Mixed convection flow of non-newtonian carreau fluid: Effect of viscous dissipation

Paper presented to the 10th International Conference on Heat Transfer, Fluid Mechanics and Thermodynamics, Florida, 14-16 July 2014.In this paper, we present a numerical study of the flow characteristics and heat transfer mechanism of a non- Newtonian fluid in an annular space between two coaxial rotating cylinders taking into account the effect of viscous dissipation. The Carreau stress-strain relation was adopted to model the rheological fluid behavior. The problem is studied when the heated inner cylinder rotates around the common axis with constant and the cooled outer cylinder is at the rest. The horizontal endplates are assumed adiabatic. A house code which is based on a Galerkin mixed finite element is developed to obtain numerical solutions of the complete governing equations and associated boundary conditions and is validated with the results reported in the literature. It is found that five parameters can describe the problem under consideration, the Reynolds number (Re), the Grashof number (Gr) , the index of structure (n), Weissenberg number (We) and the Eckert number (Ec). The velocity, temperature and stream function distributions and the local Nusselt number variations are drawn for different dimensionless groups.dc201

Halogen Bonding Controls Selectivity of FRET Substrate Probes for MMP-9

SummaryMatrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) are a large family of zinc-dependent endoproteases that catalyze cleavage of extracellular matrix and nonmatrix proteins. MMPs play a role in tissue remodeling, and their uncontrolled activity is associated with number of diseases, including tumor metastasis. Thus, there is a need to develop methods to monitor MMP activity, and number of probes has been previously described. The key problem many probes encounter is the issue of selectivity, since 23 human MMPs, despite playing different physiological roles, have structurally similar active sites. Here, we introduce the halogen bonding concept into the probe design and show that the probe containing iodine exhibits an unprecedented selectivity for MMP-9. We provide structure-based explanation for the selectivity, confirming that it is due to formation of the halogen bond that supports catalysis, and we highlight the value of exploring halogen bonding in the context of selective probe design

Complexity and Inapproximability Results for Parallel Task Scheduling and Strip Packing

We study the Parallel Task Scheduling problem $Pm|size_j|C_{\max}$ with a constant number of machines. This problem is known to be strongly NP-complete for each $m \geq 5$, while it is solvable in pseudo-polynomial time for each $m \leq 3$. We give a positive answer to the long-standing open question whether this problem is strongly $NP$-complete for $m=4$. As a second result, we improve the lower bound of $\frac{12}{11}$ for approximating pseudo-polynomial Strip Packing to $\frac{5}{4}$. Since the best known approximation algorithm for this problem has a ratio of $\frac{4}{3} + \varepsilon$, this result narrows the gap between approximation ratio and inapproximability result by a significant step. Both results are proven by a reduction from the strongly $NP$-complete problem 3-Partition

Approximation Algorithms for Scheduling Parallel Jobs: Breaking the Approximation Ratio of 2

In this paper we study variants of the non-preemptive parallel job scheduling problem in which the number of machines is polynomially bounded in the number of jobs. For this problem we show that a schedule with length at most (1 + ε)OPT can be calculated in polynomial time. Unless P = NP, this is the best possible result (in the sense of approximation ratio), since the problem is strongly NP-hard. For the case, where all jobs must be allotted to a subset of consecutive machines, a schedule with length at most (1.5 + ε)OPT can be calculated in polynomial time. The previously best known results are algorithms with absolute approximation ratio 2. Furthermore, we extend both algorithms to the case of malleable jobs with the same approximation ratios

Annual direct medical cost of active systemic lupus erythematosus in five European countries.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the annual direct medical cost of managing adult systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients with active autoantibody positive disease in Europe. METHODS: A 2-year, retrospective, multicentre, observational study was conducted in five countries (France, Germany, Italy, Spain and the UK). Data included patients' characteristics, disease activity and severity, flare assessments and health resource use (eg, laboratory tests, medications, specialist visits and hospitalisations). Costs were assessed from the public payers' perspective. Cost predictors were estimated by multivariate regression models. RESULTS: Thirty-one centres enrolled 427 consecutive eligible patients stratified equally by disease severity. At baseline, mean (SD) age was 44.5 (13.8) years, 90.5% were women and mean (SD) SLE duration was 10.7 (8.0) years. The SELENA-SLEDAI (11.2 vs 5.3) and SLICC/ACR index (1.0 vs 0.7) scores were higher in severe patients. Over the study period, patients experienced on average 1.02 (0.71) flares/year. The mean annual direct medical cost was higher in severe compared to non-severe patients ( 4748 vs 2650, p<0.001). Medication costs were 2518 in severe versus 1251 in non-severe patients (p<0.001). Medications represented 53% and 47% of the total cost for severe and non-severe patients, respectively, primarily due to immunosuppressants and biologics. Flares, especially severe flares, were identified as the major cost predictor, with each flare increasing the annual total cost by about 1002 (p<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: The annual direct medical cost of SLE patients in Europe is related to disease severity and flares. Medical treatments were the main cost drivers. Severe flares and major organ involvement were identified as important cost predictors

Mixed connective tissue disease: state of the art on clinical practice guidelines

Mixed connective tissue disease (MCTD) is a complex overlap disease with features of different autoimmune connective tissue diseases (CTDs) namely systemic sclerosis, poly/dermatomyositis and systemic lupus erythematous in patients with antibodies targeting the U1 small nuclear ribonucleoprotein particle. In this narrative review, we summarise the results of a systematic literature research which was performed as part of the European Reference Network on Rare and Complex Connective Tissue and Musculoskeletal Diseases project, aimed at evaluating existing clinical practice guidelines (CPGs) or recommendations. Since no specific CPGs on MCTD were found, other CPGs developed for other CTDs were taken into consideration in order to discuss what can be applied to MCTD even if designed for other diseases. Three major objectives were proposed for the future development of CPGs: MCTD diagnosis (diagnostic criteria), MCTD initial and follow-up evaluations, MCTD treatment. Early diagnosis, epidemiological data, assessment of burden of disease and QOL aspects are among the unmet needs identified by patient

IgG4-related diseases: state of the art on clinical practice guidelines

Immunoglobulin G4-related diseases (IgG4-RD) are a group of chronic relapsing-remitting inflammatory conditions, characterised by tissue infiltration with lymphocytes and IgG4-secreting plasma cells, fibrosis and a usually favourable response to steroids. In this narrative review, we summarise the results of a systematic literature research, which was performed as part of the European Reference Network ReCONNET, aimed at evaluating existing clinical practice guidelines (CPGs) and recommendations in IgG4-RD. From 167 publications initially obtained from a systematic literature search, only one was identified as a systematic multispecialist, evidence-based, consensus guidance statement on diagnosis and treatment of IgG4-RD, which may be recommended for use as CPG in IgG4-RD. With the recognition of a limited evidence based in this increasingly recognised disease, the group discussion has identified the following unmet needs: lack of shared classification criteria, absence of formal guidelines on diagnosis, no evidence-based therapeutic recommendations and lack of activity and damage indices. Areas of unmet needs include the difficulties in diagnosis, management and monitoring and the scarcity of expert centre

In Antisynthetase Syndrome, ACPA Are Associated With Severe and Erosive Arthritis: An Overlapping Rheumatoid Arthritis and Antisynthetase Syndrome

International audienceAbstract: Anticitrullinated peptide/protein antibodies (ACPA), which are highly specific for rheumatoid arthritis (RA), may be found in some patients with other systemic autoimmune diseases. The clinical significance of ACPA in patients with antisynthetase syndrome (ASS), a systemic disease characterized by the association of myositis, interstitial lung disease, polyarthralgia, and/or polyarthritis, has not yet been evaluated with regard to phenotype, prognosis, and response to treatment. ACPA-positive ASS patients were first identified among a French multicenter registry of patients with ASS. Additionally, all French rheumatology and internal medicine practitioners registered on the Club Rhumatismes et Inflammation web site were asked to report their observations of ASS patients with ACPA. The 17 collected patients were retrospectively studied using a standardized questionnaire and compared with 34 unselected ACPA-negative ASS patients in a case–control study. All ACPA-positive ASS patients suffered from arthritis versus 41% in the control group (P 7-year mean follow-up, extra-articular outcomes and survival were not different. ACPA-positive ASS patients showed an overlapping RA–ASS syndrome, were at high risk of refractory erosive arthritis, and might experience ASS flare when treated with antitumor necrosis factor drugs. In contrast, other biologics such as anti-CD20 mAb were effective in this context, without worsening systemic involvements