Recovery Techniques Research Articles

Validation of an ultrahigh contrast divided subtracted inversion recovery technique using a standard T1 phantom.

The divided subtracted inversion recovery (dSIR) is a high T1 contrast technique that shows changes in white matter in patients with traumatic brain injury and hypoxic injury. The changes can be explained by small differences in T1; however, to date, there has been no independent validation of the technique using a standard reference. The present study develops the theory of the dSIR signal and performs validation using the NIST/ISMRM T1 phantom. Non-idealities are explored, including the influence of noise bias and finite repetition time (TR), which leads to the introduction of an optimally efficient TR for inversion recovery acquisitions. Results show excellent agreement with theoretical calculations.

Why choose the rabbit to work in reproductive technology?

Rabbits have played a significant role in both livestock production and the advancement of reproductive scientific research. Their unique biological traits, including induced ovulation and a reproductive process that closely mirrors that of humans, have been pivotal in their use as a model. Moreover, their body size is perfectly aligned with the 3Rs principles: Replacement, Reduction, and Refinement. Consequently, techniques for gamete collection and embryo recovery, followed by their use in artificial insemination or embryo transfer, are characterized by being minimally invasive. However, refining invitro fertilization and embryo culture techniques continues to present challenges. The incorporation of cutting-edge genomic editing tools, such as CRISPR/Cas9, has reestablished rabbits as essential models in genetic and biomedical research, driving scientific progress. This review aims to describe the most effective reproductive biotechnologies for both male and female rabbits and how these methodologies are in line with the 3Rs principles-Replacement, Reduction, and Refinement-highlighting their significance in conducting ethical research.

Improved Fuzzy-associated Memory Techniques for Image Recovery

Improved Fuzzy-associated Memory Techniques for Image Recovery

Evaluation of Cardiac Function Recovery in Patients with Paroxysmal Atrial Fibrillation after Catheter Radiofrequency Ablation Using Two-Dimensional Speckle Tracking Imaging and Real-Time Three-Dimensional Echocardiography

Introduction: The aim of this study was to evaluate the utility of 2D-STI and real-time three-dimensional echocardiography (RT-3DE) in assessing changes in left atrial (LA) structure and function in patients with paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (PAF) post-radiofrequency catheter ablation (RFCA). Methods: A retrospective analysis was conducted on 44 PAF patients who underwent RFCA at BA Hospital from March 2022 to March 2023. An age- and gender-matched control group of 32 healthy individuals was also included. Comprehensive echocardiographic parameters including LA dimensions (LAAPD, LALRD), volumes (LAVmin, LAVmax), ejection fraction (LAEF), and tissue velocities (a’, Ar) were compared between groups. Post-RFCA changes in these parameters were also assessed at 1, 3, and 6 months. Results: Pre-RFCA, PAF patients demonstrated larger LA dimensions and volumes with reduced LAEF and tissue velocities compared to controls. Post-RFCA, there was a significant improvement in LAEF and left ventricular ejection fraction at 1, 3, and 6 months, with the most pronounced changes observed at 6 months. LA dimensions increased initially but then decreased from 1 to 6 months post-RFCA. Notably, strain rate (SRS, SRE, SRA) measurements in various LA segments improved progressively, with the most significant enhancements at 6 months, suggesting improved atrial mechanics. Conclusion: The application of 2D-STI and RT-3DE provides a quantitative means to evaluate the structural and functional changes in the LA of PAF patients following RFCA. The progressive improvements in LA dimensions, volumes, and strain measurements up to 6-month post-RFCA indicate the potential of these techniques in monitoring treatment efficacy and patient recovery.

Purification of Liquid Fraction of Digestates from Different Origins-Comparison of Polymeric and Ceramic Ultrafiltration Membranes Used for This Purpose.

Circular economy, clean technologies, and renewable energy are key to climate protection and modern environmental technology. Recovering water and valuable minerals from the liquid fraction of digestate is in line with this strategy. Digestate, a byproduct of anaerobic methane fermentation in biogas plants, is a potential source of water, minerals for fertilizers, and energy rather than waste. This study examined digestate from municipal and agricultural biogas plants and highlights the need for research on both due to their differences. The use of membrane techniques for water recovery from liquid digestate offers an innovative alternative to conventional methods. This study used standalone membrane filtration and an integrated system to produce water suitable for agricultural use. Ceramic membranes with cut-offs of 1, 5, 15, and 50 kDa and polymeric membranes of polyethersulfone and regenerated cellulose with cut-offs of 10 and 30 kDa were tested. The results showed that the membrane material significantly affects the transport and separation properties. Higher cut-off values increased permeate flux across all membranes. Ceramic membranes were more susceptible to fouling in standalone ultrafiltration, but were more effective in purifying digestate than polymeric membranes. The best results were obtained with a ceramic membrane with a 1 kDa cut-off (for example, for the integrated process and the municipal digestate, the retention rates of COD, BOD5 and DOC were 69%, 62%, and 75%, respectively).

Assessment of in situ product recovery techniques to enhance 2-phenylethanol production by Acinetobacter soli ANG344B

The 2-phenylethanol (2-PE) production process by the newly isolated Acinetobacter soli ANG344B is limited by product toxicity. To overcome this limitation and enhance 2-PE production process, various alternatives based in in situ product removal (ISPR) approaches were evaluated. The approaches selected for assessment were gas stripping using the air supplied to the bioreactor, liquid-liquid extraction and adsorption. Adsorption was found to be the most promising approach to increase 2-PE production. Amberlite XAD 4 was chosen from the different adsorbents tested since it has high affinity for 2-PE, being able to adsorb 205.8 ± 8.1 mg2-PE/gdry resin. In a batch cultivation process, in presence of 3 % (dry w/v) of Amberlite XAD 4, A. soli ANG344B was able to produce 6.99 ± 0.06 g/L of 2-PE with a volumetric productivity of 0.17 ± 0.00 g/L.h, which represents an improvement of 3.3-fold. To the best of our knowledge, this is the highest 2-PE production reported for a wild-type bacteria. These findings highlight the potential of Acinetobacter soli ANG344B as 2-PE producer, contributing to the development of natural 2-PE production process.

Advancements and Best Practices in Hard Disk Drives (HDDs) Repair: A Comprehensive Review of Diagnostic Techniques, Repair Methods, and Preventive Strategies

Hard Disk Drives (HDDs) remain a crucial component of data storage systems despite the advent of Solid State Drives (SSDs). However, the mechanical and electronic nature of HDDs makes them susceptible to various failures over time. This article provides a comprehensive examination of HDD repair, focusing on the anatomy and function of these devices, common causes of failure, diagnostic techniques, and effective repair methods. Mechanical failures, such as head crashes and spindle motor issues, electronic failures like PCB damage, and logical failures including file system corruption and bad sectors are explored in detail. Diagnostic approaches utilizing visual inspection, diagnostic software tools, hardware-based diagnostics, and SMART monitoring are discussed to aid in identifying issues accurately. Repair methods covered include data recovery techniques, mechanical repairs, electronic component replacement, and firmware fixes. Real-world case studies illustrate practical challenges and solutions in HDD repair, highlighting the complexities involved. Additionally, best practices and safety measures for handling and maintaining HDDs are provided to prevent future failures and ensure data integrity. This article aims to equip data recovery professionals, IT technicians, and tech enthusiasts with the knowledge and skills necessary to diagnose and repair HDD issues effectively. By integrating technical insights and practical approaches, it serves as a valuable resource for enhancing the reliability and longevity of HDDs in various applications.

Molecular insights into CO2 enhanced hydrocarbon recovery and its sequestration in multiscale shale reservoirs

CO2 huff-n-puff (HNP) is an attractive enhanced oil recovery (EOR) technique in shale development due to its low cost, high efficiency, and environmentally friendly feature. Molecular dynamics (MD) simulations have been widely used to investigate the mechanisms of CO2 HNP process. However, the process of CO2 HNP is highly complex, involving the CO2 adsorption and transport in multiscale porous media, while considering the effect of different hydrocarbon compositions of shale oil. In this work, we developed a novel multiscale model (nano + bulk) with the modified Eagle Ford shale oil and water as the reservoir fluid. We investigated the adsorption behaviors and transport dynamics of CO2 in the CO2 HNP process. We quantitatively evaluated the CO2 swelling effect and its miscibility with hydrocarbons. Our results show the preferential adsorption to the graphene wall is pentane < CO2 < octane. CO2 can effectively desorb the light and intermediate hydrocarbons from the graphene wall. In addition, CO2 has good swelling effect and miscibility with the light and intermediate components. Due to the large molecular diameter and the strong interactions with the nanopore wall, the heavy components tend to be trapped in the nanopore after the CO2 HNP process. However, CO2 has similar swelling effect on the light and heavy components, indicating that the heavy components in the bulk pore can be effectively swelled and produced. Different from the unstable diffusion edge in the inorganic nanopores, CO2 has a stable diffusion edge in the organic nanopores. From the adsorption perspective, CO2 has favorable sequestration performance in the inorganic nanopores in shale gas reservoirs. This work provides a comprehensive understanding of the CO2 HNP process and practical implications for CO2 sequestration in shale reservoirs.

Molecular understanding of speciation transformation of phosphorus and sulfur in food waste digestate during hydrothermal treatment

Recovering phosphorus (P) and sulfur (S) from biowaste is a key strategy to address the current P resources shortage and soil S deficiency. Food waste digestate (FWD) contains high contents of P and S, while its direct application is severely limited by available nutrient leaching loss and pollutant exposure. Hydrothermal treatment (HT) is an effective technique for biowaste disposal, enabling detoxification and resource recovery. The study systematically investigated the speciation transformation of P and S in FWD during HT, using chemical extraction and in-situ X-ray absorption near-edge structure (XANES) spectroscopy. The results revealed that up to 98% of P in FWD was enriched in the solid product (hydrochar) after HT, with organic P and labile P being converted into stable Ca-bound forms, predominantly hydroxyapatite. This transformation reduced the risk of P leakage loss compared to untreated FWD. Interestingly, the S speciation evolution exhibited more complexity. The highest S proportion in hydrochar of 73.6% was observed at 140 °C under HT. As the temperature increased from 140 °C to 180 °C, S in the hydrochar gradually dissolved into the liquid phase, attributed to unstable aliphatic compounds (mercaptan) and the sulfides oxidizing to sulfates. Above 180 °C, intermediate oxidation states and sulfates were reduced and formed metal sulfides. These findings have important implications for understanding the viability of HT for FWD disposal and the value-added utilization of FWD.

Demystifying the Suprazygomatic Maxillary Nerve Block in Paediatric Cleft Palate Surgery.

To consider the clinical anatomy, safety and effectiveness of the suprazygomatic maxillary nerve block in cleft palate surgery. Observational case series. Single cleft centre in the United Kingdom. Patients born with a cleft palate (with or without a cleft lip) undergoing palatal surgery between the ages of 9 months and 18 years. Introduction of suprazygomatic maxillary nerve (SZMN) block using ropivacaine 0.2% into clinical protocol in February 2023. Peri-procedure complications and post-operative opioid administration. The clinical anatomy of the SZMN block is described in a stepwise and pictorial approach from superficial to deep structures. 43 patients underwent surgical interventions involving the palate (either intravelar veloplasty, Furlow palatoplasty or bilateral myomucosal buccinator flaps for palatal lengthening). 22 patients had a general anaesthetic and local anaesthetic infiltration and 21 had an additional SZMN block. There were no local or systemic complications associated with the SZMN block. There was no difference in the total dosing of post-operative (P = .79) opioids between the groups. We demonstrate the feasibility and safety of this procedure without the use of ultrasound guidance in a heterogenous group of paediatric patients undergoing palatal surgery. Regional anaesthesia should be considered as part of the multi-modal analgesic strategy, although it may be difficult to demonstrate a change in opioid use in clinical settings where enhanced recovery techniques are established, and opioid use is already low.

Exercise for fall prevention in older adults

Background: Global population aging has significantly increased fall-related incidents among older adults, which is associated with major health risks and challenges for healthcare systems. Falls are a leading cause of injury, disability, and mortality in South Korea, which has shown rapid expansion of the elderly population. Development of effective fall-prevention strategies, including exercise-based interventions is important to address this issue.Current Concepts: Exercise-based fall prevention programs include several key types such as strength and functional movement training and balance exercises. Strength training includes resistance exercises and weightbearing activities to enhance muscle strength, which is essential for stability and fall prevention. Balance exercises improve stability and coordination, including standing on one leg and heel-to-toe walking. Functional movement training includes exercises that simulate daily activities and help individuals to improve their ability to safely perform routine tasks. Programs such as the Otago Exercise Program integrate these elements and offer a comprehensive approach to fall prevention. Such regimens combined with training in safe falling techniques are important to reduce fall risk and improve outcomes. Assessment tools, including the timed up-and-go and senior fitness tests, are useful to identify at-risk individuals and tailor interventions accordingly.Discussion and Conclusion: An effective fall prevention exercise program requires a multifaceted approach that combines various exercise types and focuses on improving muscle strength, balance, flexibility, and functional skills, as well as safe falling and floor recovery techniques. Tailoring these interventions to individual needs and regular risk assessments can enhance their usefulness.

Exploration of physical recovery techniques and economic viability for retired lithium nickel cobalt manganese oxide-type lithium-ion power batteries

Exploration of physical recovery techniques and economic viability for retired lithium nickel cobalt manganese oxide-type lithium-ion power batteries

Flexible bandwidth-efficient simplified coherent IFoF using twin-OSSB with a dually modulated EML.

A bandwidth-efficient coherent analog IFoF approach is proposed, employing a twin optical sideband (twin-OSSB) modulation of intermediate frequency-over-fiber (IFoF) signals in a dually modulated electroabsorption modulated laser (EML), demonstrating stable modulations without complex bias drifts and polarization control. The receiver (Rx) utilizes heterodyne detection with phase noise canceling (PNC) techniques for channel recovery. Successful demonstrations include an 8 Gbps aggregated twin-OSSB of two QPSK channels, with measurements covering optical back-to-back (btb) and 25 km of a standard single-mode fiber (SSMF), revealing sensitivities of -30 dBm and -25 dBm for QPSK-twin-OSSB and 16-QAM single user, respectively.

Embryo recovery(rescue) studies in different Vitis species

BackroundIn recent years, with the increasing demand for seedless grape varieties that have lower production costs, are disease resistant/tolerant and require less chemical pesticides, the embryo recovery technique has begun to be used more in table grape breeding studies. However, the desired high success rate has not yet been achieved in these studies. Although there are different reasons for this, especially the grape varieties selected for cross-breeding and the timing of transferring the embryos to medium are among the most important reasons. In this study, focusing on these two important factors, the embryos obtained from different hybridization combinations were transferred to agar medium at different weeks for 4 years and the most successful combination and time were determined. In addition, seedless and large berry grape varieties and some seeded varieties that are resistant/tolerant to fungal diseases were selected as parents because they can provide resistance to disease infections in vitro and thus increase the success rate.ResultsThe results obtained from the study showed that the selected variety and combination significantly affected the success rate in embryo rescue. Especially in combinations with the ‘Yalova Seedless’ variety as the female parent, more successful results were obtained compared to combinations of other varieties. When ‘Yalova Seedless’ variety was pollinated with pollen of ‘Red Globe’, ‘Muscat Bailey A’ and ‘Exalta’ varieties, more seedlings were obtained with the help of embryo rescue. The results obtained over four years showed that the best sampling time after pollination was the eighth week and then the seventh week.ConclusionsAccording to the results obtained, it has been shown that the selected varieties and the sampling time significantly affect the success rate in embryo rescue studies. Therefore, higher success rates can be achieved in comprehensive breeding studies in which they will be included as pollinators, especially in different seeded varieties that are resistant to diseases and have larger berry size.

Outcomes of controlled DCDD lung transplantation after thoraco-abdominal vs abdominal normothermic regional perfusion: The Spanish experience

ObjectiveThoraco-abdominal normothermic regional perfusion (TA-NRP) has emerged as a strategy for evaluating and recovering the heart in controlled donation after the circulatory determination of death (cDCDD). However, its impact on lung grafts remains largely unknown. We aimed to assess the impact of TA-NRP on the outcomes of recipients of cDCDD lungs. MethodsThis is a retrospective, multicenter, nationwide study describing the outcomes of cDCDD lung transplants (LTs) performed in Spain from January 2021 to November 2023. Patients were divided in two groups based on the recovery technique: TA-NRP with the simultaneous recovery of the heart versus abdominal NRP (A-NRP) without simultaneous heart recovery. The primary endpoint was the incidence of Primary Graft Dysfunction (PGD) grade 3 at 72 hours. Secondary endpoints included the overall incidence of PGD, days on mechanical ventilation, ICU and hospital length of stay, early survival rates, and mid-term outcomes. Results283 cDCDD LTs were performed during the study period, 28 (10%) using TA-NRP and 255 (90%) using A-NRP. No differences were observed in the incidence of PGD grade 3 at 72 hours between the TA-NRP and the A-NRP group (0% vs. 7.6%; p=0.231), though the overall incidence of PGD was significantly lower with TA-NRP (14.3%% vs. 41.5%; p=0.005). We found no significant differences between the groups regarding other post-transplant outcome variables. ConclusionsTA-NRP allows the simultaneous recovery of both the heart and the lungs in the cDCDD scenario with appropriate LT outcomes comparable to those observed with the A-NRP approach.

Fat Suppression in Distal Extremity 3-T MRI Using Spectral Heterogeneity Adaptive Radiofrequency Pulses.

Background Conventional chemical shift selective (CHESS) fat suppression may fail in distal extremity MRI due to sensitivity to field inhomogeneities. Purpose To develop a patient-specific fat-suppression method for distal extremity 3-T MRI by exploiting the spectral heterogeneity adaptive radiofrequency pulse (SHARP) technique and to compare it to fat suppression with CHESS. Materials and Methods SHARP uses the routinely acquired frequency spectrum at MRI calibration to adapt the frequency range and time-bandwidth product of the fat-suppression pulse. In this prospective study, fat suppression by SHARP was assessed by numerical simulations, phantom experiments, and imaging in 15 asymptomatic participants who underwent ankle, foot, and hand (in superman and hand-by-the-side positions) MRI using SHARP, CHESS, and reference standard (short-tau inversion recovery or Dixon) techniques. Three readers ranked the MRI scans from 1 (best) to 3 (worst) regarding fat-suppression homogeneity. The added value of SHARP was defined as the difference between the proportions of images where SHARP outranked CHESS and where CHESS outranked SHARP. Friedman, Wilcoxon signed rank, and χ2 tests were used to compare in vivo data. Results At numerical simulations, SHARP showed 0% water and 62%-70% fat suppression, whereas CHESS showed 2% water and 57% fat suppression. Phantom data demonstrated lower fat-suppression inhomogeneity indexes with Dixon (1.0%) and SHARP (2.4%) compared with CHESS (10.7%). In 15 participants (mean age, 38.5 years ± 12.8 [SD]; six female participants), mean ranking by readers of fat homogeneity in the reference technique (ankle, foot, hand in superman position, and hand-by-the-side position: 1.02, 1.02, 1.03, and 1.06, respectively) was higher than those with SHARP (1.39, 1.46, 1.50, and 1.66, respectively), which were higher than those with CHESS (1.64, 1.80, 1.61, and 1.80, respectively) (all P < .001). The added value of SHARP was highest for images in the foot (389 of 1158; 33.6%; P < .001 vs other joints), followed by the ankle (247 of 971 [25%]; P < .001 vs both hand positions), and lowest for hand-by-the-side and hand in superman positions (158 of 1223; [13%] and 133 of 1193 [11%], respectively; P = .18). Conclusion SHARP provided more homogeneous fat suppression than CHESS. © RSNA, 2024 Supplemental material is available for this article.

Enhanced Oil Recovery Techniques in Low Permeability Unconventional Shale Reservoirs

Enhanced Oil Recovery Techniques in Low Permeability Unconventional Shale Reservoirs

A Comprehensive Survey of Push Recovery Techniques for Standing and Walking Bipedal Robots

من المتوقع للروبوتات ذات القدمين ان يكون لها دور فعال في حياتنا اليومية وايضا الدخول في المجلات الصناعية والطبية وان يكون لها دور في عملية البحث والانقاذ التي تتم في اماكن خطرة على البشر. من اهم العوائق التي تواجه هذا النوع من الروبوتات هو قدرتها على ان تبقى متوازنة ومستقرة في حالة وجود مؤثرات خارجية كالارض الغير مستوية او تعرضها الى اصطدام مع البيئة المحيطة وهذا مايعيق قدرتها على التفاعل مع المحيط. لذلك من الضروري جدا تصيميم انظمة سيطرة فعالة قادرة على مساعدة هذه الروبوتات بان تبقى متوازنة اثناء تفاعلها مع البيئة المحيطة. هذه الدراسة تقدم مراجعة ادبية للبحوث السابقة الي عملت على فكرة ابقاء الروبوتات ذات القدمين مستقرة عندما تكون واقفة او متحركة (المشي) واثناء وجود قوة خارجية تحاول ان تجعل الروبوتات غير متوازنة. بالاضافة الى ذلك، هذه الورقة تقدم تصنيف واضح للدراسات السابقة بالاعتماد على ثلاثة معايير(التمثيل الرياضي للروبوت والطريقة المستخدمة للسيطرة والمتحسسات المطلوبة). هذا التصنيف سوف يساعد الباحثين على فهم وتحليل الطرق المستخدمة بطريقة سريعة وفعالة.

A robust aerogel incorporated with phthalocyanine-based porous organic polymers for highly efficient gold extraction

The gold recovery from electronic waste liquid is of great significance to the recycling of precious metals and environmental restoration. Adsorption method is the preferred technique for gold recovery, but its expansion and application prospects were often limited by the workability and recyclability of common solid powder adsorbents. Herein, a solid absorbent powder (phthalocyanine-based POP, TD-POP) was integrated into chitosan/polyethyleneimine aerogel (TD-POP@CS/PEI-2) via a facile cross-linking and lyophilization strategy. As expected, TD-POP@CS/PEI-2 possessed outstanding mechanical toughness and stability, demonstrating efficient and specific adsorption for Au (III). The maximum adsorption capacity was 2169 mg g−1, higher than most of the absorbents. TD-POP@CS/PEI-2 aerogel also exhibited fast kinetics (recovery efficiency of 81.3 % within 3 h), good selectivity (recovery efficiency of 98.35 % at 10 times concentration of Al3+, Zn2+, Cu2+ Cd2+, Co2+, Ni2+, Mn2+, and Cr6+ than Au ions) and reusability (eight times). Multiple characterizations revealed the adsorption mechanism, which implied that the excellent adsorption properties of the aerogel were ascribed to the electrostatic attraction between cationic aerogel and AuCl4− anion, coordination interaction between nitrogen-containing active sites and Au (III), and reduction of Au (III) by TD-POP@CS/PEI-2 aerogel. This work provides a valuable and promising strategy to design scalable and sustainable adsorbents for capture precious metals, also promotes the development of integral adsorbent for environmental remediation.

CO2 injection for enhanced oil recovery: Analyzing the effect of injection rate and bottom hole pressure

The goal of net-zero carbon emissions has led to widespread interest in lowering carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions. At the same time, the oil and gas industry seeks to enhance oil recovery (EOR) techniques to meet growing demand. CO2 flooding, a key EOR method, offers a dual benefit: reducing CO2 emissions and enhancing oil recovery. This study investigates the impact of injection rate and bottom hole pressure (BHP) on CO2 injection performance using the Nexus reservoir simulator, a novel application in CO2-EOR research. To the best of the author's knowledge, there is no previous research published in which the researchers used the Nexus reservoir simulator for the study of CO2-EOR. Cases are thoroughly investigated with various injection rates and BHP limitations. Simulation results show that BHP has a minimal impact on oil production, whereas increased injection rates significantly enhance cumulative oil production (COP) by 33.39% and extend reservoir life from 20 to 37 years. Total oil production increased to 33150.7 MSTB, accompanied by reduced water production and maintained reservoir pressure. These findings align with previous research, underscoring the importance of optimized CO2 injection strategies for maximizing oil recovery and reservoir performance.