnonic band structure in layered Permalloy/Cu/Permalloy nanowires is demonstrated to depend on the relative orientation of the two layers magnetization. By using Brillouin light spectroscopy, we show that when the layers are aligned parallel two dispersive modes, with positive and negative group velocity, are observed while when the magnetic layers are aligned anti-parallel, only one dispersive mode, with positive group velocity, is detected. Our findings are successfully compared and interpreted in terms of a microscopic (Hamiltonian-based) method. An explanation for the observed behavior can be attributed to mode-mixing (or hybridization) effect when the two magnetic layers are aligned anti-parallel. This work opens the path to magnetic field-controlled reconfigurable magnonic crystals with multi-modal frequency transmission characteristics.

Feasibility study of power generation using a turbine mounted in aircraft wing

The main objective of this study is to increase the aerodynamic efficiency of turbine mounted novel wing. The main motive behind this work is to reduce the drag by attaining the positive velocity gradient and generate power by converting the stagnation pressure which also acts as emergency power source. By using the energy source of free stream air, Mechanical energy is converted into electrical energy. The obtained power is presented in terms of voltage generated at various angles of attack with different Reynolds number. Experimental analysis is carried out for NACA4415 airfoil at various angles with respect to free stream ranging from 0deg to 30deg from laminar to turbulent Reynolds number. The results were obtained using the research tunnel at IARE aerodynamic facility center. The aerodynamic advantage of this design in terms of voltage is 9.5 V at 35m/s which can be utilized for the aircraft on board power systems.

Global Search of a Three-dimensional Low Solidity Circular Cascade Diffuser for Centrifugal Blowers by Meta-model Assisted Optimization

A three-dimensional blade of a low solidity circular cascade diffuser in centrifugal blowers is designed by means of a multi-point optimization technique. The optimization aims at improving static pressure coefficient at a design point and at a small flow rate condition. Moreover, a clear definition of secondary flow expressed by positive radial velocity at hub side is taken into consideration in constraints. The number of design parameters for three-dimensional blade reaches to 10 in this study, such as a radial gap, a radial chord length and mean camber angle distribution of the LSD blade with five control points, control point between hub and shroud with two design freedom. Optimization results show clear Pareto front and selected optimum design shows good improvement of pressure rise in diffuser at small flow rate conditions. It is found that three-dimensional blade has advantage to stabilize the secondary flow effect with improving pressure recovery of the low solidity circular cascade diffuser.

Wave propagation in and around negative-dielectric-constant discharge plasma

The modes of wave propagation in media with a negative dielectric constant are not simple, unlike those for electromagnetic waves in media with a positive dielectric constant (where modes propagate inside the media with positive phase velocity since the refractive index is usually positive). Instead, they depend on the permeability sign, either positive or negative, and exhibit completely different features. In this report, we investigated a wave confined on the surface of a negative-dielectric-constant and a positive-permeability plasma medium for which the refractive index is imaginary. The propagation mode is similar to surface plasmon polaritons on the metal containing free electrons, but its frequency band is different due to the significant spatial gradient of the dielectric constant and a different pressure term. We also studied a wave with a negative dielectric constant and negative permeability, where the refractive index is negative. This wave can propagate inside the media, but its phase velocity is negative. It also shares similar qualities with waves in plasmonic devices with negative permeability in the photon range.

Vertical structure of the velocity field induced by mode-I and mode-II solitary waves in a stratified fluid.

The structure of the velocity field induced by internal solitary waves of the first and second modes is determined. The contribution from second-order terms in asymptotic expansion into the horizontal velocity is estimated for the models of almost two- and three-layer fluid for solitons of positive and negative polarity. The influence of the nonlinear correction manifests itself firstly in the shape of the lines of zero horizontal velocity: they are curved and the shape depends on the soliton amplitude and polarity, while for the leading-order wave field they are horizontal. Also the wave field accounting for the nonlinear correction for mode I has smaller maximal absolute values of negative velocities (near-surface for the soliton of elevation, and near-bottom for the soliton of depression) and larger maximums of positive velocities. For solitary waves of negative polarity, which are the most typical for hydrological conditions in the ocean for low and middle latitudes, the situation is the opposite. The velocity field of the mode-II soliton in a smoothed two-layer fluid reaches its maximal absolute values in a middle layer instead of near-bottom and near-surface maximums for mode-I solitons.

Visualizing Rate of Change: An Application to Age-specific Fertility Rates

Summary Visualization methods help in the discovery of characteristics that might not have been apparent by using mathematical models and summary statistics. However, visualization methods have not received much attention in demography, with the exceptions of scatter plots and Lexis surfaces. We utilize a phase plane plot to visualize the rate of change, obtained from derivatives of a continuous function. The phase plane plot bears a resemblance to hysteresis loops, isogrowth curves and solutions to differential equations. Using Australian and Chilean fertility, we present phase plane plots. Similarly to the scatter plot and Lexis surface, the phase plane plot identifies the age with maximum fertility rate and displays skewness of the fertility distribution. Unlike the scatter plot and Lexis surface, the phase plane plot identifies the age with maximum positive or negative velocity (i.e. the trend) and can compare the magnitude of the rate of change between any two years on the basis of the size of the radius of circles. The phase plane plot enables visualization of dynamic changes in fertility for a given age over the years and is potentially useful for visualizing dynamic changes in birth cohort fertility. Via the animate package in LATEX, a dynamic phase plane plot is also proposed to visualize changes in fertility over age or year.