Micro-PIV measurements of induced-charge electro-osmosis around a metal rod

A cylindrical gold-coated stainless steel rod was positioned at the center of a straight microchannel connecting two fluid reservoirs on either end. The microchannel was filled with 1 mM KCl containing 0.5 μm diameter carboxylate-modified spherical particles. Induced-charge electro-osmotic (ICEO) flow occurred around the metallic rod under a sinusoidal AC electric field applied using two platinum electrodes. The ICEO flows around the metallic rod were measured using micro particle image velocimetry (micro-PIV) technique as functions of the AC electric field strength and frequency. The present study provides experimental data about ICEO flow in the weakly nonlinear limit of thin double layers, in which, the charging dynamics of the double layer cannot be presented analytically. The measured ICEO flow pattern qualitatively agrees with the theoretical results obtained by Squires and Bazant (J Fluid Mech 509:217–252, 2004). Flow around the rod is quadrupolar, driving liquid towards the rod along the electric field and forcing it away from the rod in the direction perpendicular to the imposed electric field. The measured ICEO flow velocity is proportional to the square of the electric field strength, and depends on the applied AC frequency.     

A data fusion framework with novel hybrid algorithm for multi-agent Decision Support System for Forest Fire

In this study Forest Fire Decision Support System (FOFDESS) which is a multi-agent Decision Support System for Forest Fire has been presented. Depending on the existing meteorological state and environmental observations, FOFDESS does the fire danger rating by predicting the forest fire and it can also approximate fire spread speed and quickly detect a started fire. Some data fusion algorithms such as Artificial Neural Network (ANN), Naive Bayes Classifier (NBC), Fuzzy Switching (FS) and image processing have been used for these operations in FOFDESS. These algorithms have been brought together by a designed data fusion framework and a novel hybrid algorithm called NABNEF (Naive Bayes Aided Neural-Fuzzy Algorithm) has been improved for fire danger rating in FOFDESS. In this state, FOFDESS is an integrated system which includes the dimensions of prediction, detection and management. As a result of the experiments, it was found out that FOFDESS helped determining the most accurate strategy for fire fighting by producing effective results.     

Modelling of residual stresses in the shot peened material C-1020 by artificial neural network

This study consists of two cases: (i) The experimental analysis: Shot peening is a method to improve the resistance of metal pieces to fatigue by creating regions of residual stress. In this study, the residual stresses induced in steel specimen type C-1020 by applying various strengths of shot peening, are investigated using the electrochemical layer removal method. The best result is obtained using 0.26 mm A peening strength and the stress encountered in the shot peened material is ?276 MPa, while the maximum residual stress obtained is ?363 MPa at a peening strength of 0.43 mm A. (ii) The mathematical modelling analysis: The use of ANN has been proposed to determine the residual stresses based on various strengths of shot peening using results of experimental analysis. The back-propagation learning algorithm with two different variants and logistic sigmoid transfer function were used in the network. In order to train the neural network, limited experimental measurements were used as training and test data. The best fitting training data set was obtained with four neurons in the hidden layer, which made it possible to predict residual stress with accuracy at least as good as that of the experimental error, over the whole experimental range. After training, it was found the R² values are 0.996112 and 0.99896 for annealed before peening and shot peened only, respectively. Similarly, these values for testing data are 0.995858 and 0.999143, respectively. As seen from the results of mathematical modelling, the calculated residual stresses are obviously within acceptable uncertainties.     

Continuous Airborne Communication Relay Approach Using Unmanned Aerial Vehicles

As a result of unmanned aerial vehicles being widely used in different areas, studies about increasing the autonomous capabilities of unmanned aerial vehicles are gaining momentum. Today, unmanned aerial vehicle platforms are especially used in reconnaissance, surveillance and communications areas. In this study, in order to achieve continuous long-range communication relay infrastructure, artificial potential field based path planning of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles is discussed. A novel dynamic approach to relay-chain concept is proposed to maintain the communication between vehicles. Besides dynamically keeping vehicles in range and appropriate position to maintain communication relay, artificial potential field based path planning also provides collision avoidance system. The performance of the proposed system is measured by applying a simulation under the Matlab Simulink and Network Simulator environment. Artificial potential field based flight patterns are generated in Matlab, and performance of the communication between vehicles is measured in Network Simulation environment. Finally the simulation results show that an airborne communication relay can be established autonomously by using artificial potential filed based autonomous path planning approach. Continues state communication is provided by obtaining a resistant communication relay which depends on artificial potential field based positioning algorithm.     

Modeling of heat and mass transfer in accelerator targets during postulated accidents

The modeling of thermal-chemical behavior of targets used in accelerator applications is an important part of safety analysis. Tungsten is considered as a target material to produce tritium in a linear proton accelerator. The prediction of the chemical reactivity of tungsten in a steam flow at high temperatures is the most important part of a safety analysis of target design. The oxidation and volatilization of tungsten in steam at high temperatures is a complex phenomenon that involves various mechanisms (depending on the temperature), steam pressure, and steam velocity. A simple diffusion model that considers chemical equilibrium at the reaction interface and effective diffusion thickness, including the boundary and oxide layers, is proposed for predicting the volatilization rate. The proposed simple model predicts the available data reasonably well. The proposed model is implemented into a computer program that is developed to predict the radiological releases during postulated loss-of-coolant accidents (LOCAs). The computer program models heat production, heat transfer, and oxidation reactions in the multiple radiation enclosures representing the accelerator target elements. It treats each element of the radiation enclosures as a lumped control volume, or heat structure. Each heat structure may generate or lose heat by conduction, convection, or radiation and is subject to mass loss as a result of oxidation, melting, and volatilization. Postulated beyond-design-basis LOCAs are simulated with this computer program for the accelerator-production-of-tritium target. Sample calculations demonstrate oxidation/volatilization model capabilities and sensitivity to the assumptions selected.     

Non-Cytokine Protein Profile of the Mesenchymal Stem Cell Secretome That Regulates the Androgen Production Pathway

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is the most common endocrine and metabolic disorder in reproductive-aged women, and it typically involves elevated androgen levels. Recently, it has been reported that human bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (hBM-MSCs) can regulate androgen synthesis pathways. However, the details of the mechanism are still unclear. hBM-MSC-derived secreted factors (the secretome) are promising sources of cell-based therapy as they consist of various types of proteins. It is thus important to know which proteins interact with disease-implicated biomolecules. This work aimed to investigate which secretome components contain the key factor that inhibits testosterone synthesis. In this study, we fractionated hBM-MSC-conditioned media into three fractions based on their molecular weights and found that, of the three fractions, one had the ability to inhibit the androgen-producing genes efficiently. We also analyzed the components of this fraction and established a protein profile of the hBM-MSC secretome, which was shown to inhibit androgen synthesis. Our study describes a set of protein components present in the hBM-MSC secretome that can be used therapeutically to treat PCOS by regulating androgen production for the first time.     

Effects of Penicillium roqueforti and whey cheese on gross composition,microbiology and proteolysis of mould‐ripened Civil cheese during ripening

Four different types of mould‐ripened Civil cheese were manufactured. A defined (nontoxigenic) strain of a Penicillium roqueforti (SC 509) was used as the secondary starter with and without addition of the whey cheese (Lor); in parallel, secondary starter‐free counterparts were manufactured. Chemical composition, microbiology and proteolysis were studied during the ripening. The incorporation of whey cheese in the manufacture of mould‐ripened Civil cheese altered the gross composition and adversely affected proteolysis in the cheeses. The inoculated P. roqueforti moulds appeared to grow slowly on those cheeses, and little proteolysis was evident in all cheese treatments during the first 90 days of ripening. However, sharp increases in the soluble nitrogen fractions were observed in all cheeses after 90 days. Microbiological analysis showed that the microbial counts in the cheeses were at high levels at the beginning of ripening, while their counts decreased approximately 1–2 log cfu/g towards the end of ripening.     

An investigation on plasma progesterone levels during pregnancy and at parturition in the Ivesi sheep

We have investigated the toxicity of dose-escalation of BCNU, etoposide and melphalan ('BEM') chemotherapy with autologous stem cell transplantation in patients with haematological malignancies. Seventy-two patients with haematological malignancies were treated with BCNU (600 mg/m2, 450 mg/m2 or 300 mg/m2), etoposide 2 g/m2 and melphalan 140 mg/m2 followed by autologous bone marrow transplantation (ABMT), n = 51, or autologous peripheral blood progenitor cell transplantation (APBPCT), n = 21. Liver and pulmonary function was monitored pretransplant and at regular intervals post-transplant. Mucositis was graded daily during in-patient stay. There was a significantly higher incidence of symptomatic pulmonary toxicity in the patients who received BCNU at 600 mg/m2 than in the other two groups, and there was a significant increase in the incidence of asymptomatic decrease in carbon monoxide (KCO) in the patients who received BCNU 450 mg/m2. There was no significant difference between the three groups in the incidence and severity of mucositis or in the incidence of transiently abnormal liver function. We conclude that etoposide at 2 g/m2 can be used without unacceptable mucositis. BCNU at 600 mg/m2 is associated with an unacceptably high incidence of lung toxicity, but at 450 mg/m2 there is minimal symptomatic lung toxicity.