The three-dimensional Ising model on the m$\times$n$\times$l cubic lattice with the screw boundary condition along the ${\bf X}$ direction and the periodic boundary conditions along both ${\bf Y}$ and ${\bf Z}$ directions is exactly solved by using the $2^{mn}$-dimensional representation of the rotation group in $2mn$-dimensions, similar to the Kaufman's spinor approach in two dimensions. The exact partition function is obtained from two sets of $2^{mn-1}$ eigenvalues of the $2^{mn}$-dimensional transfer matrix {\bf V} corresponding to the even and odd eigenvectors, respectively. Such the eigenvalues are determined by the angles of the 2mn-dimensional rotation associated with {\bf V}.

In this article, metallic additive manufacturing (AM) processes were classified and demonstrated. AM technology can be applied to a wide range of industrial areas because of its great feasibility in the design and manufacturing of various complex parts. The main factor that distinguishes various metallic AM processes from each other is the deposition method. Deposited metal can be imported in the form of melt or semi-solid. AM technology also covers a wide range of materials like aluminum, titanium, and many other alloys. Some of the common applications of metallic AM processes are the quick manufacturing of the parts which utilized in various industries like medical, automotive, aerospace, and jewelry industries. AM can help to fabricate parts that are impossible to be manufactured by other processes.

Existing methods for 3D human pose estimation mainly divide the task into two stages. The first stage identifies the 2D coordinates of the human joints in the input image, namely the 2D human joint coordinates. The second stage uses the results from the first stage as input to recover the depth information of human joints from the 2D human joint coordinates to achieve 3D human pose estimation. However, the recognition accuracy of the two-stage method relies heavily on the results of the first stage and includes too many redundant processing steps, which reduces the inference efficiency of the network. To address these issues, we propose the EDD, a fully End-to-end 3D human pose estimation method based on transformer architecture with Dual Decoders. By learning multiple human poses, the model can directly infer all 3D human poses in the image using a pose decoder, and then further optimize the recognition result using a joint decoder based on the kinematic relations between joints. With the attention mechanism, this method can adaptively focus on the most relevant features to the target joint, effectively overcoming the feature misalignment problem in the human pose estimation task and greatly improving the model performance. Any complex post-processing step, such as non-maximum suppression, is eliminated, further improving the efficiency of the model. The results show that the method achieves an accuracy of 87.4% on the MuPoTS-3D dataset, significantly improving the accuracy of end-to-end 3D human pose estimation methods.

The rapid development of electrochemical CO2 reduction offers a promising route to convert in-termittent renewable energy into products of high value-added fuels or chemical feedstocks. However, low faradaic efficiency, low current density, and a narrow potential range still limited the large-scale application of CO2RR electrocatalyst. Herein, monolith 3D bi-continuous nano-porous Bismuth (np-Bi) electrodes are fabricated via a simple one-step electrochemical dealloying strategy from Pb-Bi binary alloy. The unique bi-continuous porous structure ensures highly effective charge transfer, meanwhile the controllable millimeter-size geometric porous structure enables easy catalyst adjustment to expose highly suitable surface curvatures with abundant reactive sites. This results in a high selectivity of 92.6% and superior potential window (400 mV, selectivity >88%) for electrochemical reduction of carbon dioxide to formate. Our scalable strategy provides a feasible pathway for mass-producing high-performance and versatile CO2 electrocatalysts.

A key component of efforts to identify the biological and drug-specific aspects that contribute to therapeutic failure or unexpected exposure-associated toxicity is the study of drug-intestinal barrier interactions. While methods supporting such assessments are widely described for human therapeutics, there is relatively little information available for similar evaluation in support of veterinary pharmaceuticals. There is, therefore, a critical need to develop novel approaches for evaluating drug-gut interactions in veterinary medicine. Three-dimensional (3D) organoids can address these difficulties in a reasonably affordable system that circumvents the need for more invasive in vivo assays in live animals. However, a first step in the development of such systems is understanding organoid interactions in a 2D monolayer. Given the importance of orally administered medications for meeting the therapeutic need of companion animals, we demonstrate growth conditions under which canine colonoid-derived intestinal epithelial cells survive, mature, and differentiate into confluent cell systems with high monolayer integrity. We further examine the applicability of this canine colonoid-derived 2D model to assess the permeability of three structurally diverse, passively absorbed β-blockers (e.g., propranolol, metoprolol, and atenolol). Both absorptive and secretive apparent permeability (Papp) of these drugs at two different pH conditions were evaluated in canine colonoid-derived monolayers and were compared with that of Caco-2 cells. This proof-of-concept study provides promising preliminary results with regard to the utility of canine-derived organoid monolayers for species-specific assessments of therapeutic drug passive permeability.

Smart health applications have received significant attention in recent years. Novel applications hold significant promise to overcome many of the inconveniences faced by persons with disabilities throughout daily living. For people with blindness and low vision (BLV), environmental perception is compromised, creating myriad difficulties. Precise localization is still a gap in the field and is critical to safe navigation. Conventional GNSS positioning cannot provide satisfactory performance in urban canyons. 3D mapping-aided (3DMA) GNSS may serve as an urban GNSS solution, since the availability of 3D city models has widely increased. As a result, this study developed a real-time 3DMA GNSS-positioning system based on state-of-the-art 3DMA GNSS algorithms. Shadow matching was integrated with likelihood-based ranging 3DMA GNSS, generating positioning hypothesis candidates. To increase robustness, the 3DMA GNSS solution was then optimized with Doppler measurements using factor graph optimization (FGO) in a loosely-coupled fashion. This study also evaluated positioning performance using an advanced wearable system’s recorded data in New York City. The real-time forward processed FGO can provide a root-mean-square error (RMSE) with about 21 m. The RMSE drops to 16 m when the data is post-processed with FGO in a combined direction. Overall results show that the proposed loosely-coupled 3DMA FGO algorithm can provide a better and more robust positioning performance for the multi-sensor integration approach used by this wearable for persons with BLV.

Along with the popularity of the Internet, people are exposed to more and more ways of micro-videos, and a huge amount of micro-video data has emerged. micro-videos have gradually become the Internet content preferred by the public, and a large number of micro-video apps have also emerged, such as Tiktok and Kwai. Intelligent classification and mining of micro-videos can greatly enhance user experience, improve business operation efficiency and enhance user experience. Through deep intelligent analysis and mining of micro-videos, important information in micro-videos can be extracted to provide an important basis for beautifying videos, content appreciation, video recommendation, content search, etc. In the past, content understanding for short videos often used human work annotation, but in recent years, with the great success of deep convolutional neural networks in image recognition, short video content understanding based on this method has gradually developed. Nowadays, most recognition algorithms extract the feature representation of each frame independently and then fuse them. However, while extracting the feature representation, some low-level semantic features are lost, which makes the algorithm unable to accurately distinguish the category of the video. At present, the algorithm of micro-video recognition based on deep learning has surpassed the iDT algorithm, making these traditional methods fade out of people’s view. In this paper according to the micro-video classification task, a new network model is proposed to concatenate features of each modality into the overall features of various modalities through the network, and then fuse the various modal features with the attention mechanism to obtain the whole micro-video features, which will be used for classification. In order to verify the effectiveness of the algorithm proposed in this paper, experiments are conducted in the public dataset, and it is shown the effectiveness of our model.

This article describes the methodology used to identify the mathematical model that describes the correlations between the input parameters of an experiment and the parameters being followed. As a technological process, the aerodynamic separation was chosen, respectively, the behavior of a solid particle within an ascending vertical airflow. The experimental data obtained were used to identify two parameters, the average linear velocity, and the angular velocity, and through the Table Curve 3D program was developed a mathematical model which describes the dependence between the input parameters (the shape and size of the solid particle and the velocity of the airflow) and the monitored parameters. In order to determine a single mathematical equation that describes as accurately as possible the correlation between the input variables and those obtained, a pyramid-type analysis was designed. The determination of the mathematical equation started from the number of equations generated by the Table Curve 3D program, then the equations with a correlation coefficient greater than 0.85 were chosen, and finally, the common equations were identified. Respecting the working methodology was identified one equation which has for the average linear velocity a correlation coefficient r2 between 0.88-0.99 and 0.86-0.99 for the angular velocity.

Radar observation data with high temporal and spatial resolution are used in the data assimilation experiment to improve precipitation forecast of a numerical model. The numerical model considered in this study is Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) model with double-moment 6-class microphysics scheme (WDM6). We calculated radar equivalent reflectivity factor using higher resolution WRF and compared with radar observations in South Korea. To compare the precipitation forecast characteristics of three-dimensional variational (3D-Var) assimilation of radar data, four experiments are performed based on different precipitation types. Comparisons of the 24-h accumulated rainfall with Automatic Weather Station (AWS) data, Contoured Frequency by Altitude Diagram (CFAD), Time Height Cross Sections (THCS), and vertical hydrometeor profiles are used to evaluate and compare the accuracy. The model simulations are performed with and with-out 3D-VAR radar reflectivity, radial velocity and AWS assimilation for two mesoscale convective cases and two synoptic scale cases. The radar data assimilation experiment improved the location of precipitation area and rainfall intensity compared to the control run. Especially, for the two convective cases, simulating mesoscale convective system was greatly improved.

The initial stability after implantology is paramount to the survival of the dental implant and the surface roughness of the implant plays a vital role in this regard. The characterisation of surface topography is a complicated branch of metrology, with a huge range of parameters available. Each parameter contributes significantly towards the survival and mechanical properties of 3D-printed specimens. The purpose of this paper is to experimentally investigate the effect of surface roughness of 3D-printed dental implants and 3D-printed dogbone tensile samples under areal height (Ra) parameters, amplitude parameters (average of ordinates), skewness (Rsk) parameters and mechanical properties. During the experiment, roughness values were analysed and the results showed that the skewness parameter demonstrated a minimum value of 0.596%. The 3D-printed dental implant recorded Ra with a 3.4 mm diameter at 43.23% and the 3D-printed dental implant with a 4.3 mm diameter at 26.18%. Samples with a complex geometry exhibited a higher roughness surface, which was the greatest difficulty of additive manufacturing when evaluating surface finish. The results show that when the ultimate tensile stress (UTS) decreases from 968.35 MPa to 955.25 MPa, Ra increases by 1.4% and when UTS increases to 961.18 MPa, Ra increases by 0.6%. When the cycle decreases from 262142 to 137433, Ra shows that less than a 90.74% increase in cycle is obtained. For 3D-printed dental implants, the higher the surface roughness, the lower the mechanical properties, ultimately leading to decreased implant life and poor performance.

Three-dimensional (3D) printing techniques have received considerable focus in the area of bone engineering due to its precise control in the fabrication of complex structures with customizable shapes, internal and external architectures, mechanical strength, and bioactivity. In this study, we design a new composition biomaterial consisting of polylactic acid (PLA), and halloysite nanotubes (HNTs) loaded with zinc nanoparticles (PLA+H+Zn). The hydrophobic surface of the 3D printed scaffold was coated with two layers of fetal bovine serum (FBS) on the sides and one layer of NaOH in the middle. Additionally, a layer of gentamicin was coated on the outermost layer against bacterial infection. Scaffolds were cultured in standard cell culture medium without the addition of osteogenic medium. This surface modification strategy improved material hydrophilicity and enhanced cell adhesion. Pre-osteoblasts cultured on these scaffolds differentiated into osteoblasts and proceeded to produce a type I collagen matrix and subsequent calcium deposition. 3D printed scaffolds formed from this composition possessed high mechanical strength and showed an osteoinductive potential. Furthermore, the external coating of antibiotics not only preserved the previous osteogenic properties of the 3D scaffold but also significantly reduced bacterial growth. Our surface modification model enabled the fabrication of a material surface that was hydrophilic and antibacterial, simultaneously, with an osteogenic property. The designed PLA+H+Zn may be a viable candidate for the fabrication of customized bone implants.

Paclitaxel is a natural, highly lipophilic anti proliferative drug widely used in medicine. We have studied the release of tritium-labeled paclitaxel (³H-PTX) from matrices destined for the coating of vascular stents and produced by the electrospinning method from the solutions of polycaprolactone (PCL) with paclitaxel (PTX) in hexafluoisoropropanol (HFIP) and/or solutions of PCL with PTX and human serum albumin (HSA) in HFIP or HIFP-dimethyl sulphoxide (DMSO) blend. The release of PTX has been shown to depend on the solvent and the composition of electrospinning solution, as well as the composition of the surrounding medium, particularly the concentration of free PTX and PTX-binding biomolecules present in human serum. It was shown that 3D matrices can completely release PTX without weight loss. Two-phase PTX release from optimized 3D matrices was obtained: ~27% of PTX was released in the first day, another 8% were released over the next 26 days. Wherein ~2.8%, ~2.3%, and ~0.25% of PTX was released on day 3, 9, and 27, respectively. Considering PTX toxicity, the rate of its diffusion through the arterial wall, and the data obtained the minimum cytostatic dose of the drug in the arterial wall will be maintained for at least three months.

AbstractWhile the technology is relatively new, low cost 3D printing has impacted many aspects of human life. 3D printers are being used as manufacturing tools for a wide variety of devices in a spectrum of applications ranging from diagnosis to implants to external prostheses. The ease of use and availability of 3D design software and low cost has made 3D printing an accessible manufacturing and fabrication tool in many research laboratories. 3D printers can print materials with varying density, optical character, strength and chemical properties providing platforms for a huge number of strategies that can be chosen for user’s needs. In this review, we focus on applications in biomedical diagnostics and how this revolutionary technique is facilitating development of low cost, sensitive and often geometrically complex tools. 3D printing in fabrication of microfluidics, supporting equipment, optical and electronic components of diagnostic devices is presented. Emerging diagnostic 3D bioprinting as a tool to incorporate living cells or biomaterials into 3D printing is also discussed.

The discrete element method (DEM) coupled with computational dynamics (CFD) has been considered one of the most sensitive ways of studying fluidized beds. This paper presents gas-solid fluidized bed simulations by use of CFD-DEM. The two-phase interaction is calculated in a way of decoupling. Within the effective neighborhood of the particles, the kernel approximation method is used to calculate the local porosity, thereby calculating the drag force on the particles. At the grid scale, the momentum exchange coefficient is calculated using a two fluid model based method, thereby calculating the source term of the phase interaction in the fluid control equation. The simulated form, size and motion process of the big bubble are all consistent with experimental observations. The simulated solid volume fraction and relative pressure averaged in a horizontal plane at 45 mm above the bottom are in reasonable agreement with the experimental data. The fluctuation of the simulated bed height over time is similar to the experimental measurement results. The reproduction of these qualitative and quantitative results indicates that the proposed method effectively improves simulation performance and accuracy.

Active flow control is a promising technology for reducing noise, emissions, and power consumption in various applications. To better understand the performance of synthetic jet actuators, a computational model that couples structural mechanics with electrostatics, pressure acoustics, and fluid dynamics has been needed. The model presented here has been validated against experimental data and then used to investigate the fluid behavior inside and outside the synthetic jet actuator cavity, impacts of thermoviscous losses on capturing the acoustic response of the actuator, and viability of different modeling methods of diaphragms in computational simulations. The results capture the feedback from the fluid onto the diaphragm and highlight the need for careful acoustic modeling.

Material and methods. The trial was carried out over two years in Southern Italy. Two grapevine rootstocks, 110R and SO4, were compared to evaluate the water extraction ability from the soil and the effect on the yield and quality of the Cardinal grapevine table cultivar. Therefore, a new approach to plant water consumption based on sap flow was adopted. Results. The earlier and faster water refilling of the xylem in Cardinal onto 110R (C/110R) appears responsible for the earlier evolution of the phenological phases than Cardinal onto SO4 (C/SO4). The maximum length of the principal shoot was reached in Cardinal/110R compared to C/SO4, while a higher number of lateral shoots with lower internode has changed canopy architecture and light distribution in C/SO4. The 110R used more water compared to SO4; it was possible to quantify the real transpired flux of the plant per day: sap flow was 12.3 L.plant-1.d-1 and 11.7 L.plant-1d-1 in C/110R in the first and second year, respectively, while it was 14% lower in alternative graft combination. Conclusions. However, C/SO4 was able to sustain leaf water status and physiological mecha-nisms, although with lesser performance than C/110R, but that did not cause negative effects on production parameters.

With the wide application of flow sensor, their reliability under extreme conditions has been concerned in recent years. The reliability of a Micro Electro Mechanical Systems flow sensor under temperature (Ts) is researched in this paper. Firstly, the Step-stress accelerated degradation test is designed. Because this flow sensor consists flow sensor chip and signal processing system, the accelerated degradation testing is implemented, respectively. While the results show that the biggest drift is 3.15% for flow sensor chips with 150℃ conditions, and 32.91% for this flowmeter. By analysis, it could be found that the attenuation of the signal processing system is significant to the degeneration of this flowmeter. The minimum drift of the signal processing system accounts for 82.01% of this flowmeter. Secondly, using the Coffin-Manson model, the relationship between cycle-index and Ts is established. And the lifetime with different Ts is estimated by the Arrhenius model. In addition, the Weibull distribution is applied to evaluate the lifetime distribution. Finally, the reliability function of the Weibull distribution is demonstrated, and the survival rate within one year is 87.69% with 85℃ conditions. Thus, by the application of accelerated degradation testing, the acquired results are innovative and original. This research illustrates the reliability research, which provides a relational database for the application of this flow sensor.

Background: Poor patient flow can lead to adverse outcomes for patients and organisational inefficiency. Many hospitals have addressed suboptimal patient flow by increasing resourcing, such as bed stock and staffing, however, this is an unsustainable approach. In determining the nature of poor patient flow issues, it is important to collect data from healthcare professionals who manage patient flow on a daily basis. Doing so provides insights into the current state of patient flow management in its entirety, whilst also helping with the development of sustainable solutions.; Methods: Thirteen semi-structured interviews were conducted with clinicians who were directly involved with patient flow at a tertiary care centre in Tasmania, Australia. Results: Through a thematic analysis method, four major themes were developed: managing patient flow, communication for decisions, tools as enablers and barriers and increasing complexity. Conclusions: The findings of this study provide great insights into patient flow issues, with potential solutions identified to address them.

This paper presents the results of simulations of particle-laden air-solid jet flow in long straight tubes using CFD-DEM, along with an analysis of coarse-graining. Although previous studies have used CFD-DEM for similar flows, these have typically been in a dilute flow regime where uncoupled simulations are accurate. However, fully coupled simulations can introduce issues, necessitating validation studies to ensure that all coupling parameters are effectively used and that the physics is accurately represented. This paper validates the simulations against two different experimental studies, with fluid Reynolds numbers between 10,000 and 40,000 and Stokes numbers between 5.6 and 50. Interestingly, the profiles of mean particle velocity exhibit fewer discrepancies as the Stokes number increases but more discrepancies for the root mean square velocity compared to the experiments. Particle number flux is consistent with the experiments after the nozzle exit. Coarse-graining is also applied to the same simulations, achieving relatively accurate results. However, as expected, scaling of contact collision frequencies, forces, and stresses cannot be achieved, meaning that coarse-graining may be useful for comparing designs or operating parameters on an industrial scale but falls short when measuring the total energy dissipation of one experiment.

Gas embolism is a medical condition leading to the blockage of blood flow in the microvasculature by gas bubbles. While reported as rare, gas embolism often has devastating, fatal physiological consequences. Despite this acute importance, the genesis and evolution of air bubbles in blood vessels under different physiological conditions, such as blood viscosity and blood flow rate, is still understudied, largely because of difficult experimentation and in situ visualization. The objective of this work was to study the gas embolism phenomenon in vitro, using a microfluidic system that mimicked the architecture of microvasculature. The microfluidic systems comprised linear channels with two different air inlet types, namely, T- and Y-junctions with three different widths (20 µm, 40 µm, and 60 µm), and a 30 µm width honeycombed network with three bifurcation angles (30°, 60°, and 90°). Three synthetic liquids equivalent to 0%, 20%, and 46% hematocrit that mimicked the physiological blood viscosity and hematocrit concentrations were used. Our results show that: (i) 20 µm and 40 µm width channels had an elevated risk of gas embolism due to wide fluctuations in the total slug sizes; (ii) the resistance to the flow of air bubbles increased with the increase in the equivalent concentration of hematocrit; (iii) gas bubbles causing blockages and dampening of the flow velocity were frequently observed in 20 µm channels, and lastly (iv) increased risk of gas embolism was observed in the honeycomb architecture with 60° and 30° bifurcations. This work suggests that in vitro experimentation using microfluidic devices with microvascular tissue-like structures opens the possibility of studying this medical condition with high reproducibility and impacts the fact-based medical guidelines for preventing or mitigating iatrogenic occurrences.

This paper presents an analysis of linear viscous stress Favre-Averaged turbulence models for computational fluid dynamics (CFD) of fully turbulent round jets with a long straight tube geometry in the near field. Although similar work has been performed in the past with very relevant solutions, considerations were not given for the issues and limitations involved with coupling between an Eulerian and Lagrangian phase, such as in fully two-way coupled CFD-DEM. These issues include limitations on solution domain, mesh cell size, wall modelling, and momentum coupling between the two phases in relation to the particles size. Therefore, within these considerations, solutions are provided to the Navier-Stokes equations with various turbulence models using a three-dimensional wedge long straight tube geometry for fully developed turbulence flow. Simulations are performed with a Reynolds number of 15000 and 50000 using two different tube diameters. It is found that a modified k−ε turbulence model achieved the most agreeable results for both the velocity and turbulent flow fields between these two flow regimes, while a modified k−ω SST/BSL also provided suitable results.

Evidence supports an association between low magnesium (Mg) intake and coronary heart disease and between Mg intake and endothelial function. The aim of this study was to assess the effect of one week of Mg supplementation on endothelial function, assessed by flow mediated dilatation (FMD). Nineteen healthy men and women completed this cross-over pilot study in which participants were randomised to take an over-the-counter magnesium supplement for one week or to follow their usual diet. Weight, FMD and blood pressure (BP) were taken on completion of each intervention and 24hour urine collections and blood samples were taken to assess compliance. Baseline serum Mg was within normal range for all participants. Urinary Mg and urinary magnesium-creatinine ratio (Mg/Cr) significantly increased between interventions, (p = 0.03, p = 0.005 respectively). No significant differences in FMD or BP were found between the interventions. A significant negative correlation was seen between age and FMD (r = -0.496, p = 0.031). When adjusted for age, saturated fat was negatively associated with FMD (p = 0.045). One week of Mg supplementation did not improve FMD in a healthy population.

Evidence supports an association between low magnesium (Mg) intake and coronary heart disease and between Mg intake and endothelial function. The aim of this study was to assess the effect of one week of Mg supplementation on endothelial function, assessed by flow mediated dilatation (FMD). Nineteen healthy men and women completed this cross-over pilot study in which participants were randomised to take an over-the-counter magnesium supplement for one week or to follow their usual diet. Weight, FMD and blood pressure (BP) were taken on completion of each intervention and 24hour urine collections and blood samples were taken to assess compliance. Baseline serum Mg was within normal range for all participants. Urinary Mg and urinary magnesium-creatinine ratio (Mg/Cr) significantly increased between interventions, (p = 0.03, p = 0.005 respectively). No significant differences in FMD or BP were found between the interventions. A significant negative correlation was seen between age and FMD (r = -0.496, p = 0.031). When adjusted for age, saturated fat was negatively associated with FMD (p = 0.045). One week of Mg supplementation did not improve FMD in a healthy population.

Magnesium (Mg) deficiency may be a catalyst in the process of endothelial dysfunction, an early event in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis. The aim was to determine the acute effect of an oral Mg supplement compared to control on endothelieal function assessed by flow-mediated-dilatation (FMD). Nineteen participants (39 years, body mass index (BMI) 22.9kg/m2) completed this randomised cross-over study. Blood pressure (BP) and FMD were measured and blood samples taken before participants drank 200ml water with or without an over the counter Mg supplement (450mg and 300mg for men and women). Measurements were repeated at 60 and 120 minutes. There was a statistically significant two-way interaction between treatment and time on serum Mg (p = .037). A difference of -0.085mm in FMD was observed 60 minutes post drink in the control group compared to baseline FMD, and no difference was observed in the supplement group compared to baseline. Despite the non-significant interaction between treatment and time on FMD, the difference seen in the control group and the lack of change in the supplement group at 60 minutes post-drink suggests that Mg may attenuate the reduction in FMD post-prandially.

89Zr-radiolabelled proteins functionalised with desferrioxamine B are a cornerstone of diagnostic positron emission tomography. In the clinical setting, 89Zr-labelled proteins are produced manually. Here, we explore the potential of using a microfluidic photochemical flow reactor to prepare 89Zr-radiolabelled proteins. The light-induced functionalisation and 89Zr-radiolabelling of human serum albumin ([89Zr]ZrDFO-PEG3-Et-azepin-HSA) was achieved by flow photochemistry with a decay-corrected radiochemical yield (RCY) of 31.2±1.3% (n = 3) and radiochemical purity >90%. In comparison, a manual batch photoreactor synthesis produced the same radiotracer in a decay-corrected RCY of 59.6±3.6% (n = 3) with an equivalent RCP >90%. The results indicate that photoradiolabelling in flow is a feasible platform for the automated production of protein-based 89Zr-radiotracers, but further refinement of the apparatus, and optimisation of the method is required before the flow process is competitive with manual reactions.

The objective of this work is to evaluate the impact of the innovative modifications made to the conventional effluent capture and discharge devices used in subsurface flow wetlands (SSFW). The main modifications developed consist on extending the influence of the capture and discharge device in such a way that the SSFW width and height are fully covered. This improved innovative device was applied and evaluated in two subsurface flow wetlands, one on a pilot scale and one on a real scale. To evaluate the impact of the innovative device with respect to conventional one in the operational functioning of subsurface flow wetlands, the elimination of chemical oxygen demand was measured and compared. The results show that for the innovative device, the COD removal was 10% higher than for the conventional device, confirming the validity and effectiveness of the modifications implemented in the effluent capture and discharge devices used in SSFW.

The hydrodynamic results obtained from the permeability of porous materials not only affect the assessment of the stream of the gas flow through those materials but they also refer to the loss of pressure energy in that flow. The direct measure of that loss is flow resistances.The results of experimental research upon the assessment of the flow resistances of porous materials with respect to gas flow. The research conducted applied to natural materials with an anisotropic gap-porous structure. The tests were carried out on a gas permeability measuring system, adapted to different shapes of porous material samples. The process issue of the total pressure drop on a porous deposit was considered in the Reynolds number category. The coefficient of flow resistance for anisotropic materials was defined and the value of this coefficient was compared to the gas stream and the total pressure drop on the porous bed was experimentally evaluated.

Simulation programs contain Computational Fluid Dynamics - CFD codes and are a useful tool used for gas flow through porous materials. Conducting numerical simulations allows for detailed analysis of hydrodynamic phenomena. The results of numerical modeling should always be verifiable based on experimental data. Only their compliance with the results of experimental tests is a determinant of the correctness of the applied method. As part of the work, experimental studies of hydrodynamics of gas flow through an isotropic porous material were carried out and numerical simulation for material of the same shape was used. In the CFD modeling Kolmogorov's hypothesis for the transport of kinetic energy of turbulence k and transport of dissipation rate of kinetic energy of turbulence ε was used.

The aim of this work is to evaluate the impact of proposed modifications to conventional capturing and discharging effluents devices in Subsurface Flow Wetland (SSFW) systems. Main modifications proposed consist on extending the influence of the capture and discharge device in such a way that the SSFW width and height are fully covered. Additionally an SSFW prototype was built as pilot including the proposed modifications and the impact of the innovative device is measured based on the efficiency of the Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD) removal as compared to a traditionally built SSFW. The results show that for the innovative device, the COD removal was 10% higher than for the conventional device.

In this paper, we studied and analyzed the behavior of velocity profiles and the distribution of pressures in a pipe connected to an accessory. In this case, it was a 90º elbow fitting in which water flows as an incompressible flow. This study was developed numerically through the fluent program of ANSYS. It is of practical interest in engineering because it is based on results regarding the internal structure of a model of incompressible flows. In the same way, it provides a basis for the proper design and implementation of velocity profiles within an elbow.In the agricultural industry, suitable systems can be implemented for crop irrigation in this way with the results obtained to improve the design in the fluid distribution system.We used a feasible κ-ε turbulence model because this model causes less turbulence than the standard κ-ε model. A mesh independence study was developed, in which it was observed that combining different densities of meshes for the same geometry causes some variables, so a fine meshing was used to carry out the study so that the results are as close to reality as possible.

Expressions for the axial pressure profiles in a cylindrical channel and between parallel plates or a rectangular channel with large aspect ratio, with Maxwell slip gas flow are derived from first principles. The resulting expressions, which only involve the inlet and outlet pressures and the channel dimensions, will be useful in modelling or simulations of channel flows at Knudsen numbers in the range 0.001–0.1, such as in MEMS and NEMS. The expression for a cylindrical channel is validated by deriving from it an expression for the channel mass flow, which is shown to agree with a known expression for the mass flow through cylindrical channels with Maxwell slip flow. The expression for flow between parallel plates is found to agree with the zeroth order relation derived by Arkilic et al. using perturbation analysis. The effect of the accommodation coefficient on the pressure profile in a cylindrical channel is shown.

In ultra-relativistic collisions of heavy ions, the strongly interacting Quark Gluon Plasma (sQGP) is created. The fluid nature of the sQGP was one of the important discoveries of high energy heavy ion physics in the last decades. Henceforth the explosion of this matter may be described by hydrodynamical models. Besides numerical simulations, it is important to study the analytic solutions of the equations of hydrodynamics, as these enable us to understand the connection of the final and initial states better. In this paper we present a perturbative, accelerating solution of relativistic hydrodynamics, on top of a known class of solutions describing Hubble-expansion. We describe the properties of this class of perturbative solutions, and investigate a few selected solutions in detail.

This paper discusses wind tunnel test results aimed at advancing active flow control technology to increase the aerodynamic efficiency of an aircraft during take-off. A model of the outer section of a representative civil airliner wing was equipped with two-stage fluidic actuators between the slat edge and wing tip, where mechanical high-lift devices fail to integrate. The experiments were conducted at a nominal take-off Mach number of M = 0.2. At this incidence velocity, separation on the wing section, accompanied by increased drag, is triggered by the strong slat edge vortex at high angles of attack. On the basis of global force measurements and local static pressure data, the effect of pulsed blowing on the complex flow is evaluated, considering various momentum coefficients and spanwise distributions of the actuation effort. It is shown that through local intensification of forcing, a momentum coefficient of less than c_μ = 0.6% suffices to offset the stall by 2.4°, increase the maximum lift by more than 10%, and reduce the drag by 37% compared to the uncontrolled flow.

This study aimed to assess the response of 3D printed PLA scaffolds biomimetically coated with apatite on human primary osteoblast spheroids and evaluate the biological response to its association with Bone Morphogenetic Protein 2 (rhBMP-2) in rat calvaria. PLA scaffolds were produced via 3D printing, soaked in simulated body fluid (SBF) solution, and characterized by physical-chemical, morphological, and mechanical properties. The in vitro biological response was assessed with human primary osteoblast (HOb) spheroids. The in vivo analysis was conducted through the implantation of 3D printed PLA scaffolds either alone, covered by apatite (PLA-CaP) or PLA-CaP loaded with rhBMP-2 (PLA-CaP+rhBMP-2) on critical-sized defects (8 mm) of rat calvaria. Increased cell adhesion and in vitro release of growth factors (PDGF, bFGF, VEGF) was observed for PLA-CaP scaffolds when pre-treated with FBS. PLA-CaP+BMP2 presented higher values of newly formed bone (NFB) than other groups at all experimental periods (p<0.05), attaining 44.85% of NFB after 6 months. These findings indicate that functionalization of PLA scaffolds with biomimetic apatite can improve its biological properties in the presence of complex biological media. Its association with BMP2 may enhance bone repair, suggesting this strategy as a promising candidate for bone tissue engineering.

Comparisons of power flows and efficiencies in two structurally quite similar cylindrical series-parallel planetary gear systems (PGSs) were performed in three separate parts of this paper. Each of these single degree of freedom (DoF) systems consists of three different 2KH subsystems connected in series-parallel. The main goal was to prove that apart from complex, structurally and dynamically coupled PGSs, there are also complex and only structurally coupled PGSs, in which the phenomenon of power flow circulation inside closed loops does not occur. Such a half-coupled type of PGS is herein called pseudo-coupled. Therefore, Part I discusses in detail the geometry, kinematics and statics of coupled PGSs in order to determine power flow paths. A comparison of the directions of power flow in both types of PGSs can be made in Part II after determining the power flow paths in the second planetary gear in a similar way. The directions of power flow in both types of PGSs were determined in a relatively simple way, thanks to the distinction between active and passive torques and thus active and passive shafts of individual subsystems. The efficiency comparison made in Part III will show whether power circulation has an influence on the efficiency value, at least in these two types of PGSs.

Non-normal mode stability analysis has long been employed to study linear transient characteristics of wall bounded shear flows. However, the application of this approach to investigate shear flows with stratified thermal conditions (STCF) has received limited attention. This paper examines thermal effects on Taylor-Couette flow. The results in this study indicate the possibility of a subcritical bifurcation in stratified Taylor-Couette flow.

Currently, the number of approved veterinary medicines are limited, and human medications are used off-label. These approved human medications are of too high potencies for a cat or a small dog breed. Therefore, there is a dire demand for smaller doses of veterinary medicines. This study aims to investigate the use of three semi-solid extrusion 3D printers in a pharmacy or animal clinic setting for extemporaneous manufacturing of prednisolone containing orodispersible films for veterinary use. Orodispersible films with adequate content uniformity and acceptance values defined by the European Pharmacopoeia was produced with one of the studied printers, namely, the Allevi 2 bioprinter. Smooth and flexible films, with high mechanical strength, neutral pH, and low moisture content were produced with high correlation between prepared design and obtained drug amount, indicating that the Allevi 2 printer could successfully be used to extemporaneously manufacture personalized doses for animals at the point-of-care.

Direct laser writing three-dimensional nano-lithography is an established technique for manufacturing functional 3D micro- and nano-objects via non-linear absorption induced polymerization process. In this Chapter an underlying physical mechanisms taking place during nano-confined polymerization reaction, induced by tightly focused ultra-short laser pulses, are reviewed and discussed. The special attention is paid on the effects that directly impact structuring resolution and minimum achievable feature size. Analysis of possible photo-initiation mechanisms as contributing multi-photon absorption and avalanche ionization in pre-polymers under diverse exposure conditions (wavelength, pulse duration) is presented. Feasible structuring of pure (non-photosensitized) and functional nanoparticles doped polymer precursors is justified and benefits of such materials/structures for microoptics, photonics and cell scaffolds are highlighted. The influence of temperature effects (induced by writing process itself or determined by ambient conditions) on polymerization process, observed in different pre-polymers under diverse exposure regimes is outlined. The further adjustment of the structuring resolution is possible via precise control of light polarization and diffusion assisted radical quenching. The work is concluded with a brief outlook on future challenges and perspectives related to refinement of 3D ultra-fast laser lithography fabrication process in the means of application of diverse post-processing methods and research into novel photo-curable materials including inorganic ones.

3D meso-scale structures that can reach up to centimeters in overall size but retain micro- or nano-features, proved to be promising in various science fields ranging from micro-mechanical metamaterials to photonics and bio-medical scaffolds. In this work we present synchronization of the linear and galvano scanners for efficient femtosecond 3D optical printing of objects at the meso-scale (from sub-μm to sub-cm spanning five orders of magnitude). In such configuration the linear stages provide stitch-free structuring at nearly limitless (up to tens-of-cm) working area, while galvo-scanners allow to achieve translation velocities in the range of mm/s-cm/s without sacrificing nano-scale positioning accuracy and preserving undistorted shape of the final print. The principle behind this approach is demonstrated, proving its inherent advantages in comparison to separate use of only linear stages or scanners. The printing rate is calculated in terms voxels/s, showcasing the capability to maintain an optimal feature size while increasing throughput. Full capabilities of this approach are demonstrated by fabricating structures that reach millimeters in size but still retain μm-scale features: scaffolds for cell growth, microlenses and photonic crystals. All this is combined into a benchmark structure: a meso-butterfly. Provided results show that synchronization of two scan modes is crucial for the end goal of industrial-scale implementation of this technology and makes the laser printing well aligned with similar approaches in nanofabrication by electron and ion beams.

The growing integration of renewable energy sources (RES) into the power system causes congestion to occur more frequently. In order to reduce congestion in the short term and to make the utilization of the power system more efficient in the long term, power flow control (PFC) in the transmission system has been proposed. However, exemplary studies show that congestion will increase also in the distribution system if the transmission system is expanded. For this reason, the potential of PFC to reduce congestion in a model of a real 110 kV distribution system is investigated. Several Unified Power Flow Controller (UPFC) devices are optimized in terms of their number and placement in the power system, their size, control parameters, and costs, by using a Parallel Tempering approach as well as a greedy algorithm. Two optimization variants are considered, one reducing the number of degrees of freedom by integrating system knowledge while the other is not. We find that near a critical grid state and disregarding costs, PFC can reduce congestion significantly (99.13 %). When costs of the UPFCs are taken into account, PFC can reduce congestion by 73.2 %. A basic economic analysis of the costs reveals that the usage of UPFCs is profitable. Furthermore, it is found that the reduction of the solution space of the optimization problem leads to better results faster and that, contrary to expectations, the optimization problem is simple to solve. The developed methods allow not only for the determination of the optimal use of UPFCs to minimize congestion, but also to estimate their profitability.

The process of water treatment by nanoparticles is one of the most considerable subjects in the cross-field of hydrodynamics, chemistry and mathematics. This paper is dedicated to the case of the flows that appear when squeezing and stretching a spongy with a mix of water with nanoparticles and contaminants. It is assumed that fluid is homogeneous at the starting moment, the parameters of the nanoparticles and contaminants are known, and there is a constant non-homogeneous magnetic field applied to the system. The flow starts moving when the walls of the channel shift to each other. Exact and numerical solutions of the system of ordinary differential equations are used to receive the results. The article gives an answer to the question about stability of the flow and proposes the technique to evaluate the essential characteristics of the system to achieve the treatment process efficiency. The main result is that the considered system shows excellent treatment properties during some part of squeezing stage. This effect does not appear without magnetic field.

In line with Pomeau’s conjecture about the relevance of directed percolation (DP) to turbulence onset/decay in wall-bounded flows, we propose a minimal stochastic model dedicated to the interpretation of the spatially intermittent regimes observed in channel flow before its return to laminar flow. Numerical simulations show that a regime with bands obliquely drifting in two stream-wise symmetrical directions bifurcates into an asymmetrical regime, before ultimately decaying to laminar flow. The model is expressed in terms of a probabilistic cellular automaton evolving von Neumann neighbourhoods with probabilities educed from a close examination of simulation results. It implements band propagation and the two main local processes: longitudinal splitting involving bands with the same orientation, and transversal splitting giving birth to a daughter band with orientation opposite to that of its mother. The ultimate decay stage observed to display one-dimensional DP properties in a two-dimensional geometry is interpreted as resulting from the irrelevance of lateral spreading in the single-orientation regime. The model also reproduces the bifurcation restoring the symmetry upon variation of the probability attached to transversal splitting, which opens the way to a study of the critical properties of that bifurcation, in analogy with thermodynamic phase transitions.

Fluid mechanics of flow in hydrophobic, rectangular microchannels with finite aspect ratios is of paramount importance. In such microchannels, not only the effect of the side walls should be taken into account, but also the classical assumption of no-slip boundary condition (BC) is no longer valid at the solid-liquid interface. Accordingly, slip flow can occur in microchannels fabricated from surfaces with low wetting conditions, hydrophobic surfaces. Determining the interactions of liquid molecules adjacent to solid surface is still a challenging issue, and it is especially important in small scale domains. Herein, the fluid mechanics of flow through rectangular hydrophobic microchannels has been reconsidered by taking into account the general Navier-slip BCs at the solid-liquid interface. For fully developed incompressible flow in microchannels at low Reynolds number, partial differential equation (PDE) of the momentum equation simplifies to the classical Poisson equation. Accordingly, by analytically solving the Poisson equations with general Navier-slip BCs, the most general forms of velocity distributions, flow rate, friction factor and Poiseuille number have been obtained.

Polymer flooding is one of the most successful chemical EOR methods, and is primarily implemented to accelerate oil production by sweep improvement. However, other benefits have extended the utility of polymers. During the last decade, it has been evaluated for an increasing number of fields, both offshore and onshore. This is a consequence of improved polymer properties, which extends the use to HTHS (high temperature high salinity) conditions and of improved understanding of flow mechanisms such as for heavy oil mobilization. A key issue in understanding polymer performance is to control and predict in-situ porous medium rheology. The first part of this paper reviews recent developments in understanding polymer flow in porous medium. Especially, polymer in-situ rheology and injectivity is discussed. The second part of this paper reports polymer flow experiments using the most applied polymer for EOR processes, HPAM (partially hydrolyzed polyacrylamide). The experiments address high rate near-wellbore behavior (radial flow) as well as reservoir rate steady state flow (linear flow) and discuss differences observed in terms of flow conditions. In addition, impact of oil on polymer rheology was investigated, and compared to single-phase polymer flow in Bentheimer sandstone rock material. Presence of oil leads to a reduction in apparent viscosity.

This paper proposes the impact of plug-in electric vehicles integrated into power distribution system based on voltage dependent control. The plug-in electric vehicles was modeled as the static load model in power distribution systems under balanced load condition. The power flow analysis is determined by using the basic parameters of the electrical network. The main point of this study are compare with voltage magnitude profiles, load voltage deviation, and total power losses of the electrical power system. There are investigating the affected from constant power load, constant current load, constant impedance load and plug-in electric vehicles load, respectively. The IEEE 33 bus test system is used to test the proposed method by assigning each load type to a balanced load in steady state and applied the solving methodology based on the bus injection to branch injection matric, branch current to bus voltage matrix, and current injection matrix to solve the power flow problem. The simulation results showed that the plug-in electric vehicles load had the lowest impact compared to other loads. The lowest plug-in values for the electric vehicle loads were 0.062, 119.67 kW and 79.31 kVar for the load voltage deviation, total active power loss and total reactive power loss, respectively. Therefore, this study can be verified that the plug-in electric vehicles load were affected to the lowest of the electrical power system in condition to same sizing and position. So that, in condition to the plug-in electric vehicles load added into the electrical power system with the conventional load type or complex load type could be considered that the affected from the plug-in electric vehicles load in next study.

This paper studies the evaporative heat transfer characteristics of R744 at low temperatures in a horizontal smooth tube as a cascade refrigeration system (CRS) among hybrid cascade refrigeration systems (HCRSs). There is a lack of research on the low-temperature evaporative heat transfer characteristics of R744 under the operating conditions of evaporators used in actual CRSs used in supermarkets. Therefore, this study aims to provide basic data on the evaporative heat transfer characteristics of R744 in the evaporators of refrigerators used in supermarkets. The tube used in the evaporation experiment conducted herein was a smooth horizontal copper tube with an inner diameter and length of 11.46 mm and 8000 mm, respectively. The experimental pa-rameters were as follows: heat fluxes of 12–21.5 kW/m2, mass fluxes of 75–225 kg/(m2·s), and saturation temperatures of −50–−30 °C. The main results are summarized as follows. (1) When designing the R744 evaporator, the mass and heat fluxes must be maximized within the operating conditions, and the saturation temperature must be designed to be as low as possible. (2) The evaporative heat transfer coefficient of R744 can be predicted well by using the correlation formula of Chen at the evaporation temperature of −40 °C in the CRS.

In the last decade, three-dimensional (3D) printing has allowed the field of complex microfluidic channels to expand rapidly towards channels with variable cross-sections (i.e., beyond simple rounded media with a constant diameter) and channels. Whose trajectory can be outside a single plane and has gained numerous macro- and nanoscale manufacturing advances. Three-dimensional printing is being explored for various biomedical applications and the fabrication of nanomedicines using additive manufacturing techniques. Employing 3D-printed templates for macro-to-micro interfacing, a passively operated microfluidic device was designed. The research seeks to fabricate a biodevice that enables insulin microdosing, creating a subsystem like a microvalve and a microchannel matrix using additive manufacturing techniques. Our systems feature designs that enhance fluid dynamics without affecting the stability of the insulin. We propose using Humalog insulin in tropical climates (up to 30°C) without refrigeration for 28 days. The microvalve has a spiral trajectory with four outlet channels distributed along it. These channels align with the microchannels organized in a 10 mm x 15 mm matrix with 25 microchannels, each with a 770 µm internal diameter. The system delivers a dose of 2,3 mL in 6 minutes. We designed these systems for insulin micro-dosing, but they can also serve similar devices for other drugs.

Three-dimensional flexible piezoresistive porous sensors have been used in health diagnosis and wearable devices. By utilizing 3D printed sacrificial mold casting with highly conductive polymer composites, porous sensors with high conductivity and complex structures were achieved. Traditional conductive polymer composites are usually heated using external heat sources, which are time and energy consuming. However, in this study, conductive porous sensors with triply periodic minimal surface (TPMS) structures were manufactured using self-resistance electric heating by utilizing the conductive nature of the polymers. The porous structures were designed based on Diamond (D), Gyroid (G), and I-WP (I) unit cells of the TPMS. The use of self-resistance electric heating has improved the compression performance and piezoresistive response of the structures. Among these structures, the D-based structure exhibited the maximum response strain (61 %), with a corresponding resistance response value of 0.97, which increased by 10.26 % compared to that of the structures heated by using the external heat sources. This study offers a new perspective on designing and optimizing porous materials with specific functionalities, particularly in the realm of flexible and portable piezoresistive sensors.

Microspheres, synthesized from diverse natural or synthetic polymers, are readily utilized in biomedical tissue engineering to improve the healing of various tissues. Their ability to encapsulate growth factors, therapeutics, and natural biomolecules, which can aid tissue regeneration, makes microspheres invaluable for future clinical therapies. While microsphere-supplemented scaffolds have been investigated, a pure microsphere-based scaffold with an optimized architecture has been challenging to create via 3D printing methods due to issues that prevent consistent deposition of microsphere-based materials and their ability to maintain the shape of the 3D-printed structure. Utilizing the extrusion printing process, we established a methodology which not only allows to create large microsphere-based scaffolds but also multicomposite matrices into which cells, growth factors, and therapeutics encapsulated in microspheres can be directly deposited during the printing process. Our 3D-McMap method addresses issues with scaffold shape fidelity during and after printing. Carefully timed breaks, minuscule drying steps, and adjustments to extrusion parameters, generated an evenly layered large microsphere-based scaffold that retains its internal architecture. Such scaffolds are superior to other microsphere-containing scaffolds, as they can release biomolecules in a highly controlled spatiotemporal manner. This capability permits to study cell responses to the delivered signals, to develop scaffolds that precisely modulate new tissue formation.

Bismaleimide (BMI) is a high-performance thermosetting resin widely used in the aerospace, automotive, and mechanical and electronics industries due to its chemical and mechanical stability. It also has the capability of being used as an ink in polyjets used for 3D printing evident from thinner mellamide FTIR bands and faster curing rates as observed from TGA-DSC studies.

To improve the measurement accuracy of three-dimensional rotation angle of the spherical joint, a novel approach is proposed in this study, which combines the magnetic detection by Hall sensor and surface feature identification by eddy current sensor. Firstly, a permanent magnet is embedded in the ball head of spherical joint, and Hall sensors are set and distributed in the ball socket to measure the variation of magnetic flux density when spherical joint rotating, which are related to 3D rotation angle. In order to further improve measurement accuracy and robustness, we also set grooves on the ball head and use eddy current sensors to synchronously identify the rotation angle of the ball head. After the combination of two signals is adopted, a measurement model is established using the RBF neural network by training, and realized real-time measurement of the 3D rotation angle of spherical joint. The feasibility and superiority of this method are validated through experiments. The experimental results indicated that the measurement accuracy is promoted substantially compared to the preliminary measurement scheme based on spherical coding, the average measurement error of single axis is reduced by 9'9". The root mean square errors for the measurement of 3D rotation angles in this proposed method are as follows: the pitch angle α has an error of 1'8", the yaw angle β has an error of 2'15", and the roll angle γ has an error of 29'6".

With increasing demand from unmanned driving and robotics, more attention has been paid to point cloud-based 3D object accurate detection technology. However, due to the sparseness and irregularity of the point cloud, the most critical problem is how to utilize the relevant features more efficiently. In this paper, we proposed a point-based object detection enhancement network to improve the detection accuracy in the 3D scenes understanding based on the distance features. Firstly, the distance features are extracted from the raw point sets and fused with the raw features about reflectivity of the point cloud to maximizing the use of information in point cloud. Secondly, we enhanced the distance features and raw features that we collectively refer to them as self-features of the key points in Set Abstraction (SA) layers with the self-attention mechanism, so that the foreground points can be better distinguished from the background points. Finally, we revised the group aggregation module in SA layers to enhance the feature aggregation effect of key points. We conducted experiments on the KITTI dataset and nuScenes dataset and the results show the enhancement method proposed in this paper has excellent performance.

In the realm of autonomous vehicle environment perception, the primary objective of point cloud target detection is to swiftly and accurately identify three-dimensional objects from point cloud data. To meet this requirement, the prevalent network architecture employed in the industry is the voxel-based PointPillars model. Nonetheless, this model faces challenges in maintaining detection accuracy when objects are obscured or diminutive in size. In response to this issue, we introduce AGPNet, a novel model that seamlessly integrates four key modules: Data Augmentation, Dynamic Graph CNN, Pillar Feature Net, and Detection Head (SSD). The Data Augmentation module enhances the adaptability of point cloud data to complex and ever-changing real-world environments. The Dynamic Graph CNN module endows the network structure with geometric features, which encapsulate not only the point itself but also its adjacent points. The Pillar Feature Net module translates three-dimensional point cloud data into pseudo-image data through the utilization of voxels. Subsequently, the Detection Head (SSD) module leverages this pseudo-image data to conduct target detection of three-dimensional objects. Our experiments, conducted on the KITTI dataset, demonstrate that our proposed method boosts object detection accuracy by 6-7 percentage points compared to the PointPillars model, while maintaining similar detection times.

We present a near real-time solution for 3D reconstruction from aerial images captured by consumer UAVs. Our core idea is to simplify the multi-view stereo problem into a series of two-view stereo matching problems. Our method applies to UAVs equipped with only one camera and does not require special stereo-capturing setups. We found that the neighboring two video frames taken by UAVs flying at a mid-to-high cruising altitude can be approximated as left and right views from a virtual stereo camera. Leveraging GPU-accelerated real-time stereo estimation, efficient PnP correspondence solving algorithms and extended Kalman filter, our system simultaneously predicts scene geometry and camera position/orientation from the virtual stereo cameras. Also, this method allows user selection of varying baseline lengths, which provides more flexibility given the trade-off between camera resolution, effective measuring distance, flight altitude, and mapping accuracy. Our method outputs dense point clouds at a constant speed of 25 frames per second and is validated on a variety of real-world datasets with satisfactory results.

The process of identifying and approving a new drug is a time-consuming and expensive procedure. One of the biggest issues to overcome is the risk of hepatotoxicity, which is one of the main reasons for drug withdrawal from the market. While animal models are the gold standard in preclinical drug testing, the translation of results into therapeutic intervention is often ambiguous due to interspecies differences in hepatic metabolism. The discovery of human induced Pluripotent Stem Cells (hiPSCs) and their derivatives has opened new possibilities for drug testing. We used mesenchymal stem cells and hepatocytes both derived from hiPSC, together with endothelial cells, to miniaturize the process of generating hepatic organoids. These organoids were then cultivated in vitro using both static and dynamic cultures. Additionally, we tested spheroids composed solely by induced hepatocytes. By miniaturizing the system, we demonstrated the possibility of maintaining the organoids, but not the spheroids, in culture for up to 15 days. This timeframe may be sufficient to carry out a hypothetical pharmacological test or screening. In conclusion, we propose that the hiPSC-derived liver organoids model could complement or, in the near future, replace the pharmacological and toxicological tests conducted on animals.

High efficiency and safety are critical factors in ensuring optimal performance and reliability of systems and equipment across various industries. Fault Monitoring (FM) techniques play a pivotal role in this regard by continuously monitoring system performance and identifying the presence of faults or abnormalities. However, traditional FM methods face limitations in fully capturing the complex interactions within a system and providing real-time monitoring capabilities. To overcome these challenges, Digital Twin (DT) technology has emerged as a promising solution to enhance existing FM practices. By creating a virtual replica or digital copy of a physical equipment or system, DT offers the potential to revolutionize fault monitoring approaches. This paper aims to explore and discuss the diverse range of predictive methods utilized in DT and their implementations in FM across industries. Furthermore, it will showcase successful implementations of DT in FM across a wide array of industries, including manufacturing, energy, transportation, and healthcare The utilization of DT in FM enables a comprehensive understanding of system behavior and performance by leveraging real-time data, advanced analytics, and machine learning algorithms. By integrating physical and virtual components, DT facilitates the monitoring and prediction of faults, providing valuable insights into the system’s health and enabling proactive maintenance and decision-making.

Recently, 3D printing techniques gained much attention in solid dosage form production. Even though the methods are increasingly studied, there are still many challenges in establishing an accurate content of active ingredients in the final products. In the present study, new experimental design techniques and statistical software were developed to identify and optimize a formula to predict the mass of the tablet to be 3D printed before it actually is. The first step was to develop a virtual 3D object in the FreeCad Software, then, using a CURA slicer software, the G-code Format was obtained. The tablets were printed using a Cartesian 3D printer based on the generated data. Finally, adapting the object sequencing mode, a predicted drug mass value was obtained. As expected, the oblong tablet's scaling directly influences its mass. The software generates a correlation coefficient (r) of 0.84, confirming the directly proportional relationship between scaling and tablet weight. However, the r values progressively decreased, indicating a poor correlation between tablet weight and other factors: infill density percent (r = 0.403) and wall thickness (r = 0.185). After repeating the 3D printing with the values ​​suggested by the software, tablets with a practical value of 1066 mg were obtained. Considering that the confidence interval calculated is [834.95—1165.05] and the experimental value is 1066 mg, it can be certified that the proposed model is valid.

Magnesium ions play an important immune-regulatory role during bone repair. For this study, we prepared micro-nano bioactive glass containing magnesium, which can release magnesium, silicon, and calcium ions and has a positive impact on osteogenic differentiation and vascular regeneration. In this study, MgMNBG was compounded and combined with PLGA and PCL for 3D printing. Afterwards, the physicochemical properties and bone repair performance of the scaffolds were evaluated through in vitro and in vivo experiments. We also investigated the effects of MgMNBG on osteogenic differentiation, immune regulation, and vascular regeneration. The results showed that MgMNBG can inhibit inflammation and promote osteogenesis and angiogenesis by regulating macrophages. PLGA/PCL/MgMNBG scaffolds have good osteogenic and angiogenic effects, and the composite scaffolds have excellent bone repair performance and potential application value.

The addition of biocarriers can improve the biological processes appearing in a bioreactor since their surface allows the immobilization, attachment, protection, and growth of microorganisms. In addition, the development of a biofilm layer allows the colonization of microorganisms in the biocarriers. The structure, composition, and roughness of the biocarriers' surface are crucial factors that affect the development of the biofilm. In the current work, the aluminosilicate zeolites 13X and ZSM-5 were examined as the main building components of the biocarrier scaffolds, using bentonite, montmorillonite, and halloysite nanotubes as inorganic binders in various combinations. 3D printing was utilized to form pastes into monoliths that underwent heat treatment. The 3d-printed biocarriers were subjected to a mechanical analysis, including density, compression, and nanoindentation tests. Furthermore, the 3d-printed biocarriers were morphologically and structurally characterized using nitrogen adsorption at 77 K (LN2), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and X-ray diffraction (XRD). The stress-strain response of the materials being studied was obtained through nanoindentation tests combined with finite element analysis (FEA). These tests were also utilized to simulate the lattice geometries under compression loading conditions to investigate their deformation and stress distribution in relation to experimental compression testing. The results indicated that the 3d-printed biocarrier 13X/halloysite nanotubes was endowed with high specific surface area and extended mesoporous structure. Due to these assets, its bulk density was one of the lowest observed amongst the biocarriers derived from the various combinations of materials. The biocarriers based on the 13X zeolite exhibited the highest mechanical stability and appropriate morphological features. The 13X/halloysite nanotubes scaffold exhibits a moderate hardness value compared to the rest, while it presents the highest value of modulus of elasticity. In conclusion, Aluminosilicate zeolites and their combination with clays and inorganic nanotubes afford 3d-printed biocarriers of various textural and structural properties, which can be utilized to improve biological processes.

The unsolved problem in three-dimensional surgical planning for patients with facial deformity, dysgnathia, or asymmetry is the lack of a normative database of “norm skulls” that can be used as treatment objectives. A study was conducted on 90 Eurasian persons (46 male and 44 female adults) with normal and balanced facial appearance, skeletal Class I pattern, and proper interincisal relationship with normal occlusion. Cone-beam computed tomography was performed. 18 landmarks were digitized and 3D cephalometric measurements of overall facial features, skull, midface and mandible were performed and analyzed by means of proportions calculated from the landmarks. Male and female skulls were analyzed as well as subdivisions revealed by cluster analysis. The data showed that four subtypes of skulls were distinguishable with statistical significance (p< 0,05). A male and a female type subdivided in a brachiocephalic and dolichocephalic phenotype could be identified. For each type then a mean shape was calculated by a Procrustes transformation, which in turn was used to create four template skulls from a male and a female skull by means of a thin plate spline transformation. The normative data of the subtypes can individually serve as a guide for orthodontic surgery, especially helpful in 3D plan-ning and execution of craniofacial operations.

UAV has become powerful devices for both practitioners and researchers. In recent years, there has been a substantial growth in the usage of UAV for a wide range of applications in research and engineering. UAV are mostly utilized for image capturing techniques due to their time savings, low cost, minimum field work, and high precision. The purpose of this study is to generate an accurate and reliable 3D modelling process using UAVs photogrammetric technology; hence this study allows the techniques to evaluate the practicability of modelling and mapping inaccessible tunnels using images recorded by UAVs and photogrammetry. As a result, the approach was always employed to depict the true state of the place. This research incorporates three experiments. The first experiment is to build a 3D model using only one-directional light source and evaluate the accuracy of 3D photogrammetric model and conducted at the concrete tunnel. The second one is to build a 3D model of underground sewer tunnel using different light sources one-directional and omni-directional. The last experiment was to build 3D model using an UAV system which is developed based on first and second experiment’s result, evaluate an accuracy of 3D photogrammetric model and conducted at the tunnel named in the research as a “pedestrian tunnel. There is certain limitation in this study such as Adding a payload to a drone changed its weight distribution, which affected its stability. If the payload was not properly balanced, it caused the drone to fly unevenly, making it more difficult to control.

Regeneration of biological tissues in medicine is challenging, and 3D bioprinting offers an innovative way to create functional multicellular tissues. One common way in bioprinting is bioink which is one type of the cell-loaded hydrogel. For clinical application, however, the bioprinting still suffers from satisfactory performance, e.g. in vascularization, effective antibacterial, immunomodulation and regulation of collagen deposition. Many studies have incorporated different bioactive materials into the 3D printed scaffolds to optimize the bioprinting. Here, we review a variety of additives added to the 3D bioprinting hydrogel. The underlying mechanisms and methodology for biological regeneration are important and will provide useful basis for future research.

Abstract Natural disasters such as earthquakes have affected urban historical centers severely. Considering the limitations of the existing methods in conservation and preservation of these sensitive areas, and recent advances in technological devices and techniques such as GIS and 3D printers, this article aims to propose a new methodology utilizing available knowledge and resources. The authors of the present research propose an innovative, technological, and highly accurate method to assess the seismic vulnerability of historical contextures rectifying the existing obstacles and limitations. Through this methodology, the level of trial and error is substantially reduced and the output is stronger, more optimized and more conservative as compared with commonly used methods. Using high tech principles and theoretical foundations (i.e. sustainability principles) this method achieves updated analyses, practical plans, and economic optimization.

The repurposing of licenced drugs for use against COVID-19 is one of the most rapid ways to develop new and alternative therapeutic options to manage the ongoing pandemic. Given the approximately 8,000 licenced compounds available from Compounds Australia that can be screened, this paper demonstrates the utility of commercially-available ex vivo/3D airway and alveolar tissue models. These models are a closer representation of in vivo studies compared to in vitro models, but retain the benefits of rapid in vitro screening for drug efficacy. We demonstrate that several existing drugs appear to show anti-SARS-CoV-2 activity against both Delta and Omicron Variants of Concern in the airway model. In particular, fluvoxamine, as well as aprepitant, everolimus, and sirolimus have virus reduction efficacy comparable to the current standard of care (remdesivir, molnupiravir, nirmatrelvir). Whilst these results are encouraging, further testing and efficacy studies are required before clinical use can be considered.

The soft robot has many degrees of freedom, strong environmental adaptability and good human-computer interaction ability. As the end-effector of the soft robot, the soft gripper can grasp objects of different shapes without destructivity. Based on the theoretical analysis of the soft robot, the kinematics model of the flexible gripper and the theoretical model of the bending deformation of the air cavity were established. Accordingly, the relationship between the bending angle of the soft gripper and the air pressure was determined. Through the application of finite element software, the bending degree of pneumatic network multi-cavity soft gripper was simulated by finite element software, and the influence of structural parameters of soft actuator on bending deformation was determined. In addition, with the 3D technology conducting the printing of soft gripper fixtures and molds, the injection molding the actuator and the human-computer interaction interface controlling the movement of the gripper, the adaptability of the soft gripper in grasping object was verified. The result shows that the software gripper possesses good flexibility and can better grasp objects of different shapes.

3D city models integrate heterogeneous urban data from multiple sources in a unified geospatial representation, combining both semantics and geometry. Although in the last decades, they are predominantly used for visualization, today they are used in a large range of tasks related to exploration, analysis, and management across multiple domains. The complexity of urban processes and the diversity of urban environment bring challenges to the implementation of 3D city models. To address such challenges, this paper presents the development process of a 3D city model of a single neighborhood in Sofia city based on CityGML 2.0 standard. The model represents the buildings in LOD1 with a focus on CityGML features of related to the buildings like building part, terrain intersection curve and address. Similar building models of 18 cities provided as open datasets are explored and compared in order to extract good modeling practices. As a result, workflows for generation of 3D building models in LOD1 are elaborated and improvements in the feature modeling are proposed. Two options of building model are examined: modeling of a building as a single solid and modeling of a building with separate building parts. Finally, the possibilities for visualization of the model in popular platforms such as ArcGIS Pro and Cesium Ion are explored.

There is need to address the challenges of organ shortage, through development of tissues and organs with alternatives to those of the allograft-kind. This illustrates the quest behind novel biofabrication strategies such as 3D bio-printing, which is necessary to create artificial multi-cellular tissues/organs. Several findings have been reported in this review. First, the role of ECM components in tissue regenerative medicine is presented. Different ECM components such as collagen, gelatin, elastin, fibronectin, laminins and glycosaminoglycans are concisely examined for their tissue regenerative medicine applications. Next, current state of research on extrusion-based 3D bio-printing techniques and their limitations are reviewed. For example, we show that cell viability is still a challenge with extrusion, while the use of natural polymers such as collagen in improving composites’ mechanical properties is limited. Lastly, we examine unresolved research questions necessary to advance the present state of research in the field.

Cancer cachexia is a multifactorial syndrome that is identified by ongoing muscle atrophy, along with functional impairment, anorexia, weakness, fatigue, anemia, reduced tolerance to antitumor treatments. Thus, reducing the patients’ quality of life. Cachexia alone causes about 22-25% of cancer deaths. This review covers the symptoms, mediators, available treatment, and prospects of 3D bioprinting for cancer cachexia. Studies about cachexia have shown several factors that drive this disease – protein breakdown, inflammatory cytokines activation, and mitochondrial alteration. Even with proper nutrition, physical exercises, anti-inflammatory agents, chemotherapy, and grafting attempts, standard treatment has been unsuccessful for cachexia. But the use of 3D bioprinting shows much promise compared to conventional methods by attempting to fabricate 3D constructs mimicking the native muscle tissues. In this review, some 3D bioprinting techniques with their advantages and drawbacks, along with their achievements and challenges in in-vivo applications have been discussed. Constructs with neural integration or muscle-tendon units aim to repair muscle atrophy. But it is still difficult to properly bio-print these complex muscles. Although progress can be made by developing new bio-inks or 3D printers to fabricate high-resolution constructs. Using secondary data, this review study shows prospects of why 3D bioprinting can be a good alternate approach to fight cachexia.

Pollen analysis as a part of palynology deals with the morphological determination of pollen and spores. Different technologies with different resolutions varying from simple light microscopy to highly elaborate electron microscopy are used for the examination, depending on the area of application (e.g. sedimentology, melissopalynology, forensic palynology, etc.). To answer the question of whether laser scanning microscopy (LSM) can replace scanning electron microscopy (SEM) for the determination of pollen species, 168 species were examined using LSM. It was concluded that LSM is both efficient and easy to handle. After preparing the fresh pollen, a 3D laser scan takes 5-10 minutes and unlike using SEM, the pollen does not have to be sputtered or processed. The 3D scans can be measured quickly and easily with the integrated software and there were no observable artifacts. At magnifications up to 8545x, the image quality is comparable to that of a sputtered SEM sample whereas at higher magnifications, the SEM method is superior. Overall, pollen display by LSM is much less time consuming and more cost effective than with the SEM method.

The control of the three-dimensional (3D) polymer network structure is important for permselective materials when specific biomolecules detection is needed. Here we investigate conditions to obtain a tailored hydrogel network that combine both molecular filtering and molecular capture capabilities for biosensing applications. Along this line short oligonucleotide detection in a displacement assay is set within PEGDA hydrogels synthetized by UV radical photopolymerization. To provide insights on the molecular filter capability, diffusion studies of several probes (sulforhodamine G and dextrans) with different hydrodynamic radii were carried out using NMR technique. Moreover, fluorometric analyses of hybridization of DNA oligonucleotides inside PEGDA-hydrogels shed light on the mechanisms of recognition in 3D, highlighting that mesh size and crowding effect greatly impact of hybridization mechanism onto polymer network. Finally, we found the best probe density and diffusion transport conditions to allow the specific oligonucleotide capture and detection inside PEGDA-hydrogels for oligonucleotide detection and the filtering out of higher molecular weight molecules.

The maker movement has reached the optics labs, empowering researchers to actively create and modify microscope designs and imaging accessories. 3D printing has especially had a disruptive impact on the field, as it entails an accessible new approach in fabrication technologies, namely additive manufacturing, making prototyping in the lab available at low cost. Examples of this trend are taking advantage of the easy availability of 3D printing technology. For example, inexpensive microscopes for education have been designed, such as the FlyPi. Also, the highly complex robotic microscope OpenFlexure represents a clear desire for the democratisation of this technology. 3D printing facilitates new and powerful approaches to science and promotes collaboration between researchers, as 3D designs are easily shared. This holds the unique possibility to extend the open-access concept from knowledge to technology, allowing researchers from everywhere to use and extend model structures. Here we present a review of additive manufacturing applications in microscopy, guiding the user through this new and exciting technology and providing a starting point to anyone willing to employ this versatile and powerful new tool.

Fluorescence-linked immunosorbent assay (FLISA) is a commonly used, quantitative technique for detecting biochemical based on antigen–antibody binding reactions using a well-plate platform. With the developments in the manufacturing technology of microfluidic systems, FLISA can be implemented onto microfluidic disk platforms, which allows the detection of trace biochemical with high resolutions. Apart from requiring a lower proportion of reagent (1/10), this method also reduces the time required for the entire process to less than an hour. The incubation process involves antigen–antibody binding reactions as well as the binding of fluorogenic substrates to target proteins. The protocol for FLISA on a microfluidic platform necessitates the appropriate execution of liquid reagent movements during each step in order to ensure sufficient binding reactions. Herein, we propose a novel microfluidic disk comprising a 3D incubation chamber. Vascular endothelial growth factor as concentration with ng mL-1 is detected sequentially using a benchtop process employing this 3D microfluidic disk. The 3D microfluidic disk is implemented without requiring manual intervention or additional procedures for liquid control. During the incubation process, microbead movement is controlled through centrifugal force, generated due to disk rotation, and gravitational force via bead sedimentation on the sloped floor of the chamber.

Metal 3D printing technology is a promising manufacturing method, especially in the case of complex shapes. The quality of the printed product is still a challenging issue for mechanical applications. The anisotropy of the microstructure, imperfections, and residual stress are some of the issues that diminish the mechanical properties of the printed sample. The simulation could be used to investigate some technical details, and this research has tried to computationally study the metal 3D printing of austenitic stainless steel to address austenite microstructure and local yield strength. Two computational codes were developed in Visual basics 2015 to simulate the local heating/cooling curve and subsequent austenite microstructure. A stochastic computational code was developed to simulate austenite grain morphology based on calculated thermal history. Then Hall-Pitch equation was used to estimate the yield strength of the printed sample. These codes were used to simulate the effect of temperature of the printer’s chamber on microstructure and subsequent yield strength. The austenite grain topology is more columnar at a lower temperature. The percentage of the equiaxed zone will be increased at a higher chamber’s temperature. Almost a fully equiaxed austenite microstructure will be achieved at 800 C chamber’s temperature, but the last printed layer, which is columnar and can be removed by cutting then. The estimated local austenite grain size and the local yield strength in the equiaxed regions are in the range of 15 to 30 μm and 270 to 330 MPa at 800 C temperature of printer’s chamber, respectively.

Solar Insolation is the major contributor of earth’s radiation and energy budget. The insolation reaching the surface is a prime input for eco-physiological processes such as evapotranspiration and photosynthesis. Therefore, it is as critical component to assess bio-energy and bio-fuel resources. It is also a crucial input to crop simulation model for yield forecasting and its further applications in solar energy solutions. Although ground observations are better for accuracy purpose, they have challenges of maintenance, regular calibration and upkeeping etc. This call for the continuous spatio-temporal satellite based observations barring the acceptable accuracy. In case of INSAT3D/3DR, Bhattacharya et al. (2015) have derived the surface insolation product which is being used widely. We propose a method of improvement in this product. It is envisaged that a correction applied with the help of ground truth estimates may enhance the utilization of insolation products derived from INSAT3D/3DR datasets. In the present study, surface insolation product derived from INSAT 3D/3DR data at an interval of 30 minutes each (collectively 15 minutes interval) with 4 km spatial resolution was used for duration from May-2017 to Apr-2019 over Nagpur. Ground truth observations for same duration were carried out with CNR4, which were used to correct the INSAT 3D/3DR surface insolation product using the statistical best-fit method. Corrected INSAT 3D/3DR products are found correlating with the ground values well with differences of approximately < 1 W/m2. Best-fit parameters evolved in the present study uses only 2 years of simultaneous ground and satellite data which can be further improved by multi-year data base. We propose better utilization of INSAT 3D/3DR based surface insolation products in the assessment of solar resource mapping over Nagpur (and possibly other regions, such as Bhandara) with the help of best-fit parameters as assessed in the present study.

Dynamic thermogravimetric (TG) analysis under nitrogen environment was used to understand the thermal decomposition process of 3D printing filaments made of wood-filled polylactic acid (PLA)/starch blend. The characteristic temperatures and apparent activation energy (AAE) of the filaments with various starch contents were calculated with well-known kinetic models by Friedman, Flynn-Wall-Ozawa, Coats-Redfern and Kissinger. With the increased starch content in the filament, the onset thermal decomposition temperatures of the filaments decreased gradually from 272.4 to 155.1°C. The thermal degradation degree became smaller, and the transitional temperature interval became larger with increased starch proportion. The AAE values of the three types of filaments with different starch ratios varied between 97 kJ/mol and 114 kJ/mol, depending on material composition and method of calculation. The improved understanding of thermal decomposition behavior of PLA-starch-wood composites can help develop more biodegradable PLA/starch-based filaments for 3D printing.

Although conventional immunohistochemistry for neurotropic Rabies virus (RABV) usually shows a high preference for neurons, non-neuronal cells are also potential target cells and abortive infection of astrocytes is considered a main trigger of innate immunity in the CNS. While in vitro studies indicated differences between field and less virulent lab-adapted RABVs, a systematic and quantitative comparison of astrocyte tropism in vivo is lacking. Here, a recently developed solvent-based tissue clearing technique was used to measure the RABV cell tropism in infected brains. Immunofluorescence analysis of 1 mm-thick tissue slices enabled 3D segmentation and quantification of infection frequencies of astrocytes and neurons. Comparison of highly virulent street virus clones from fox, dog, and raccoon with three lab strains of intermediate and low virulence revealed remarkable differences in the ability to infect astrocytes in vivo. While all viruses and infection routes led to comparable neuron infection frequencies, striking differences were detected for the infection of astrocytes. Consistent and inoculation route-independent astrocyte infection by field viruses, together with route-dependent or undetectable astrocyte infection by lab-adapted or vaccine viruses strongly suggests a model in which the ability to establish productive astrocyte infection in vivo functionally distinguishes field and attenuated lab RABV strains.

Duplex Stainless Steels (DSS) and Superduplex Stainless Steels (SDSS) are an important class of stainless steels because they combine the benefits of austenite and ferrite phases, resulting in steels with better mechanical properties and higher corrosion resistance. Due to these characteristics are widely employed in various industries. However, the appearance of deleterious phases in their microstructure impairs the properties of DSS and SDSS. Among the deleterious phases, the main one is the sigma phase (σ), which can be nucleated when the steel is exposed to the temperature range between 650 °C and 900 °C, reducing its toughness and resistance to corrosion. In a previous work, Fonseca and collaborators used two descriptors of the microstructural path to analyze the formation of sigma phase (σ), SV, interfacial area per unit volume between sigma phase and austenite, and <λ>, mean chord length of sigma, both in function of the VV, volume fraction of sigma, known in the literature as microstructural partial path (MP). In this work, the contiguity ratio is applied for the first time to describe the microstructural path in the study of sigma phase precipitation in SDSS. The contiguity ratio showed that the distribution of the ferrite/sigma boundaries is homogeneous. Thus, it is reasonable to infer that one has a uniform distribution of sigma phase nuclei within the ferrite. About the kinetics of sigma phase formation, the DSS can be described by the classical JMAK equation, whereas for the SDSS, the kinetics tends to follow the Cahn model for grain edge nucleation. Finally, we present the 3D reconstruction of the sigma phase in SDSS. The results demonstrate that the sigma phase nucleates at the edges of the ferrite/austenite interfaces. Moreover, the sigma phase grows consuming the ferrite, but it is not fully interconnected.

Buildability, i.e. the ability of a deposited material bulk to retain its dimmensions under increasing load, is an inherent prerequisite for formwork-free digital construction (DC). Since DC processes are relatively new, no standard methods of characterization are available yet. The paper at hand presents practice-oriented buildabilty criteria by taking various process parameters and construction costs into consideration. In doing so, direct links between laboratory buildability tests and target applications are established. A systematic basis for calculating the time interval (TI) to be followed during laboratory testing is proposed for the full-width printing (FWP) and filament printing (FP) processes. The proposed approach is validated by applying it to a high-strength, printable, fine-grained concrete. Comparative analyses of FWP and FP revealed that to test the buildability of a material for FP processes, higher velocities of the printhead should be established for laboratory tests in comparison to those needed for FWP process, providing for equal construction rates.

3D bioprinting holds great promise in the field of regenerative medicine as it can create complex structures in a layer-by-layer manner using cell-laden bioinks, making it possible to imitate native tissues. Current bioinks lack both the high printability and the biocompatibility required in this respect. Hence, the development of bioinks that are capable of both properties is needed. In our previous study, a furfuryl-gelatin based bioink, crosslinkable by visible light, was used for creating mouse mesenchymal stem cell-laden structures with high fidelity. In this study, lattice mesh geometries were printed in a comparative study to test against the properties of a traditional rectangular-sheet. After 3D printing and crosslinking, both structures were analysed for swelling and rheological properties, and their porosity estimated using scanning electron microscopy. Results showed that the lattice structure was relatively more porous but sturdy and exhibited a lower degradation rate compared to the rectangular-sheet. Further, the lattice allowed encapsulation of a greater number of cells, allowing them to proliferate to a greater extent compared to the rectangular-sheet that retained a lesser number of cells initially. All of these results collectively affirmed that the lattice poses as a superior scaffold design for tissue engineering applications.

3D plotting is an additive manufacturing technology enabling biofabrication, thus the integration of cells or biologically sensitive proteins or growth factors into the manufacturing process. However, most (bio-)inks developed for 3D plotting were not shown to be processed into clinical relevant geometries comprising critical overhangs and cavities, which would collapse without a sufficient support material. Herein, we have developed a support hydrogel ink based on methylcellulose (mc), which is able to act as support as long as the co-plotted main structure is not stable. Therefore, 6 w/v %, 8 w/v % and 10 w/v % mc were allowed to swell in water, resulting in viscous inks, which were characterized for their rheological and extrusion properties. The successful usage of 10 w/v % mc as support ink was proven by multichannel plotting of the support together with a plottable calcium phosphate cement (CPC) acting as main structure. CPC scaffolds displaying critical overhangs or a large central cavity could be plotted accurately with the newly developed mc support ink. The dissolution properties of mc allowed complete removal of the gel without residuals, once CPC setting was finished. Finally, we fabricated a scaphoid bone model by computed tomography data acquisition and co-extrusion of CPC and the mc support hydrogel.

A novel and simple method to improve the corrosion resistance of copper by constructing a 3D 1-dodecanethiol self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) in 3.5% NaCl solution is reported in this study. Several drops of 1% H3PO4 solution are thinly and uniformly distributed on copper surface to form a 3D nanostructure constituted by Cu3(PO4)2 nanoflowers. The anticorrosion properties of 1-dodecanethiol SAMs on copper surface and on copper surface treated with H3PO4 solution were evaluated. Results demonstrated that 1-dodecanethiol SAMs on bare copper surface exhibit good protection capacity, whereas a copper surface pretreated with H3PO4 solution can substantially enhance the corrosion resistance of 1-dodecanethiol SAMs.

Malignant cells cultured in three-dimensional (3D) models have been found to be phenotypically and biochemically different from their counterparts cultured conventionally. Since most of these studies employed solid tumor types, how 3D culture affects multiple myeloma (MM) cells is not well understood. Here, we compared MM cells (U266 and RPMI8226) in a 3D culture model with those in conventional culture. While the conventionally cultured cells were present in single cells or small clusters, MM-3D cells grew in large spheroids. We discovered that STAT3 was the pathway that was more activated in 3D in both cell lines. The active form of STAT3 (phospho-STAT3 or pSTAT3), which was absent in MM cells cultured conventionally, became detectable after 1-2 days in 3D culture. This elevated pSTAT3 level was dependent on the 3D environment, since it disappeared after transferring to conventional culture. STAT3 inhibition using a pharmacological agent, Stattic, significantly decreased the cell viability of MM cells and sensitized them to bortezomib in 3D culture. Using an oligonucleotide array, we found that 3D culture significantly increased the expression of several known STAT3 downstream genes implicated in oncogenesis. Since most primary MM tumors are naturally STAT3-active, studies of MM in 3D culture can generate results that are more representative of the disease.

We previously designed and synthesized dehydroxyepoxyquinomicin (DHMEQ) as an inhibitor of NF-κB based on the structure of microbial secondary metabolite epoxyquinomicin C. DHMEQ showed anti-inflammatory and anticancer activity in various in vivo disease models without toxicity. Cell detachment from the primary tumor and subsequent invasion are considered to be early phase of metastasis, while tumor cell attachment to the tissue and secondary tumor formation the late phase. The assay system for late phase was set up with intra-portal-vein injection of pancreatic cancer cells. Administration of DHMEQ was found to inhibit the liver metastasis possibly by decreasing the expression of MMP-9 and IL-8. Also when the pancreatic cancer cells treated with DHMEQ was inoculated into the peritoneal cavity of mice, the metastatic foci formation was inhibited. These results indicate that DHMEQ is likely to inhibit the late phase of metastasis. Meanwhile, we have recently employed three-dimensional (3D) culture of breast cancer cells for the model of early phase metastasis. DHMEQ inhibited the 3D invasion of breast cancer cells without toxicity. In this way, DHMEQ was shown to inhibit the late and early phases of metastasis. Thus, DHMEQ is likely to be useful for the suppression of cancer metastasis.

Inexpensive piezoelectric diaphragms can be used as sensors to facilitate both nozzle height setting and build platform leveling in FFF (Fused Filament Fabrication) 3D printers. Tests simulating nozzle contact are conducted to establish the available output and an output of greater than 8 Volts found at 20 ºC, a value which is readily detectable by simple electronic circuits. Tests are also conducted at a temperature of 80 ºC and, despite a reduction of greater than 80% in output voltage, this is still detectable. The reliability of piezoelectric diaphragms is investigated by mechanically stressing samples over 100,000 cycles at both 20 ºC and 80 ºC and little loss of output over the test duration is found. The development of a nozzle contact sensor using a single piezoelectric diaphragm is described.

Differential diagnosis of solid pancreatic lesions (SPLs) using B-mode endoscopic ultrasonography (EUS) is challenging. Detective flow imaging (DFI) offers the potential for detecting low-flow vessels in the pancreas, thus enhancing diagnostic accuracy. This study aimed to investigate DFI-EUS findings of SPLs and analyze their differential diagnostic accuracy for pancreatic cancer. This retrospective study included patients with pathologically confirmed SPLs who underwent EUS between April 2021 and June 2023. Expert endosonographers, blinded to the patients’ clinical data, evaluated images obtained through B-mode, eFLOW, and DFI-EUS. Frame rate and vessel detection sensitivity between eFLOW and DFI were compared, and diagnostic criteria for pancreatic cancer were established. This study included 104 patients, most diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. DFI-EUS demonstrated a significantly higher vessel visualization rate (96%) in SPLs compared to eFLOW (27%). Additionally, DFI showed a superior frame rate, sensitivity (99%), and accuracy (88%) in detecting pancreatic cancer, although with a modest specificity (43%). On DFI-EUS, characteristics such as hypovascular, peritumoral, or spotty vessel findings were suggestive of pancreatic cancer. DFI-EUS significantly improved the visualization of vascular structures within the SPLs, highlighting its efficacy as a diagnostic modality for pancreatic cancer.

Several epidemiological studies and intervention trials have demonstrated that flavanols present in grapes and blueberries can lower the risk of cardiovascular disease. However, the mechanisms of action of these compounds remain unclear due to their low bioavailability. A polyphenol-rich grape and blueberry extract (PEGB) contained about 16% flavanol, of which 11% was monomer and 4% was dimer. A sensory test investigated the oral perception of a PEGB. At concentrations where quercetin had almost no detectable taste, PEGB exhibited significant astringency. Furthermore, in comparing the redox properties against O2･- using a luminescence method, PEGB acted as a prooxidant at low concentrations, promoting O2･-production and scavenging O2･-at high concentrations under pH conditions similar to oral cavity and intestine. In contrast, quercetin showed antioxidant activity at any concentration. A single oral administration of PEGB to rats showed a significant increase in skeletal muscle arteriolar blood flow. According to these results, PEGB containing flavanols displays a potent astringent flavor, increases O2･-production at low concentrations in a neutral pH environment as well as oral and intestine, and considerably enhances blood flow to skeletal muscles after a single dose in rats. The results of this study indicate a need to investigate the causal relationship between oral perception, redox properties, and bioactivity of polyphenols.

Flow experience, characterized by deep immersion and complete engagement in a task, is highly recognized for its positive psychological impacts. However, previous studies have been restricted to use a single type of task, and the exploration on its neural correlates has been limited. This study aimed to explore the neural correlates of flow experience with the employment of multifac-eted flow-induction tasks. Six tasks spanning mindfulness, artistic tasks, free recall, and varying levels of Tetris complexity (easy, flow, and hard conditions) were employed to have a relatively complete coverage of the known flow-induction tasks for a better induction of individualized flow experience. Twenty-eight participants were recruited to perform these six tasks, with a sin-gle-channel prefrontal electroencephalography (EEG) recording. Significant positive correlations were observed between the subjective flow scores of individual’s best-flow-experience task and the EEG activities at delta, gamma, and theta bands, peaking at latencies around 2 minutes after task onset. The outcomes of our multiple regression analysis yield a maximum coefficient of de-termination (R²) of 0.279. Our findings report the EEG correlates of flow experience in naturalistic settings and highlight the potential of portable and unobtrusive EEG technology for an objective measurement of flow experience.

Different coffee drying technologies face complex task in ensuring an acceptable final seed moisture content. Drying technology of agricultural commodities aims to maintain and improve the quality of the agricultural products themselves. In addition to maintaining quality, especially from other bacterial attacks, it can last for a long time before further processing. Coffee commodities are promising for the welfare of coffee farmers. Drying technology plays a major role in determining the quality of coffee. Various drying models are applied including the traditional model that until now is still applied, direct drying under solar radiation. However, this drying process is less hygienic and requires a large area. Thus, one of the drying technologies that can accelerate drying time is to vary the air flow in the drying chamber so that the coffee can be determined to reduce the water content with a certain temperature. In this study, it was found that the moisture content of coffee beans dried using a dryer on air flow with variations of velocity in solar collector 1 (DB1) air velocity of 1.0m/s obtained the final mass = 732.249 gr, solar collector 2 (DB2) with air velocity 1.5 m/s obtained the final mass = 774.70 gr, solar collector 3 (DB3) with air velocity 2.0 m/s obtained the final mass = 855.10 gr, solar collector 4 (DB4) with air velocity 2.5 m/s obtained the final mass = 745.79 gr, and solar collector 5 (DB5) with air velocity 3.0 m/s obtained the final mass = 786.40 gr. Water Content DB1=12.0%, DB2=13.6%, DB3=18.5%, DB4=12.9% and DB5=15.2%. The time required for 25 hours with a maximum radiation of 586.9 w/m2, total heat utilized from solar radiation in 3 days =16.663128 MJ/m2. from the initial weight of 1500gr coffee bean samples and dried in five solar collectors with parallel simultaneously. The evaporated water content DB1=51.18%, DB2=48.35%, DB3=42.96%, DB4=50.28% and DB5=47.57%. Based on this research, it was found that the most optimum quality of coffee was by using solar collector 2 (DB2), namely with air flow of 1.5 m/s with average temperature in the drying box DB2=43.68°C, with the quality content of the coffee, Protein content=12.2%, Carbohydrate=22.8% and Free Fatty Acid (ALB) content=0.05%.

The influence of a background vortex flow on clustering of floating tracer is addressed. The vortex flow considered is induced by an ellipsoidal vortex evolving in a deformation. The system exhibits various vortex motion regimes: (i) steady state, (ii) oscillation and (iii) rotation of the ellipsoidal vortex core. The latter two induce unsteady velocity field for the tracer thus leading to irregular (chaotic) tracer motion. Superimposing a stochastic divergent velocity field onto the deterministic vortex flow allows us to observe significantly different tracer evolution. We use the method of characteristics to integrate the floating tracer density evolution equation and the Euler-Ito scheme for obtaining the floating tracer trajectories with the random velocity field. The cluster area and cluster mass from the statistical topography were used as the quantitative diagnostics of floating-tracer’s clustering. For the case of the steady ellipsoidal vortex embedded into the deformation flow with a random velocity field component we found that clustering characteristics are weakened by the steady vortex. For the cases of an unsteady ellipsoidal vortex, we observed clustering in the floating-tracer density field if the contribution of the divergent component is higher or equal to that of the rotational (nondivergent) component. Even when the initial floating tracer patch was set on the boundary of oscillating ellipsoidal vortex, we observed formation of clusters. In the case of a rotating ellipsoidal vortex, we also observed pronounced clustering. Thus, we argue that unsteady ellipsoidal vortex regimes (oscillation and rotation), which induce chaotic motion of the nearby passive tracer’s trajectories, are still conducive to clustering of floating tracer observed in the density field despite the intense deformation introduced by strain and shear.

Aim at a better understanding of the flow field around a fully appended Joubert BB2 submarine model and complementing the experimental investigations of the wake of the hydroplanes and sail, the Large eddy simulation (LES) with the dynamic Smagorinsky model is conducted. Three sets of grids with a maximum grid number of up to 228 million are designed, to perform the LES simulation for the Joubert BB2 at 10° yaw conditions, with a freestream Reynolds (Re) number based on the local freestream velocity and the hull length of ReL=2.2×107. And comparison of the wake of the cruciform appendage is made with experiments, to verify the computational accuracy and examine the influence of the spatial resolution. A satisfactory result shows more favorable agreement with experimental measurements as the improvement of spatial resolution, with the relative error of the vortice centers well within 7.2% in the most refined grid arrangement. And under this grid arrangement, the evolution characteristics of three co-rotating vortices originating from the cruciform appendage are further described in detail at straight ahead and 10° yaw conditions.

An aneurysm is a vascular malformation, it can be classified according to its location (cerebral, aortic); and according its shape (saccular, fusiform, and mycotic). The study of blood flow interaction with the aneurysms has gained attention from physicists an engineers in recent years. Shear stresses, oscillatory shear index (OSI), gradient oscillatory number (GON), and residence time had been used as potential variables to describe the hemodynamics as well as the origin and evolution of aneurysm. However, the causes of aneurysms and the hemodynamics conditions that promote the growth of these structures are still under debate. The present work presents numerical simulation on three aneurysms: 2 aortic and 1 cerebral. The results shows that the blood rheology is not relevant for aortic aneurysms, however, for cerebral aneurysm could play a relevant role in the hemodynamics. The turbulence models evaluated show equivalent results in both cases. Lastly, a simulation considering the fluid-structure interaction (FSI) shows that this phenomenon is the dominant factor for aneurysms simulation.

Rapid, accurate, and convenient diagnosis is essential for effective disease management. Various detection methods, such as enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, have been extensively used, with lateral flow immunoassay (LFIA) recently emerging as a major diagnostic tool. Nanoparticles (NPs) with characteristic optical properties are used as probes for LFIA, and researchers have presented various types of optical NPs with modified optical properties. Herein, we review literature on LFIA with optical NPs for the detection of specific targets in the context of diagnostics.

Mass transfer is often the rate determining step for solid-liquid chemical reactions. Decrease of the concentration boundary layer thickness is essential to intensify the chemical reaction. Because the concentration boundary layer exists in the velocity boundary layer, force imposition in the concentration boundary layer by superimposing an electrical current and a magnetic field was proposed. Through, flow can be directly excited in the concentration boundary layer. The previous result indicates that by superimposing a DC current and a gradient magnetic field, the development of the concentration boundary layer was suppressed, because of a macro-scale flow excitation in the whole vessel. And by superimposing the gradient magnetic field with a modulate current, the development of the concentration boundary layer was further suppressed. This is because of the macro-scale flow enhancement and the excitation of a micro-scale flow near the solid-liquid interface. However, the mechanism for the micro-scale flow excitation has not been clarified. To clarify this, a uniform magnetic field was superimposed with the DC current or the modulate current. By this means, only the micro-scale flow was excited near the anode surface. The results found that the non-unform electromagnetic force distribution is the main reason for the micro-scale flow excitation.

We present the results of direct numerical simulations of power spectral densities for kinetic energy, convective entropy and heat flux for unsteady Rayleigh-Bénard magnetoconvection in the frequency space. For larger values of frequency, the power spectral densities for all the global quantities vary with frequency f as f⁻². The scaling exponent is independent of Rayleigh number, Chandrasekhar’s number and thermal Prandtl number.

The purpose of this paper is to study the sliding mode control as a Ricci flow process in the context of a three-story building structure subjected to seismic waves. The stability conditions result from two Lyapunov- functions, the first associated with slipping in a finite period of time, and the second with convergence of trajectories to the desired state. Simulation results show that the Ricci flow control leads to the minimization of the displacements of the floors. 3D Ricci solitons projection via a semi-conformal mapping to a surface is also studied.

Herpesviruses produce a plethora of pleomorphic and heterogeneous particle populations. The composition and biological role of these is not understood. Detailed analysis has been challenging due to the lack of multidimensional identification and purification methodologies. Fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS), originally developed to sort objects with at least ten thousand-fold larger volumes, has recently been applied to cellular exosomes as well as viral particles and has been dubbed nanoscale flow cytometry or “flow virometry”. In comparison to other nanoparticles, herpesvirus concentrations can be measured with high precision using simple culturing methods. Here, we used this unique capability to evaluate a standard FACS sorter. We demonstrate that detection and separation capabilities were insufficient to distinguish infectious fluorescent viral populations from populations lacking fluorescence and infectivity. Moreover, fluorescent populations did not contain single virus particles but mostly aggregates. On top, analysis of viral samples by flow cytometry was confounded by swarm detection, as multiple objects are measured simultaneously and interpreted as a single object. Despite these technical difficulties, comparison of crude supernatant to gradient purified HCMV revealed that infectious virus is a minor proportion of the particles released from infected cells. Our data stress the need for a set of standardized controls and protocols when applying FACS to biological nanoparticles and highlights technical challenges that need to be solved before flow virometry can achieve its full potential.

In this paper, a further mathematical analysis of some previous results of the author’s ongoing investigation regarding Prandtl’s equations is accomplished. In particular, the objective of the present work is the performance of an approximate explicit solution to Prandtl’s system of equations for a laminar, isothermal, incompressible and steady boundary layer flow of a Newtonian fluid, over an infinite horizontal flat plate.

Pollution of sub-surface water reservoirs mainly rivers and streams through contaminated water point sources (CWPS) was studied. The objective was to formulate a discrete time delay mathematical model which describes the dynamics of reservoir pollution using mixing-problem processes that involve single species contaminants such as nitrates, phosphorous and detergents. The concentration of pollutants was expressed as a function of the inflow and outflow rates using the principle for the conservation of mass. Systems of ODEs generated from principles of mixing problems were refined into a system of DDEs so that the concentration of pollutant leaving the reservoir at time would be determined at some earlier instant, for the delay. The formulated model is a mathematical discrete time delay model which would be used to describe the dynamics of sub-surface water reservoir pollution. The results from the validation of the model were analyzed to determine how time delays in the mixing processes affect the rate of particle movement in water reservoirs.

Active flow control of canonical laminar separation bubbles by steady and harmonic vortex generator jets (VGJs) was investigated using direct numerical simulations. Both control strategies were found to be effective in controlling the laminar boundary-layer separation. However, the present results indicate that using the same blowing amplitude, harmonic VGJs were more effective and efficient in reducing the separated region than the steady VGJs considering the fact that the harmonic VGJs use less momentum than the steady case. For steady VGJs, longitudinal structures formed immediately downstream of injection location led to formation of hairpin-type vortices causing an earlier transition to turbulence. Symmetric hairpin vortices were shown to develop downstream of the forcing location for the harmonic VGJs as well. However, the increased control effectiveness for harmonic VGJs flow control strategy is attributed to the fact that shear-layer instability mechanism was exploited. As a result, disturbances introduced by VGJs were strongly amplified leading to development of large-scale coherent structures, which are very effective in increasing the momentum exchange, thus, limiting the separated region.

Using a randomized, crossover approach, cyclists (N = 20, overnight fasted) engaged in three 75-km time trials while ingesting water (WAT) or carbohydrate (0.2 g/kg every 15 minutes) from bananas (BAN) or a 6% sugar beverage (SUG). Blood samples were collected pre-exercise and 0 h-, 1.5 h-, and 21 h-post-exercise, and analyzed for NK cytotoxicity activity (NKCA) using pure NK cell populations. The two carbohydrate trials (BAN, SUG) compared to WAT were associated with higher post-exercise glucose, and lower cortisol, total blood leukocyte, neutrophil, and NK cell counts (interaction effects, P < 0.001). The immediate post-exercise increase in NK cell counts was higher in WAT (78%) compared to BAN (32%) and SUG (15%) trials (P ≤ 0.017). The 1.5 h post-exercise decrease in NK cell counts did not differ after WAT (−46%), BAN (−46%), and SUG (−51%) trials. The pattern of change in post-exercise NKCA differed between trials (P < 0.001). The 1.5 h post-exercise decreases in NKCA were 23%, 29%, and 33% in the WAT, BAN, and SUG trials, respectively, but trial contrasts did not differ significantly. Carbohydrate ingestion from BAN or SUG attenuated immediate-post-exercise increases in leukocyte, neutrophil, and NK cell counts, but did not counter the 1.5-h decreases in NK cell counts and NKCA.