Two-dimensional Method Research Articles

Concurrent validity and test-retest reliability for the assessment of body segment lengths using two-dimensional video-recordings in weightlifting

ABSTRACT The aims of this study were 1) to propose a simple two-dimensional (2D) video-based method to measure segment lengths in the clean and jerk during weightlifting competitions, and 2) to check concurrent validity and test-retest reliability compared to 3D video-based measurements. In the first part of the study, key body positions for the assessment of segment lengths via 2D measurement method were determined. In the second part, concurrent validity was verified, comparing the 2D segment length measurements to 3D measurements. In the third part, the test-retest reliability of the 2D approach was investigated. In the clean and in the jerk, the lift-off/start position and the position of maximum barbell velocity displayed a minimised offset between ‘real’ 3D segment lengths and 2D projections of the segment lengths. For the concurrent validity assessment, the overall random measurement error was 4.3% with concordance correlation coefficients ranging from 0.64 to 0.88. The standard error of measurement in the test-retest procedure was 2.4% on average with intraclass correlation coefficients ranging from 0.85 to 0.96. The proposed 2D video-based approach to measure body segment lengths during weightlifting exercises is proven to be a valid and reliable procedure.

The Financial Aspects behind Designing a Wind Turbine Generator

This article investigates the construction of a wind power generator requiring the lowest possible cost. The proposed model is an Axial Flux Permanent Magnet (AFPM) Synchronous Machine, which contains two iron rotors and a coreless stator between them, constructed from resin. The scientific contribution relates to the coupling of economic and technical parameters, which will clarify the feasibility, i.e., a wind turbine construction capable of producing approximately 3.5 KW, using a simple mill and a generator of nominal rotor speed 100 rpm. Such studies are few in international literature and mainly concern low levels of rotor speed in relation to the produced output power. For the generator dimensioning, analytical equations are used, while the type and the dimensions of the magnets are determined, before the start of dimensioning. The authors carried out research in the international market, ending up with specific cost-effective magnets, while trying to adjust the remaining dimensions and materials of the machine based on these cost-effective magnets and the aforementioned nominal values of the generator. The machine, whose dimensions are derived by analytical equations, was simulated and analyzed using the Two-Dimensional Finite Element Method (2D-FEM) and the Three-Dimensional Finite Element Method (3D-FEM), for comparison purposes. Moreover, an economic analysis of the generator and its individual parts was conducted. Finally, a novel idea for reducing the total generator cost is proposed, by replacing the rotor disks with rings. The investigation revealed that analytical equations can predict with satisfactory accuracy the generator’s parameters. In addition, as permanent magnets are the most expensive materials in the construction, their predetermination using low-cost magnets can reduce the construction cost. Finally, the proposed concept of a ring-shaped rotor instead of a disk rotor, provides a cost reduction of up to 20%.

Two-Dimensional Geometric Morphometric Method on Frontal Sinus for Race Estimation: A Lateral Skull Radiograph Study

Introduction: Race estimation of unknown individual is essential in forensic investigation. The resiliency of frontal sinus makes it a potential tool for biological profiling, particularly in cases where fragmented skeleton persists. Geometric morphometrics is an efficient way to characterise shape. However, the use of frontal sinus to identify race of Malaysians is yet to be investigated. This research employed a two-dimensional (2D) geometric morphometric to examine the morphological differences of the frontal sinus among the major races in Malaysia. Methods: Lateral skull radiographs which comprising of 453 adult Malaysian (151 Malays, Chinese and Indian respectively) were used. The 2D landmarks of eight were placed on the digitalized radiographs and 2D geometric morphometric analysis was performed using MorphoJ software. Results: Procrustes ANOVA revealed a significantly different frontal sinus shape (p-value < 0.05) between races. Canonical variate analysis showed significantly different frontal sinus morphology (p-value < 0.05) between Malay and Indian as well as Chinese and Indian. Discriminant function analysis with cross-validation demonstrated a 57.4% accuracy rate. Conclusion: This population-specific study based on frontal sinus of Malaysians using the 2D geometric morphometric, though less reliable, sheds new light on the potential applicability of this method for race estimation purpose.

Simulation Study on the Prediction of Macroscale Young’s Modulus Based on the Mesoscale Characteristics of Tight Glutenite Reservoirs

To obtain the macroscale Young’s modulus of glutenite under gravel inclusions, a numerical simulation of macroscale Young’s modulus prediction based on the mesoscale characteristics of glutenite was carried out. Firstly, the micron indentation test was used to obtain the meso-mechanical parameters of gravel and matrix in glutenite to ensure the reasonableness of the numerical simulation parameter settings; secondly, a two-dimensional glutenite physical model generation method based on the secondary development of Python was put forward; and then, the macroscale Young’s modulus variation rule of glutenite under different gravel sizes, particle size ratios, and content characteristics were analyzed using the finite element method (FEM). The results show that Young’s modulus of gravel is larger than Young’s modulus of the matrix, and Young’s modulus of different gravel and matrix has some differences. The gravel content is the main controlling factor affecting the macroscale Young’s modulus of glutenite; the gravel content and Young’s modulus of glutenite show a strong positive correlation, and the gravel size and particle size ratio have less influence on the macroscale Young’s modulus of glutenite. The difference in Young’s modulus between gravel and matrix causes the formation of local stress concentrations during loading and compression of glutenite. The smaller the gravel grain size, the higher the degree of non-uniformity of the grain size, the more likely it is to form higher local stresses. The results of the study provide a new prediction method for the prediction of the macroscale Young’s modulus of a glutenite reservoir.

Study on generation and evolution of base voids in heavy-haul railway tunnels using particle flow method

Most existing freight railway tunnels have experienced basement cracking, damage, and even mud-pumping after a certain period of operation. For heavy-haul railway tunnels with high traffic densities, large capacities, and large axle loads, this situation will be more serious. This paper establishes a simplified model of a single-track heavy-haul railway tunnel using the two-dimensional particle discrete element method. The meso-evolution process of the concrete structure and surrounding rock void at the bottom of the tunnel is studied in the later stages of repeated loading by heavy-haul trains. The difference in the base void between waterless and water-saturated bases is compared. The cracks in the surrounding rock are first generated at the lowest position of the invert center, and run from the middle to the sides and from the top to the bottom. The terminal cracks return to the free surface, exhibiting a parabolic shape that opens upward. There are more cracks in the middle and fewer at the sides. The asynchronous deformation of the surrounding rock and the inverted arch is positively correlated with the number of cracks. The voiding process under water-saturated conditions is similar to that without water, but the depth and width over which the rock mass is crushed and the range of voiding increase exponentially in the water-saturated case, and the void appears earlier. It is anticipated that these research results will contribute to the structural design and operational safety of heavy-haul railway tunnels.

Geosteering, application of synthetic logging to horizontal wellbore sections

This article provides an analysis of the process and optimization of horizontal wellbore tracking using geosteering control. Recently, the issue of high-quality and efficient drilling of wells through the reservoir and determining the position of the wellbore in the formations has been raised. In this regard, complex data analysis is used based on a 3D geological model and special software for well geosteering. In preparation for drilling a well, it is necessary to prepare voluminous, comprehensive information on previously drilled wells in a particular field and upload the results of seismic surveys. The article also describes an analysis of activities at various stages of drilling support, starting with geophysical reference and opening the target formation with the transport section. When drilling a horizontal section of a well, geosteering software is used while drilling wells, equipped with various tools, one of which is the 2D synthetic logging method. The method is based on the superposition of logging curves of a previously drilled reference vertical well and a directional well with a horizontal end currently being drilled. The two-dimensional synthetic logging method is the main and most optimal way to optimize the placement of wells with horizontal completion when drilling terrigenous reservoirs in Western Siberia.

Effects of anisotropy on the electronic structure and nonlinear optical rectification in a quantum dot with hydrogen molecular ion

In this study, the effects of anisotropy and quantum dot size on energy levels and nonlinear optical rectification of a D_{2}^{ + } molecular complex confined to a two-dimensional quantum dot are investigated. The energy eigenvalues and corresponding eigenfunctions of the resulting eigenvalue equation are obtained using the adiabatic approach and the two-dimensional diagonalization method. We conclude that the evolution of the energy spectrum depends predominantly on the anisotropy-induced change of geometric confinement size. In addition, it has been determined that the peak position of the nonlinear optical rectification shifts to lower or higher energies as the asymmetry of the system increases, depending on whether the QD is in the oblate or prolate case. This feature can be considered an advantage in tuning the nonlinear optical properties of systems based on two-dimensional semiconductor heterostructures.

Study of sedimentation characteristics of an elliptical squirmer in a vertical channel

Abstract We used a two-dimensional lattice Boltzmann method to simulate the sedimentation motion of an elliptical squirmer in a vertical channel, taking into account the case of a circular squirmer, aiming to more realistically simulate the swimming of microorganisms in nature. The study in this was divided into two phases. The first phase comprised the numerical calculations of an elliptical squirmer with an aspect ratio of c = 2.0 and revealed three typical motion modes: steady inclined motion, wall-attraction oscillation, and large-amplitude oscillation. It was found that the formation of these three motion modes and transitions between modes are related to the pressure distribution formed between the elliptical squirmer and wall. In addition, significant differences exist between the motions of elliptical and circular squirmers. The force generated by the interaction between the elliptical squirmer and wall does not all point towards its center of mass, resulting in an additional torque on the elliptical squirmer; this is not the situation for the circular squirmer. The second phase of the study simulated squirmers with different aspect ratios (c = 1.0, c = 3.0). It was found that for an elliptical squirmer with an aspect ratio c = 3.0, the large-amplitude oscillation mode (among the above three motion modes) no longer exists. By combining the motion modes of a circular squirmer in the channel, it can be observed that as the aspect ratio c increases, the squirmer’s head direction tends to be more vertical, which may reduce the drag force during swimming.

Efficiency improvement strategy of fuel cell system based on oxygen excess ratio and cathode pressure two-dimensional optimization

Improving the commercial fuel cell system efficiency is critical to reducing hydrogen consumption and improving the operational economy. This paper studies the power consumption pattern of the air supply subsystem, the most power-consuming auxiliary components, aiming to improve the system’s efficiency. A method was proposed to get the extremum of the system net power by optimizing the oxygen excess ratio and cathode pressure. Mathematical models describing the fuel cell stack and air supply subsystem power characteristics were developed based on the mechanism analysis and estimation of unknown parameters. Then, a system net power model for energy efficiency optimization was developed. The operating conditions for optimal efficiency at a specific current density can be obtained by numerical calculation. To verify the method’s effectiveness, a series of experiments were conducted, and the results show that the proposed method can maximize system net power output at various current density conditions. Compared with the conventional oxygen excess rate based one-dimensional optimization, the two-dimensional method can improve system efficiency by 2.06%, offering a good application prospect.

Quantitative microbial risk assessment of Salmonella in fresh chicken patties

Quantitative microbial risk assessment (QMRA) has witnessed rapid development within the context of food safety in recent years. As a means of contributing to these advancements, a QMRA for Salmonella spp. in fresh chicken patties for the general European Union (EU) population was developed. A two-dimensional (Second Order) Monte-Carlo simulation method was used for separating variability and uncertainty of model’s parameters. The stages of industrial processing, retail storage, domestic storage, and cooking in the domestic environment were considered in the exposure assessment. For hazard characterization, a dose-response model was developed by combining 8 published dose-response models using a Pert distribution for describing uncertainty. The QMRA model predicted a mean probability of illness of 1.19*10−4 (5.28*10−5 – 3.57*10−4 95 % C.I.), and a mean annual number of illnesses per 100,000 people of 2.13 (0.96 – 6.59 95 % C.I.). Moreover, sensitivity analysis was performed, and variability in cooking preferences was found to be the most influential model parameter (r = −0.39), followed by dose-response related variability (r = 0.22), and variability in the concentration of Salmonella spp. at the time of introduction at the processing facility (r = 0.11). Various mitigation strategy scenarios were tested, from which, “increasing the internal temperature of cooking” and “decreasing shelf life” were estimated to be the most effective in reducing the predicted risk of illness. Salmonella-related illnesses exhibit particularly high severity, making them some of the most prominent zoonotic diseases in the EU. Regular monitoring of this hazard in order to further highlight its related parameters and causes is a necessary procedure. This study not only provides an updated assessment of Salmonella spp. risk associated with chicken patties, but also facilitates the identification of crucial targets for scientific investigation and implementation of real-world intervention strategies.

Passive particles driven by self-propelled particle: The wake effect

This work focuses on numerically studying hydrodynamic interaction between a passive particle and a self-propelled particle, termed a squirmer, by using a two-dimensional lattice Boltzmann method (LBM). It is found that the squirmer can capture a passive particle and propel it simultaneously, provided the passive particle is situated within the squirmer’s wake. Our research shows that the critical capture distance, which determines whether the particle is captured, primarily depends on the intensity of the squirmer’s dipolarity. The stronger dipolarity of squirmer results in an increased critical capture distance. Conversely, the Reynolds number is found to have minimal influence on this interaction. Interestingly, the passive particle, when driven by the squirmer’s wake, contributes to a reduction in the squirmer’s drag. This results in a mutual acceleration for both particles. Our findings can provide valuable perspectives for formulating the principles of reducing the drag of micro-swimmers and help to achieve the goal of using micro-swimmers to transport goods without physical tethers.

Chloride ion diffusion performance of concrete and its influence on scour resistance

Hydraulic structures are affected by many factors, and chloride ions can significantly reduce the service life of concrete. In this paper, the erosion test of chloride ion erosion is studied, the damage characterization is carried out by two-dimensional and three-dimensional characterization methods, and the numerical simulation analysis is carried out. The results show that when the water cement ratio (w/c) is 0.3, 0.4 and 0.5, the grinding depth of concrete surface reaches 21 mm, and the chloride ion concentration is stable. With the increase of w/c, the porosity increases, especially the harmful pores have the greatest influence on ion erosion. Chloride ion erosion reduces the scour resistance of concrete. When the w/c decreases from 0.5 to 0.4, the influence of ions on the scour resistance of concrete is weakened by 5.3%. Under 0.5 w/c, the exposed area of aggregate on the surface of concrete increases by 15.6%, and the average erosion rate of concrete decreases by 3.3%, 5.0% and 16.0%. With the increase of chloride ion diffusion depth, the chloride ion concentration is in good agreement with the simulated value. The interfacial transition zone around the coarse aggregate promotes ion diffusion, so that the ion concentration of the concrete surface reaches the peak. Concrete with a w/c of 0.3 has a longer life under the same conditions.

Analysis of low-speed blade coating flows

From industrial-scale production to small-scale fabrication of functional films, the blade coating method is used widely to apply a uniform thin liquid film on a moving substrate. However, conventional hydrodynamic models are inadequate for laboratory-scale low-speed blade coating, where capillary forces dominate. In this study, the low-speed blade coating of non-evaporative Newtonian fluids was investigated in experimental, computational and analytical approaches. The transient free boundary problem was solved utilizing a two-dimensional finite element method, and a simple viscocapillary model was developed to describe the viscous stress and capillary forces within the puddle, and predict the thickness of the wet film as a function of the speed of the substrate. Comparing the predicted film thickness with the computational results, and a flow visualization experiment of blade coating with silicone oil, respectively, confirmed the model's validity. The study indicates that the proposed model may be a useful tool for optimizing laboratory coating processes, as it provides a greater understanding of the low-speed blade coating system on a laboratory scale.

3D QUANTITATIVE CHARACTERIZATION OF THE HUMAN MENISCAL VASCULAR NETWORK USING X-RAY MICRO-COMPUTED TOMOGRAPHY

A comprehensive understanding of the self-repair abilities of menisci and their overall function in the knee joint requires three-dimensional information. However, previous investigations of the meniscal blood supply have been limited to two-dimensional imaging methods, which fail to accurately capture tissue complexity. In this study, micro-CT was used to analyse the 3D microvascular structure of the meniscus, providing a detailed visualization and precise quantification of the vascular network.A contrast agent (μAngiofil®) was injected directly into the femoral artery of cadaver legs to provide the proper contrast enhancement. First, the entire knee joint was analysed with micro-CT, then to increase the applicable resolution the lateral and medial menisci were excised and investigated with a maximum resolution of up to 4 μm. The resulting micro-CT datasets were analysed both qualitatively and quantitatively. Key parameters of the vascular network, such as vascular volume fraction, vessel radius, vessel length density, and tortuosity, were separately determined for the lateral and medial meniscus, and their four circumferential zones defined by Cooper.In accordance with previous literature, the quantitative micro-CT data confirm a decrease in vascular volume fraction along the meniscal zones. The highest concentration of blood vessels was measured in the meniscocapsular region 0, which is characterized by vascular segments with a significantly larger average radius. Furthermore, the highest vessel length density observed in zone 0 suggests a more rapid delivery of oxygen and nutrients compared to other regions. Vascular tortuosity was detected in all circumferential regions, indicating the occurrence of vascular remodelling in all tissue areas.In conclusion, micro-CT is a non-invasive imaging technique that allows for the visualization of the internal structure of an object in three dimensions. These advanced 3D vascular analyses have the potential to establish new surgical approaches that rely on the healing potential of specific areas of the meniscus.Acknowledgements: The authors acknowledge R. Hlushchuk, S. Halm, and O. Khoma from the University of Bern for their help with contrast agent perfusions.

Duchovný aspekt starostlivosti o pacienta s onkologickým ochoreniami v kúpeľnom zariadení

Objective: To analyze changes in the spiritual field and spiritual needs of an oncological patient, which burden not only the patient but also his family. Materials and methods: The research group consisted of patients with oncological disease who are in remission. Only patients who underwent spa treatment took part in the research. 300 patients were included in the research group. Two-dimensional descriptive statistics methods were used to statistically verify the validity of the established hypotheses. Results: F - test - a significant difference in variances was found. T – test - an insignificant difference was found in the answer to why it happened to you between oncological diseases. T - test - an insignificant difference of the influence of the disease on faith among cancer patients was found. T - test - an insignificant difference of the influence of the disease on faith among cancer patients was found. Conclusion: The statistical analysis of the obtained results confirmed a statistically significant dependence between the oncological disease and spiritual aspects and between the effectiveness of spa treatments.

A Two-Dimensional Risk Assessment Method for Oil and Gas Pipelines Based on “Accident Probability–Reputation Loss”

A Two-Dimensional Risk Assessment Method for Oil and Gas Pipelines Based on “Accident Probability–Reputation Loss”

In vitro and clinical validation of different correction algorithms for the two-dimensional proximal isovelocity surface area method in a low-velocity flow field for quantifying tricuspid regurgitation.

The 2-dimensional proximal isovelocity surface area (2D PISA) method underestimates tricuspid regurgitation (TR) severity. Previously proposed correction algorithms should be further scrutinized. Two correction algorithms were tested. One approach involves dividing the 2D PISA effective regurgitant orifice area by a constant of 0.7 (EROA0.7). Another approach involves multiplying the unadjusted EROA by Vorifice/(Vorifice - Valiasing), where Vorifice denotes the TR jet velocity, and Valiasing represents the color aliasing velocity (EROAVo-Va). In vitro validation was performed on a commercially available multifunctional valve tester with different size orifices and peak pressure gradients. A true EROA was derived through the regurgitant volume (RVol) calculated from the tester. For clinical validation, RVol was calculated as the difference between the overall stroke volume and the forward stroke volume of the right ventricle. Volumetric EROA was derived by dividing the RVol by the TR velocity-time integral (VTI). The vena contracta area (VCA) was obtained through direct planimetry with 3D echocardiography. The mean of volumetric EROA and VCA served as the reference in clinical validation. Excellent correlation between the calculated EROAs and the true EROA was observed in vitro (r=0.98, r=0.97, and r=0.98 for uncorrected EROA, EROAVo-Va, and EROA0.7, respectively; all P values <0.0001). EROAVo-Va underestimated the true EROA and averaged 33% (P=0.3163), while EROA0.7 overestimated the true EROA and averaged 8% (P=0.0032). Clinically, these methods consistently exhibited a notable underestimation that varied with the reference EROA. This systematic underestimation was mitigated by both algorithms when either the VCA (biases of 19.6, 15.1, and 11.8 mm2 for uncorrected EROA, EROAVo-Va, and EROA0.7, respectively) or the volumetric EROA (biases of 10.1, 5.6, and 2.3 mm2 for uncorrected EROA, EROAVo-Va, and EROA0.7, respectively) served as the reference. Their ability to distinguish severe TR was similar, with area under the curve values of 0.905, 0.903, and 0.893 for uncorrected EROA, EROAVo-Va, and EROA0.7, respectively. No statistically significant differences were observed for diagnostic accuracy (all P values >0.05). Using a correction factor of 0.7 in quantifying TR provides similar accuracy when compared to other techniques. This represents a valuable clinical tool for quickly correcting the underestimation of the 2D PISA method in TR. This simple method may increase the frequency of applying the correction and earlier recognition of patients with severe TR.

Adaptive positioning technology of film cooling holes in hollow turbine blades

Film cooling technology is widely used in hollow turbine blades of aero-engine with a high thrust-to-weight ratio. The positioning accuracy of film cooling holes directly affects the uniformity and adhesion of the cooling film on blade surfaces. Two main factors affect the positioning accuracy of film cooling holes, i.e., the profile deformation of the blades during manufacturing and the blade clamping error in computer numerical control equipment. The positioning technology of film cooling holes has rarely been investigated. In this study, an adaptive positioning method is proposed to provide a reference for innovative research in this field. First, this study proposes a method for measuring and compensating blade clamping error based on the point cloud data of the entire blade surface obtained with optical scanning equipment by combining the rigid-body transformation theory and three-dimensional point cloud matching method. Second, owing to the complex overall deformation of the blade surface, this study innovatively focuses on the deformation of each slice from a local perspective. Furthermore, the deformation of each slice is decomposed into bending, torsion, and uneven shrinkage. The bending and torsion deformations are compensated based on the two-dimensional rigid-body matching method, while the remaining uneven shrinkage deformation is compensated by the position mapping method. The effectiveness and accuracy of the proposed method are qualitatively and quantitatively verified by the adaptive positioning results of film cooling holes in actual and test blades. The maximum spatial position and angle deviations are 0.0561 mm and 0.6946°, respectively.

Two-Dimensional Coupled Electrothermal Method Based on the Unstructured Transmission-Line Modelling Method for Lightning Protection Simulations

Two-Dimensional Coupled Electrothermal Method Based on the Unstructured Transmission-Line Modelling Method for Lightning Protection Simulations

Functional Assays in 3D ObaCell® Fat-on-a-Chip Cultures: Lipolysis and Glucose Uptake Assays.

Advancements in three-dimensional in vitro cultures pose a need for modification of established two-dimensional culture functional assay methods. Application of three-dimensional in vitro models in drug screening and target validation, specifically in the development of compounds targeting adipose metabolic activity, requires optimization of current glucose uptake and lipolysis assay protocols to effectively measure adipocyte function in a three-dimensional platform. This chapter describes the establishment of three-dimensional cultures using Obatala Sciences' human-derived hydrogel, maintenance and treatment of the cultures, and evaluation of compound response via lipolysis and glucose uptake assays.