Usual Values Research Articles

QA/QC PLAN AND EVALUATION OF FIELD STRENGTH AND PERMEABILITY VALUE FOR DEEP CEMENT MIXING

Deep Cement Mixing (DCM) is widely used to improve the strength and stiffness of soil by mixing it with cement. When DCM is used as a low permeability barrier for water cut off, permeability must be tested in addition to the usual strength values. One concern in DCM construction is the quality assurance and quality control (QA/QC) of this technique to ensure uniformity along the DCM column. It is even more crucial when low permeability is required for the DCM column to be used as a seepage cut-off in an earth bund, in addition to its strength requirement. In this application, the DCM columns require low permeability and adequate strength. In this paper, two QA/QC aspects will be evaluated: the operational control and the evaluation of the treated DCM column. The operational control in terms of mixing time, cement content, rotation speed and mixing energy will be studied to gain an understanding of how strength and permeability changes with the variability of the soil with depth. A rational QA/QC plan will be briefly proposed to ensure a consistent and rational method is developed for the evaluation of the strength and permeability variation of the treated soils over the area and the depth. These will help in the development of acceptable characteristic value for the geotechnical parameters of soils treated with DCM (in line with Eurocode 7).

443 - Measuring frailty in older psychiatric patients

IntroductionFrailty is a common clinical syndrome in older adults that carries an increased risk for poor health outcomes. Early identification of frailty may help optimizing quality of care. Fried's frailty criteria are often used as the gold standard of frailty. However, it takes too much time and the availability of a hand grip strength meter to measure these criteria in daily practice. Screening instruments for frailty such as the Groningen Frailty Indicator (GFI) and the Tilburg Frailty Indicator (TFI), are available. However, it is not yet certain whether the usual cut-off values are applicable to older psychiatric patients.AimTo determine internal consistency, sensitivity, specificity and area under the curve (AUC) of the receiver operating characteristic-curve (ROC- curve) of the GFI and TFI using validated cut-off values, and to determine the optimal cut-off value in older psychiatric patients.MethodsBaseline data of an ongoing prospective cohort study were used. In this study GFI, TFI and Fried-criteria were determined in hospitalized and non-hospitalized psychiatric patients over 65 years old.ResultsA total of 145 participants were enrolled, 90 of which were hospitalized and 55 were non-hospitalized. Median age of participants was 75.2 (SD =7) years, 108 were female. Prevalence of frailty according to Fried-criteria was 29.7%. Internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha) of the GFI was 0.76 and TFI = 0.75. Using the validated cut-off value and the Fried- criteria as reference, sensitivity of the GFI (≥4) was 0.95 (95% CI 0.83 - 0.99) and specificity 0.27 (95%CI 0.19 - 0.37). Sensitivity of the TFI (≥5) was 0.98 (95% CI 0.86 - 1.00) and specificity 0.31 (95% CI 0.23 - 0.41). The optimum cut-off value for both the GFI and TFI was ≥8. The AUC of the ROC-curve of GFI and TFI were 0.82 (95% CI 0.75 - 0.90) and 0.79 (95% CI 0.72 - 0.87), respectively.ConclusionWe found an acceptable internal consistency and AUC of both the GFI and the TFI in older psychiatric patients. Increasing the cut-off values of both GFI and TFI seems necessary to lower the amount of false positives in this population.

Implementation Of AI Based Relaying Scheme For Overcurrent Protection Using Numerical Relay Development Environment Board

Numerical overcurrent Relay is a type of protective relay that operates when a pre-set value exceeds a charge current. Because of its standard technology, numerical relay is better known as present generation relay. Overcurrent relay protects power systems in any aspect of the power network , i.e. transmission lines, transformers, generators or motors, against excessive currents. A relay program that is over-current is coded using the MPLAB platform. With the help of MATLAB Simulation the overcurrent is achieved. By varying the source voltage and the load resistance, we can find the usual load current values (In rms) and automatically increase the load circuit value when the short circuit element is inserted in that model that is being viewed as being overcurrent. Overcurrent data is trained in Artificial Intelligence (Neural Network) and implemented through coding in the NRDE Board. In NRDE testing software, a trip command is observed when overcurrent condition is reached.

Integro spline quasi-interpolants and their super convergence

This paper gives a type of new spline quasi-interpolants where the entry values are integral values of successive intervals, rather than the usual function values at the knots. They are called integro spline quasi-interpolants. Also, their super convergence property in approximating function values/derivative values at the knots/mid-knots are proved. Numerical experiments show that the integro spline quasi-interpolants possess super convergence.

Simple machine learning allied with data-driven methods for monitoring tool wear in machining processes

The aim of this work was to identify the occurrence of machine tool wear in carbide inserts applied in a machine turning center with two steel materials. Through the data collected with an open-source communication protocol during machining, eighty trials of twenty runs each were performed using central composite design experiments, resulting in a data set of eighty lines for each tested material. The data set consisted of forty lines with the tool wear condition and forty lines without. Machining parameters were set to be in the range of the usual industrial values. The cutting parameters in the machining process were cutting speed, feed rate, cutting depth, and cutting fluid applied in the abundance condition and without cutting fluid (dry machining). The collected data were the spindle motor load, X-axis motor load, and Z-axis motor load in terms of the percentage used. AISI P20 and AISI 1045 steels workpieces were tested with both new and worn inserts, and a flank tool wear of 0.3 mm was artificially induced by machining with the same material before the data collecting experiment. Two approaches were used in order to analyze the data and create the machine learning process (MLP), in a prior analysis. The collected data set was tested without any previous treatment, with an optimal linear associative memory (OLAM) neural network, and the results showed 65% correct answers in predicting tool wear, considering 3/4 of the data set for training and 1/4 for validating. For the second approach, statistical data mining methods (DMM) and data-driven methods (DDM), known as a self-organizing deep learning method, were employed in order to increase the success ratio of the model. Both DMM and DDM applied along with the MLP OLAM neural network showed an increase in hitting the right answers to 93.8%. This model can be useful in machine monitoring using Industry 4.0 concepts, where one of the key challenges in machining components is finding the appropriate moment for a tool change.

Measurement of angiotensin-I-converting enzyme in the blood: help for method validation

Blood angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) assay is now realized by the determination of enzyme activity on synthetic substrate, mostly furylacryloyl-phenylalanyl-L-glycyl-L-glycine (FAPGG). The matrix can be serum or heparin-plasma, with or without a separator; the assay developed on serum or plasma is not adapted to other matrix such as cerebrospinal fluid where the ACE activity is much lower. This assay has been adapted on a number of automated biochemistry analyzers with the specifications of the supplier of reagents, sometimes with modification of volumes or times for analysis. Samples can be stored at +4̊C for at least for one week, freezing at -20̊C is possible but refreezing is not advised. The assay is linear from 10 to 200 UI/L. Fidelity is excellent after calibration of the assay. Accuracy can be calculated from IQA and EQA results, and the analytical uncertainty is between 2% and 5% in function of the serum ACE value. Usual values will be soon available from studies on age brackets and sex, because ACE activity seems to be more elevated in boys during adolescence. At signature, it is interesting to have medical information on the diagnosis of sarcoidosis or its treatment including ACE inhibitors as a proof of intake; we can give a commentary on elevation of serum ACE activity from other causes than sarcoidosis and the causes for low activities.

Assessment of Ecological and Hydro-Geomorphological Alterations under Climate Change Using SWAT and IAHRIS in the Eo River in Northern Spain

Magnitude and temporal variability of streamflow is essential for natural biodiversity and the stability of aquatic environments. In this study, a comparative analysis between historical data (1971–2013) and future climate change scenarios (2010–2039, 2040–2069 and 2070–2099) of the hydrological regime in the Eo river, in the north of Spain, is carried out in order to assess the ecological and hydro-geomorphological risks over the short-, medium- and long-term. The Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) model was applied on a daily basis to assess climate-induced hydrological changes in the river under five general circulation models and two representative concentration pathways. Statistical results, both in calibration (Nash-Sutcliffe efficiency coefficient (NSE): 0.73, percent bias (PBIAS): 3.52, R2: 0.74) and validation (NSE: 0.62, PBIAS: 6.62, R2: 0.65), are indicative of the SWAT model’s good performance. The ten climate scenarios pointed out a reduction in rainfall (up to −22%) and an increase in temperatures, both maximum (from +1 to +7 °C) and minimum ones (from +1 to +4 °C). Predicted flow rates resulted in an incrementally greater decrease the longer the term is, varying between −5% (in short-term) and −53% (in long-term). The free software IAHRIS (Indicators of Hydrologic Alteration in Rivers) determined that alteration for usual values remains between excellent and good status and from good to moderate in drought values, but flood values showed a deficient regime in most scenarios, which implies an instability of river morphology, a progressive reduction in the section of the river and an advance of aging of riparian habitat, endangering the renewal of the species.

P1056SUSTAINED LOW EFFICIENCY DIALYSIS (SLED) WITH STANDARD HEMODIALYSIS MACHINE AND CITRATE AS CIRCUIT ANTICOAGULANT IN CRITICALLY ILL PATIENTS WITH ACUTE KIDNEY INJURY

Abstract Background and Aims Sustained-Low Efficiency Dialysis (SLED) is a Renal Replacement Therapy (RRT) modality characterized by excellent efficiency and hemodynamic stability that is increasingly used in critically patients with Acute Kidney Injury (AKI). SLED can be performed with either continuous RRT or conventional hemodialysis machines. Even in the case of SLED, avoiding extracorporeal circuit clotting is a mainstay of treatment, and a rational approach to this issue is represented by regional citrate anticoagulation. The present pilot study is aimed at a preliminary evaluation of safety and efficacy of a simplified regional anticoagulation protocol based on ACD-A for SLED performed by using a conventional hemodialysis machine in critically ill patients with AKI in the ICU. Method SLED was performed for 8-12 hours (daily or every other day) with a Surdial X Nipro® hemodialysis machine, with a standard hemodialysis circuit, and a triacetate of cellulose filter (Sureflux-19L, 1.9 m2, KUF 19 ml/mmHg/h). Blood flow was set at 200 ml/min and dialysis fluid flow at 100 ml/min. The citrate was infused in pre-dilution as ACD-A solution (citrate 2.2%, 112.9 mmol/L) at rates ranging from 200 to 400 ml/h, to obtain an estimated pre-filter citrate concentration between 2 and 4 mmol/L. The treatment was monitored by serial evaluations of ionized calcium (Ca ++) and ACT (Hemochron Jr) at the following times: at the beginning of the SLED (sampling at the arterial line representative of patient’s blood), at the 2nd hour (arterial line and post-filter) and at the end of SLED (arterial line). Laboratory targets for monitoring were as follows: normal values of ACT and calcium ionized (Ca++) not less than 0.9 mmol/L in the patient blood (systemic circulation), ionized calcium values not less than 0.6 mmol/L in the post-filter blood. The blood of the extracorporeal circuit was then recalcified in the filter by dialysis fluid itself (Ca ++ 1.5 mmol/L) through Ca backfiltration. The protocol does not request routine calcium infusion to the patient until Ca++ values in the post-filter blood at the 2nd hour is < 0.6 mmol/L. Results A total of 41 SLED sessions were performed in 12 patients (mean age 69 + 18 SD, 7 males and 5 females, mean APACHE II 22); 6 patients were on mechanical ventilation, and 6 had severe hemodynamic instability requiring high-dose vasoactive drugs. Patients had an average fluid overload of 6 Kg, as estimated by the usual weight values reported. Average pre-SLED urea was 94 mg/dL, and 32 mg/dL at the end of treatment. Most of the sessions were completed for elapsed prescribed time. Only in three cases a premature interruption was observed for clotting of circuit or of the filter (in all cases after at least 6 hours of treatment); in one case only blood restitution was not complete. No statistically significant differences were observed between systemic ACT values during SLED as compared to baseline values of the patients. Calcium infusion (calcium gluconate at fixed rate, 5 ml/h) was started in 10 treatments (10/42, 23.8%). No new cardiac arrhythmia episode or hemorrhagic events were observed during treatments or shortly after. Conclusion Our preliminary data suggests that a simplified citrate-based SLED protocol using a conventional dialysis machine is easy and safe, also ensuring a good match between prescribed and actual dialysis dose administered.

Exogeneity tests, incomplete models, weak identification and non-Gaussian distributions: Invariance and finite-sample distributional theory

We study the distribution of Durbin–Wu–Hausman (DWH) and Revankar–Hartley (RH) tests for exogeneity from a finite-sample viewpoint, under the null and alternative hypotheses. We consider linear structural models with possibly non-Gaussian errors, where structural parameters may not be identified and where reduced forms can be incompletely specified (or nonparametric). On level control, we characterize the null distributions of all the test statistics. Through conditioning and invariance arguments, we show that these distributions do not involve nuisance parameters. In particular, this applies to several test statistics for which no finite-sample distributional theory is yet available, such as the standard statistic proposed by Hausman (1978). The distributions of the test statistics may be non-standard – so corrections to usual asymptotic critical values are needed – but the characterizations are sufficiently explicit to yield finite-sample (Monte-Carlo) tests of the exogeneity hypothesis. The procedures so obtained are robust to weak identification, missing instruments or misspecified reduced forms, and can easily be adapted to allow for parametric non-Gaussian error distributions. We give a general invariance result (block triangular invariance) for exogeneity test statistics. This property yields a convenient exogeneity canonical form and a parsimonious reduction of the parameters on which power depends. In the extreme case where no structural parameter is identified, the distributions under the alternative hypothesis and the null hypothesis are identical, so the power function is flat, for all the exogeneity statistics. However, as soon as identification does not fail completely, this phenomenon typically disappears. We present simulation experiments which confirm the finite-sample theory. The theoretical results are illustrated with an empirical example : the relation between trade and economic growth.

Avaliação de desperdício em restaurantes comerciais do tipo self-service total na Universidade do Estado do Rio de Janeiro (UERJ)

O controle das perdas e desperdício de alimentos é relevante do ponto de vista econômico, em relação ao combate à fome e na melhoria da segurança alimentar. O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar o desperdício de refeições e identificar e quantificar os resíduos de frutas e hortaliças em restaurantes comerciais do tipo self-service na Universidade do Estado do Rio de Janeiro, comparar os dados desta pesquisa com outros estudos, e apresentar estratégias para minimização e reaproveitamento de resíduos. Para análise da sobra descartada foi realizada a pesagem das cubas, ainda com alimentos, descontando o valor do recipiente. Para quantificar o índice de resto ingestão, foram pesados os restos deixados pelos comensais. Os resíduos de frutas e hortaliças foram pesados separadamente. Para obtenção do valor monetário perdido com a sobra descartada, multiplicou-se o preço do quilograma (kg) de comida cobrado aos clientes pela sobra descartada. Os dados foram avaliados por análise de variância (ANOVA) seguida de pós-teste de Tukey (p≤ 0,05), utilizando os softwares Excel 365 (Microsoft®) e PAST 3.2. Para levantamento dos dados de outros estudos e das estratégias para minimização e reaproveitamento de resíduos, foi realizada revisão bibliográfica. Os três restaurantes apresentaram resto ingestão per capita dentro dos valores usuais de acordo com a literatura (15-45 g). Entretanto, a sobra descartada per capita foi superior ao que é preconizado e o Restaurante 1 apresentou maior perda monetária com esta sobra. No Restaurante 1, a soma dos resíduos de frutas e hortaliças corresponderam a mais de 50% do total de resíduos orgânicos. O desperdício de alimentos representa um cenário real, sendo preocupante sob o ponto de vista social, econômico e ambiental. Desta forma, políticas públicas são necessárias para ampliar as condições de acesso à alimentação, incentivar o reaproveitamento dos alimentos e reduzir os resíduos gerados.

Turbulent drag induced by low surface roughness at transonic speeds: Experimental/numerical comparisons

This paper gives the main results of an experimental test campaign aimed at quantifying the effects of very low roughness levels on the flat plate turbulent drag in transonic conditions. This work, in a field not completely understood yet, the one of the transitionally rough regime, has revealed its importance by showing that some surfaces considered as hydrodynamically smooth in past studies might not have been. This issue can be strongly critical in the delicate exercise of experimental/numerical comparisons, and more specifically, when it comes to absolute drag predictions, if the fluid dynamics computations use only, as they almost always do, infinitely smooth surfaces. The experiments on the S8Ch wind tunnel have involved high-level measurement techniques, such as micro-drag evaluation with a three-component balance and near-wall laser Doppler velocimetry, for Mach numbers from 0.55 to 0.8 and maximum Reynolds numbers based on the sample length and the boundary layer thickness of about 2.6 × 106 and 0.13 × 106, respectively, the highest friction Reynolds number being close to 5000. A dozen surface samples were tested, with average roughness values from less than 0.25 μm (mirror-polished aluminum) to more than 10 μm (commercial sandpapers), and in between standard-machined or painted samples (including pressure sensitive paintings). A pragmatic computational fluid dynamics study reproducing this test campaign was completed. It is based on the well-known equivalent sand grain roughness height approach and also on the Musker correlation, which was adapted. The results and validity of such Reynolds-averaged Navier–Stokes simulations in that particular regime are discussed. Anyway, both experimental and numerical outcomes of this work are in agreement to indicate that drag can be significantly impacted even for roughness Reynolds numbers potentially below the usual threshold values often considered in the engineering world (i.e., about 3.5–5). And the cross-analysis of surface drag production and roughness characteristics has allowed the decisive role played by the rms (or average) roughness height, the skewness and kurtosis coefficients, and especially the slope parameter to be confirmed.

Effect on Quality of Cement Mortar by I nclusion of Nano Particle of Zinc Oxide

Now days, there are so many new nano-technologies and methodologies are developed on the field of construction. These days, there is a swiftly rising concern especially using Nano-particles in Portland Pozzolana cement (PPC) concrete to improve the overall properties. The upper layer area of Nano-particles gives more chemical reaction at the subject to gives improved properties and capacities. Complete experiment the mixture of PPC- mortar with Nano-particles, ZnO with diameter of 50-60 nm of compressive-strength are investigated. ZnO have good physical and chemical properties such as dissolve in most of acids, reducing void ratio, availability in different crystalline forms gives enhanced mix of mortar. The principle reason for this investigation prepare a blended mortar with improved mechanical properties. The impacts of nano particles on the qualities such as compressive strength of mortar were experimentally investigated. The blended cement consists of Portland Pozzolana cement (PPC) and nano zinc oxide (NZnO) particles are used. The blended cement given in this investigation consists of Por PPC-cement and NZnO particles. The cement is moderately replaced with NZnO of 0, 0.5, 1, and 1.5 % by PPC cement. The mixture of cement, sand and water was prepared by the ratio of 1:2 and 1:3 of cement-sand by weight with water – binder ratio of 0.35. The strength of cement mortar will be measured after 7, 14 and 28 days. By adding NZnO, we can get good strength values of concrete more than usual strength values we got approximately 18%, of more strength by replacing 1.5% of cement by weight and also there is minimum usage of water with using super plasticizer.

Accelerated Trajectories of Walking Capacity Across the Adult Life Span in Persons With Multiple Sclerosis: An Underrecognized Challenge

Background. In the general population, trajectories of walking capacity is accelerated and nonlinear with advanced age. Whether this is more pronounced in persons with multiple sclerosis (pwMS), along with the prevalence of dismobility (ie, slow gait speed), are currently unknown. Our objective was to investigate trajectories of walking capacity and prevalence of dismobility across the adult life span in pwMS versus healthy controls (HC). Methods. Data on maximal timed 25-foot walk test (T25FWT), 2-minute walk test (2MWT), and 6-minute walk test (6MWT) along with prevalence of dismobility were assembled from 2 RIMS multicenter studies (n = 502 pwMS; age range 21-77 years, 6 age groups: 20-29, 30-39, 40-49, 50-59, 60-69, and 70-79 years). HC data were extracted from studies containing normative reference values (n = 1070-3780 HC). Results. Age trajectories of walking capacity was nonlinear and accelerated in pwMS versus HC. While measures of walking capacity in pwMS were suppressed already early in life, the gap between pwMS and HC significantly widened across the 6 age groups (pwMS performed 64%, 70%, 57%, 59%, 51%, and 37% of HC, respectively). This coincided with high prevalences of dismobility in pwMS across the 6 age groups when using usual gait speed cut-point values <1.0 m/s (corresponding to 33%, 32%, 51%, 59%, 75%, and 100%) and <0.6 m/s (corresponding to 19%, 12%, 26%, 23%, 33%, and 43%), markedly exceeding that observed in HC. Conclusion. The present data on walking capacity provide evidence for an accelerated deterioration in pwMS with advanced age, coinciding with high prevalences of dismobility (ie, slow gait speed).

Spatial and Temporal Variations in SO2 and PM2.5 Levels Around Kīlauea Volcano, Hawai'i During 2007–2018

Among the hazards posed by volcanoes are the emissions of gases and particles that can affect air quality and damage agriculture and infrastructure. A recent intense episode of volcanic degassing associated with severe impacts on air quality accompanied the 2018 lower East Rift Zone (LERZ) eruption of Kīlauea volcano, Hawai'i. This resulted in a major increase in gas emission rates with respect to usual emission values for this volcano, along with a shift in the source of the dominant plume to a populated area on the lower flank of the volcano. This led to reduced air quality in downwind communities. We analyse open-access data from the permanent air quality monitoring networks operated by the Hawai'i Department of Health (HDOH) and National Park Service (NPS), and report on measurements of atmospheric sulfur dioxide (SO2) between 2007 and 2018 and PM2.5 (aerosol particulate matter with diameter <2.5 μm) between 2010 and 2018. Additional air quality data were collected through a community-operated network of low-cost PM2.5 sensors during the 2018 LERZ eruption. From 2007 to 2018 the two most significant escalations in Kīlauea's volcanic emissions were: the summit eruption that began in 2008 (Kīlauea emissions averaged 5–6 kt/day SO2 from 2008 until summit activity decreased in May 2018) and the LERZ eruption in 2018 when SO2 emission rates reached a monthly average of 200 kt/day during June. In this paper we focus on characterizing the airborne pollutants arising from the 2018 LERZ eruption and the spatial distribution and severity of volcanic air pollution events across the Island of Hawai'i. The LERZ eruption caused the most frequent and severe exceedances of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) PM2.5 air quality threshold (35 μg/m3 as a daily average) in Hawai'i in the period 2010–2018. In Kona, for example, the maximum 24-h-mean mass concentration of PM2.5 was recorded as 59 μg/m3 on the twenty-ninth of May 2018, which was one of eight recorded exceedances of the EPA air quality threshold during the 2018 LERZ eruption, where there had been no exceedances in the previous 8 years as measured by the HDOH and NPS networks. SO2 air pollution during the LERZ eruption was most severe in communities in the south and west of the island, as measured by selected HDOH and NPS stations in this study, with a maximum 24-h-mean mass concentration of 728 μg/m3 recorded in Ocean View (100 km west of the LERZ emission source) in May 2018. Data from the low-cost sensor network correlated well with data from the HDOH PM2.5 instruments, confirming that these low-cost sensors provide a robust means to augment reference-grade instrument networks.

Current and future diagnosis of cystic fibrosis: Performance and limitations

Cystic fibrosis (CF) is the most frequent genetic disorder in the Caucasian population benefiting from systematic newborn screening tests. It is also the most frequent indication of prenatal and preimplantation genetic diagnosis for a single gene disorder. During the past thirty years, thanks in part to the evolution of diagnostic techniques, our knowledge on CFTR genetics and pathophysiological mechanisms involved in CF have significantly improved. With the implementation of newborn screening in France and in several countries, the diagnosis now often occurs in clinically asymptomatic infants and this has modified the criteria for CF diagnosis. Recently, guidelines for CF diagnosis have been reformulated in Europe and the US, in regard to sweat chloride usual values and disease terminology. This review describes the methods and molecular approaches that are used in routine practice or are being developed to detect CFTR protein dysfunction and to identify disease-causing CFTR variants. Ultimately, an optimal use of all these functional and genetic resources may improve patient care and therapeutic decision-making. © 2020 French Society of Pediatrics. Published by Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.

Ultrafast domain wall propagation due to the interfacial Dzyaloshinskii–Moriya interaction

It is shown that the interplay between curvature and interfacial Dzyalonshinsky–Moriya interaction (DMI) is a pathway to ultrafast domain wall (DW) dynamics in ferromagnetic nanotubes. In this work, we theoretically study the effect that interfacial DMI has on the average velocity of a vortex DW in thin ferromagnetic nanotubes grown around a core composed of heavy atoms. Our main result shows that by delaying the Walker breakdown instability, the DW average velocity is of the order of 103 m s−1, which is greater than usual values for these systems. The remarkable velocities achieved through this configuration could greatly benefit the development of spintronic devices.

Inflammation and Arterial Hypertension-Pathophysiological Links and Clinical Aspects.

Arterial hypertension represents one of the most common pathologies in the adult population. Hypertensive patients have structurally altered arteries, with a higher rigidity that leads to a significant decrease in vascular compliance. At the base of the pathophysiological process stands the inflammation, as a reaction of the organism to injury. Objectives: This study aims to highlight clinical-paraclinical correlations in people diagnosed with arterial hypertension and inflammatory status. Thus, we would like to evaluate possible correlations between the usual inflammatory markers and blood pressure values. Materials and methods: The sample comprises 64 adults who were subsequently divided based on the diagnosis of arterial hypertension, by using Automatic Blood Pressure Monitoring, as following: Study group=26 patients (with arterial hypertension) and Control group: 38 patients (without arterial hypertension). Results: The study has revealed negative correlations between the neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio (NLR) and the general diastolic average (r=-0.248 and p=0.047), the diurnal diastolic average (r=-0.258 and p=0.038) and the diurnal mean arterial pressure (r=-0.249 and p=0.046) and a negative correlation between the red cell distribution width (RDW) and the dipping index (r=-0.402 and p=0.013), each of them accomplishing the level of statistical significance. Conclusions: NLR can be used as a predictor of diastolic blood pressure values and as a factor of prognosis for the evolution of arterial hypertension. RDW is higher in non-dipping patients.

The Power Derivative Principle, and Its Application to How and When to Perform a One-Shot Unblinded Reassessment Sample Size.

In adaptive two-group clinical trials, a current method is to perform a one-shot unblinded sample size reassessment. Whereas the interim unblinded look of the data is adjusted for inference by using the weighted Cui-Hung-Wang statistics, some questions remain: how and when to reassess the sample size? We define the Power Derivative Principle as follows: a sample size is optimal when the derivative of the power with respect to the sample size has reached some implicit value. Applied to two-group clinical trials, this Power Derivative Principle determines a new one-shot unblinded sample size reassessment rule (including the determination of futility bounds). A full Power Derivative Strategy induces furthermore an optimal information fraction for the interim analysis. The Power Derivative Strategy is then compared to adaptive design methods proposed in the literature and to group sequential strategies. For this comparison, we used, on the one hand, the very common information fraction f = 0.5 and, on the other hand, the information fraction found as being optimal with the Power Derivative Principle. The optimal information fraction depends only on α-and β-risks. For usual values of these risks, the optimal information fraction value is very close to 0.9. Moreover, with this unexpected optimal value, reassessment methods become roughly comparable (it is definitely not the case when f=0.5). Our results suggest that a sample size reassessment is more beneficial when considered close to the planned end of a trial, allowing a study with borderline interim results to be saved.

Solute mixing in a permeable non-rectangular channel

Understanding diffusion and solute transport, is regarded as a main activity in environmental management, sustainable development and sedimentation processes because of their role in diffusion of contaminants. The current paper presents an experimental study which was done in a parabolic channel with permeable and impermeable bed conditions in order to estimate the transverse mixing coefficient (TMC) and the maximum solute mixing length (SML) for different channel bed roughness coefficients and discharges. The cross section of the channel was 0.5 m wide and 0.3 m deep with a parabolic shape (i.e. similar to furrow irrigation). Three levels of bed roughness coefficient of 0.02, 0.04, and 0.06, and three discharges of 5, 10, and 15 L/s were considered. Bed infiltration channel was applied at a low level and medium level as well as a case without infiltration. In the current experiments, sodium chloride was used as a soluble tracer and was injected into the water at mid depth in the upstream cross section. The tracer concentration profile in the water and velocity profile were measured at eight cross sections in the channel. The results showed that the values of SML ranged between 20 and 46 m in impermeable and permeable beds channel beds respectively. The assessment of usual discharge values, infiltration, and roughness coefficient of a furrow (agricultural field) indicated that the SML of the furrows were less than 20 m. In the current research, the average dimensionless mixing coefficient was found to be 0.17 in the nonrectangular channel. Eventually, equations were developed to explain the TMC and SML in a permeable parabolic channel that could be beneficial in prediction of fertilizer transport in furrow irrigation.

Analysis of edge losses on silicon heterojunction half solar cells

Halved and shingled solar cells are a powerful technology to reduce cell-to-module losses and ultimately increase the output power of a photovoltaic module. The combination of this approach with high-efficiency silicon solar cells architectures, like heterojunction or passivated contacts solar cells, is a promising option, but comes also with new challenges. In particular, the low level of carrier recombination in these cells makes them highly sensitive to any additional defects, as it is the case for the unpassivated edge created when splitting in half a solar cell. In order to optimize the cutting processes, an accurate method to characterize edge losses, adapted to high-efficiency solar cells, is required. In this work, two approaches are proposed and compared. In the first one, edge losses are modelled with a parallel diode, and the associated recombination current (J02edge) is fitted with current-voltage measurements, as usually done in previous studies. The conditions of application of this method are widely discussed and precisely redefined for an accurate extraction of parameters in the case of high-efficiency solar cells. The second method proposed consists in simply calculating relative losses out of the main current-voltage parameters. We demonstrate that simple estimation of open-circuit voltage (Voc) losses is perfectly adapted to our characterization needs, provided that adapted measurement methodology is applied. Results obtained with both methods are then compared on heterojunction cells and discussed. If these two characterization techniques both provide accurate results for the laser scribing processes tested, the method based on open-circuit voltage loss comparison shows slightly less dispersion. Moreover, this last method does not rely on curve fitting, making it faster and insensitive to modeling issues. The Voc approach appears thus more adapted for a fine optimization of different cutting processes and eventual characterization step implemented in an industrial environment. However, the alternative J02edge method based on curve fitting remains of high interest, for example to compare cell losses obtained with usual values reported in the literature, provided that extraction of this parameter is done with the conditions assessed in this work.