Numerical Investigation of Wind Turbine Airfoils under Clean and Dusty Air Conditions

This paper focuses on the simulation of the airflow around wind turbine airfoils (S809 and S814) under both clean and dusty air conditions by using Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD). The physical geometries of the airfoils and the meshing processes are completed in the ANSYS Mesh package ICEM. The simulation is done by ANSYS FLUENT. For clean air condition, Spalart– Allmaras (SA) model and realizable k-ε model are used. The results are compared with the experimental data to test which model agrees better. For dusty air condition, simulation of the two-phase flow is operated by realizable k-ε model and discrete phase model (DPM) in different concentration of dust particles (1% and 10% in volume). The results are compared with the data of clean air to illustrate the effect of dust contamination on the lift and drag characteristics of the airfoil

COVID-19: Rapid antigen detection for SARS-CoV-2 by lateral flow assay: A national systematic evaluation of sensitivity and specificity for mass-testing

Background Lateral flow device (LFD) viral antigen immunoassays have been developed around the world as diagnostic tests for SARS-CoV-2 infection. They have been proposed to deliver an infrastructure-light, cost-economical solution giving results within half an hour. Methods LFDs were initially reviewed by a Department of Health and Social Care team, part of the UK government, from which 64 were selected for further evaluation from 1st August to 15th December 2020. Standardised laboratory evaluations, and for those that met the published criteria, field testing in the Falcon-C19 research study and UK pilots were performed (UK COVID-19 testing centres, hospital, schools, armed forces). Findings 4/64 LFDs so far have desirable performance characteristics (orient Gene, Deepblue, Abbott and Innova SARS-CoV-2 Antigen Rapid Qualitative Test). All these LFDs have a viral antigen detection of >90% at 100,000 RNA copies/ml. 8951 Innova LFD tests were performed with a kit failure rate of 5.6% (502/8951, 95% CI: 5.1–6.1), false positive rate of 0.32% (22/6954, 95% CI: 0.20–0.48). Viral antigen detection/sensitivity across the sampling cohort when performed by laboratory scientists was 78.8% (156/198, 95% CI 72.4–84.3). Interpretation Our results suggest LFDs have promising performance characteristics for mass population testing and can be used to identify infectious positive individuals. The Innova LFD shows good viral antigen detection/sensitivity with excellent specificity, although kit failure rates and the impact of training are potential issues. These results support the expanded evaluation of LFDs, and assessment of greater access to testing on COVID-19 transmission. Funding Department of Health and Social Care. University of Oxford. Public Health England Porton Down, Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust, National Institute of Health Research

Efficacy and safety of the bisphosphonate Tiludronate for the treatment of tumor-associated hypercalcemia

Tiludronate is a new bisphosphonate whose efficacy has already been reported for the prevention of postmenopausal bone loss. We have evaluated its efficacy and tolerance by a dose-finding study in 19 hypercalcemic cancer patients after adequate intravenous (iv) rehydration. Treatment consisted of 3 days of iv tiludronate given at doses of 3.0 mg/kg/day (n = 3), 4.5 mg/kg/day (n = 3), or 6.0 mg/kg/day (n = 13); this iv therapy was followed by 17 days of oral tiludronate, 400 mg (n = 13) or 800 mg (n = 6)daily. Treatment had to be discontinued in 9 patients, including 3 because of evident treatment failure and 1 because of severe toxicity. After iv tiludronate, 13/18 patients had a normal Ca level, including 10/12 who had received 6.0 mg/kg/day, but Ca2+ levels were fully normalized in only 4/18 and 3/12 patients, respectively. After 6.0 mg/kg/day, Ca levels had fallen from 12.1 ± 0.3 to 10.0 ± 0.4 mg/dl (P < 0.0005), whereas fasting urinary calcium excretion went from 0.639 ± 0.099 to 0.272 ± 0.054 mg Ca/mg creatinine on d4 (P < 0.001). On the other hand, oral tiludronate was unable to normalize Ca in patients who were still hypercalcemic after the iv course, although the daily administration of 800 mg appeared to be more efficient than the 400 mg daily dosage. The administration of tiludronate caused an increase in serum phosphate levels, from 2.9 ± 0.2 to 3.7 ± 0.2 mg/dl after the iv course, probably through an increase in the TmP/GFR index, which went from 2.3 ± 0.2 to 3.6 ± 0.4 mg/dl (P < 0.05). Three patients had an increase in serum creatinine levels after the iv course, one obese patient developing an acute renal insufficiency; during oral tiludronate therapy, 5 other patients also presented an increase in serum creatinine levels. Oral tiludronate administration was also associated with occasional nausea and vomiting. In summary, compared with aminobisphosphonates, tiludronate is not indicated for the treatment of tumor-associated hypercalcemia because of the need for high iv doses which are potentially nephrotoxic.SCOPUS: ar.jinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishe

Short-term effects of Carbetimer on calcium and bone metabolism in man

Carbetimer is a new antineoplastic agent whose limiting toxicity consists of dose- and treatment duration-dependent hypercalcemia. We examined the short-term effects of Carbetimer on calcium metabolism on days, 1, 3 and 5 during 11 5-day courses (6.5-8.2 g/m2/day given over daily 2-h infusions, q 3-4 weeks). Blood parameters were measured before and after Carbetimer, whereas urinary parameters were studied in three consecutive 2-h collections before, during and after Carbetimer infusions. Carbetimer effects were similar regardless of the infusion day. We found a consistent decrease of plasma ionized Ca (Ca2+) levels from 4.56 ± 0.05 mg/dl before infusion to 42.8 ± 0.06 mg/dl after infusion (P < 0.001) whereas total serum Ca (corrected for protein levels) did not change. The fall of Ca2+ stimulated parathyroid function, as suggested by the increased plasma PTH levels, the decreased serum phosphorus and TmP/GFR index, or the increased urinary phosphate and cyclic AMP excretion. Carbetimer infusions also induced a marked increase in urinary Ca excretion (expressed as mg Ca/mg creatinine) from 0.093 ± 0.011 before to 0.359 ± 0.042 during and 0.177 ± 0.031 after infusion (P < 0.001). These changes were best explained by Carbetimer-induced Ca chelation that we confirmed in vitro by incubating Carbetimer at various concentrations in whole blood for 2 h at 37°C, e.g. 2 mg of Carbetimer/ml lowered Ca2+ from 4.82 to 3.20 mg/dl without changing total Ca levels. On the other hand, a direct effect of Carbetimer on bone cannot be excluded since we observed an increase of serum osteocalcin levels from 2.0 ± 0.3 to 2.5 ± 0.4 ng/ml after infusion (P < 0.001). In summary, the short-term effects of Carbetimer on calcium metabolism markedly differ from the long-term effects. They mainly consist of a dose-related calcium chelation leading to a decrease in Ca2+ levels, an increase in urinary Ca excretion and a stimulation of parathyroid function.SCOPUS: ar.jinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishe

Gorham–Stout disease of the proximal fibula treated with radiotherapy and zoledronic acid

Gorham–Stout disease is a rare disease characterized by anarchic lymphovascular proliferation causing resorption of bone sometimes leading to disastrous complications. Bone tissue is progressively replaced by angiomatic and lymphangiomatic tissue and finally by fibrous tissue. This disease is known to be ubiquitous and of complex etiology. We present a case of Gorham–Stout disease of the proximal fibula invading the proximal tibia and soft tissues of the popliteal space that was successfully treated with radiotherapy and zoledronic acid