Update on the Diagnostic Pitfalls of Autopsy and Post-Mortem Genetic Testing in Cardiomyopathies

Inherited cardiomyopathies are frequent causes of sudden cardiac death (SCD), especially in young patients. Despite at the autopsy they usually have distinctive microscopic and/or macroscopic diagnostic features, their phenotypes may be mild or ambiguous, possibly leading to misdiagnoses or missed diagnoses. In this review, the main differential diagnoses of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (e.g., athlete’s heart, idiopathic left ventricular hypertrophy), arrhythmogenic cardiomyopathy (e.g., adipositas cordis, myocarditis) and dilated cardiomyopathy (e.g., acquired forms of dilated cardiomyopathy, left ventricular noncompaction) are discussed. Moreover, the diagnostic issues in SCD victims affected by phenotype-negative hypertrophic cardiomyopathy and the relationship between myocardial bridging and hypertrophic cardiomyopathy are analyzed. Finally, the applications/limits of virtopsy and post-mortem genetic testing in this field are discussed, with particular attention to the issues related to the assessment of the significance of the genetic variants.     

自然循环工况下离心泵阻力特性的实验研究与数值模拟

停转后泵的阻力特性对自然循环流量影响明显。为研究低流量自然循环工况下离心泵的阻力特性，设计了实验台架，对离心泵的正向压降、反向压降和损失系数进行了测量，实验雷诺数为2.0×10⁴～1.5×10⁵。实验表明：相同雷诺数下，反向压降明显高于正向压降；雷诺数大于8×10⁴时，损失系数基本保持不变，而低雷诺数下损失系数随雷诺数的降低有增大的趋势；基于实验得到了损失系数的经验关系式。采用CFD方法对离心泵的内部流场进行了模拟，计算表明：CFD方法能较好地预测损失系数，RNG k-ε模型与实验值的相对误差不超过10%；离心泵的压力损失主要集中在叶轮、导叶等结构的交界区域；正向与反向流动的流场分布存在显著区别；低雷诺数下局部流动更加不稳定。     

重力注水过程流动不稳定现象关键影响因素研究

重力驱动注水过程中由于流量较小以及蒸汽的积聚可能导致流动不稳定现象的发生，对核反应堆安全运行具有重要的影响。通过实验研究的方法，搭建了重力注水模拟实验装置，研究了不同蒸汽出口形阻、高位储水箱水位和加热棒初始温度下流动不稳定现象的变化规律。结果表明，重力驱动注水过程流动不稳定现象包含冷却水初次注入阶段、注入水逐出阶段和冷却水再注入阶段等。在一定冷却水初始温度、冷却水入口形阻以及系统压力下，蒸汽排出速度以及实验本体内筒顶部的聚集情况取决于蒸汽出口形阻，减小蒸汽出口形阻可加快蒸汽排放速度，压力峰峰值降低、振荡周期变长，有利于系统稳定；提高高位储水箱水位加快了冷却水注入速率，增加了加热棒被淹没率，降低了流动不稳定现象的发生次数和持续时间；随加热棒初始温度的升高，冷却水流量出现了波动向停滞的转变，流动不稳定现象发生的次数增加且持续时间加长。     

Digital image correlation strain measurement of thick adherend shear test specimen joined with an epoxy film adhesive

Structural bonding and bonded repairs of composite materials become more and more important. Understanding the strain within the bondline leads to suitable bonding design. For new design approaches the strain distribution within the bondline has to be analyzed. Thus, often finite element analysis (FE) are used. However, a huge challenge is the availability of reliable material properties for the adhesives and their validation. Previous work has shown that it is possible to measure the small displacements resulting within thin epoxy film adhesives using high resolution digital image correlation (DIC). In this work a 2D DIC setup with a high resolution consumer camera is used to visualize the strain distribution within the bondline over the length of the joint as well as over the adhesive thickness. Therefore, single lap joints with thick aluminum adherends according to ASTM D 5656 are manufactured and tested. Local 2D DIC strain measurements are performed and analyzed. Two different camera setups are used and compared. The evaluation provides reliable material data and enables a look insight the bondline. The results of the full field strain data measured with DIC are compared with numerical simulations. Thus, material models as well as chosen parameters for the adhesive are validated. Compared to extensometers, giving only point-wise information for fixed measuring points, the DIC allows a virtual point-wise inspection along the complete bondline. Furthermore, it allows measuring close to the bondline to reduce the influence of adherend deformation.     

悬浮于润滑油中的颗粒运动分析及其对油膜压力的影响

对含有固体颗粒的局部润滑流域建立格子Boltzmann(LBM)离散模型,分析固体颗粒在润滑油中的动力学特性;考虑颗粒形状的影响,推导计入单个固体颗粒运动的润滑方程,并分析得到油膜压力;将油膜流动特性与颗粒动力学计算相结合,分析不同形状的颗粒运动对于油膜压力的影响。分析发现,当颗粒进入润滑油后,经过很短的瞬时颗粒就会达到一个瞬态稳定的状态,无论颗粒在油膜厚度方向的初始位置位于两壁面之间的中线上侧还是下侧,颗粒都会向中线位置移动;当颗粒速度为0时对于油膜压力的影响较大,随着颗粒速度逐渐增大,颗粒对于油膜压力的影响逐渐减小;当颗粒的宽度在油膜厚度方向相同时,长宽比越大的颗粒对于油膜压力的影响也越大;当颗粒长轴相等时,颗粒在油膜厚度方向的宽度越大,则其对于油膜压力的影响也越大,即颗粒形状对于油膜流动的阻碍能力越强,则其对于油膜压力的影响越大。     

起重机械防碰装置试验系统的设计

防碰装置是起重机械重要的安全防护装置,其性能质量直接关系到人员和设备安全。常规的防碰装置性能试验方法难以保证试验数据的精度和可靠性。针对防碰装置的工作特点和试验要求,从试验原理、系统结构、运行逻辑等方面入手,设计一套能模拟防碰装置实际运行工况,自动进行性能试验和数据采集处理,精度高、重复性好的试验系统,可以有效提升防碰装置检测能力。     

Experimental study to assess the effect of carbon nanotube addition on the through-thickness electrical conductivity of CFRP laminates for aircraft applications

The present paper tests experimentally the through-thickness electrical conductivity of carbon fiber-reinforced polymer (CFRP) composites laminates for aircraft applications. Two types of samples were prepared: Type A samples with carbon nanotubes (CNTs) and Type B samples without CNTs. During the electrical experiments, electrical currents of several mA were injected through the specimens. Electrical resistance was monitored simultaneously in order to deduce the changes in the through-the-thickness electrical conductivity caused by the addition of CNTs. Improvement of electrical conduction by two orders of magnitude was achieved through the addition of 1 wt% carbon nanotubes as compared to classic CFRP without CNTs. For moisture saturated samples, the influence of moisture absorption on such measures was found to be negligible.     

Extended preservation of raw beef and pork meat by hyperbaric storage at room temperature

Hyperbaric storage (HS) was evaluated as a new food preservation methodology at room temperature (RT) for beef and pork meat, both minced and in pieces, and compared to refrigeration (RF) storage. The meat samples were stored at 50, 75 and 100 MPa and variable RT up to 60 days. HS at 75 and 100 MPa could not only inhibit microbial growth but also inactivate microorganisms. Regarding physicochemical analyses, an overall equal to better pH maintenance in HS samples was achieved, and similar colour differences between HS and RF were observed. Generally, similarities in moisture content and drip loss between HS (mostly 75 and 100 MPa) and RF were detected (tendency for lower values in the former and higher values in the latter for the higher pressure level). Protein solubility revealed a decrease of sarcoplasmic protein values during storage with a pressure level dependency in some samples.     

Contact temperatures and their influence on wear during pin-on-disk tribotesting

It is important to take contact temperatures into account when developing friction and wear tests for potential tribomaterials and when analyzing the results of those tests. This paper presents some of the most useful analytical and numerical methods that can be used to predict surface temperature rises in dry or boundary lubricated pin-on-disk tribotests. The objective is the development of relatively simple, accurate, and easy-to-use expressions that can be used to predict contact temperatures in pin-on-disk sliding contacts. Results of the methods are compared for several different cases, and experimental verification of the predictions are also presented. The resulting expressions are applied to investigate wear of a ceramic (zirconia), metal (stainless steel) and polymer (polyethylene) in pin-on-disk tests.