Numerical modelling of interactions of waves and sheared currents with a surface piercing vertical cylinder

Vertical surface piercing cylinders, such as typical coastal wind turbine foundations and basic elements of many coastal structures, are often exposed to combined loading from waves and currents. Accurate prediction of hydrodynamic loads on a vertical cylinder in a combined wave-current flow is a challenging task. This work describes and compares two different approaches for numerical modelling of the interaction between focussed wave groups and a sheared current, and then their interactions with a vertical piercing cylinder. Both approaches employ an empirical methodology to generate a wave focussed at the location of the structure in the presence of sheared currents and use OpenFOAM, an open source Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) package. In the first approach, the empirical wave-on-current focussing methodology is applied directly in the OpenFOAM domain, replicating the physical wave-current flume. This approach is referred to as the Direct Method. In the second approach, a novel Lagrangian model is used to calculate the free surface elevation and flow kinematics, which are then used as boundary conditions for a smaller 3-D OpenFOAM domain with shorter simulation time. This approach is referred to as the Coupling Method. The capabilities of the two numerical methods have been validated by comparing with the experimental measurements collected in a wave-current flume at UCL. The performance of both approaches is evaluated in terms of accuracy and computational effort required. It is shown that both approaches provide satisfactory predictions in terms of local free surface elevation and nonlinear wave loading on the vertical cylinders with an acceptable level of computational cost. The Coupling Method is more efficient because of the use of a smaller computational domain and the application of the iterative wave-current generation in the faster Lagrangian model. Additionally, it is shown that a Stokes-type perturbation expansion can be generalized to approximate cylinder loads arising from wave groups on following and adverse sheared currents, allowing estimation of the higher-order harmonic shapes and time histories from knowledge of the linear components alone

Numerical modelling of interactions of waves and sheared currents with a surface piercing vertical cylinder

Vertical surface piercing cylinders, such as typical coastal wind turbine foundations and basic elements of many coastal structures, are often exposed to combined loading from waves and currents. Accurate prediction of hydrodynamic loads on a vertical cylinder in a combined wave-current flow is a challenging task. This work describes and compares two different approaches for numerical modelling of the interaction between focussed wave groups and a sheared current, and then their interactions with a vertical piercing cylinder. Both approaches employ an empirical methodology to generate a wave focussed at the location of the structure in the presence of sheared currents and use OpenFOAM, an open source Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) package. In the first approach, the empirical wave-on-current focussing methodology is applied directly in the OpenFOAM domain, replicating the physical wave-current flume. This approach is referred to as the Direct Method. In the second approach, a novel Lagrangian model is used to calculate the free surface elevation and flow kinematics, which are then used as boundary conditions for a smaller 3-D OpenFOAM domain with shorter simulation time. This approach is referred to as the Coupling Method. The capabilities of the two numerical methods have been validated by comparing with the experimental measurements collected in a wave-current flume at UCL. The performance of both approaches is evaluated in terms of accuracy and computational effort required. It is shown that both approaches provide satisfactory predictions in terms of local free surface elevation and nonlinear wave loading on the vertical cylinders with an acceptable level of computational cost. The Coupling Method is more efficient because of the use of a smaller computational domain and the application of the iterative wave-current generation in the faster Lagrangian model. Additionally, it is shown that a Stokes-type perturbation expansion can be generalized to approximate cylinder loads arising from wave groups on following and adverse sheared currents, allowing estimation of the higher-order harmonic shapes and time histories from knowledge of the linear components alone.</p

Smoking-related DNA adducts as potential diagnostic markers of lung cancer: new perspectives

In recent years, the new direction such as identification of informative circulating markers reflecting molecular genetic changes in the DNA of tumor cells was actively developed. Smoking-related DNA adducts are very promising research area, since they indicate high pathogenetic importance in the lung carcinogenesis and can be identified in biological samples with high accuracy and reliability using highly sensitive mass spectrometry methods (TOF/TOF, TOF/MS, MS/MS). The appearance of DNA adducts in blood or tissues is the result of the interaction of carcinogenic factors, such as tobacco constituents, and the body reaction which is determined by individual characteristics of metabolic and repair systems. So, DNA adducts may be considered as a cumulative mirror of heterogeneous response of different individuals to smoking carcinogens, which finally could determine the risk for lung cancer. This review is devoted to analysis of the role of DNA adducts in lung carcinogenesis in order to demonstrate their usefulness as cancer associated markers. Currently, there are some serious limitations impeding the widespread use of DNA adducts as cancer biomarkers, due to failure of standardization of mass spectrometry analysis in order to correctly measure the adduct level in each individual. However, it is known that all DNA adducts are immunogenic, their accumulation over some threshold concentration leads to the appearance of long-living autoantibodies. Thus, detection of an informative pattern of autoantibodies against DNA adducts using innovative multiplex ELISA immunoassay may be a promising approach to find lung cancer at an early stage in high-risk groups (smokers, manufacturing workers, urban dwellers)

ЭКСПРЕССИЯ CXCR4 В РАЗЛИЧНЫХ ПОПУЛЯЦИЯХ ЦИРКУЛИРУЮЩИХ И ОДИНОЧНЫХ ОПУХОЛЕВЫХ КЛЕТОК РАКА МОЛОЧНОЙ ЖЕЛЕЗЫ

The aim of this study was to assess CXCR4 expression in different subsets of CTCs and single (detached) breast cancer cells.Materials and methods. Thirty five patients with invasive breast carcinoma of no specialtype (IC NST) (T1-4N0-2M0), between 29 and 69 years of age were included in this study. Different subsets of CTCs with CXCR4 expression were evaluated by flow cytometry. A  confocal microscopy was used to assess CXCR4 expression in different subsets of single (detached) cancer cells in breast tissue.Results. The CXCR4 was expressed in CTCs without stem-like and EMT phenotype, in CTCs  with EMT but not stem markers and in stem-like CTCs without EMT features. In all blood  samples, the CXCR4 expression in CTCs with stem-like and EMT phenotype was absent. In  breast tumor the CXCR4 was expressed in the non stemlike single (detached) breast cancer  cells with EMT features, in the single (detached) breast cancer cells with stem and EMT  features. In all tumor samples the stem-like or non stem-like single (detached) breast  cancer cells without EMT features were absent.Conclusions. Different subsets of the CTCs exhibited CXCR4. The CXCR4 expression did not  depend on the presence or absence of stem or/and EMT features in tumor cells. We showed that some subsets of single (detached) breast cancer cells in the primary tumor  were characterized by the ability to express CXCR4 and may be a source of the respective CTC subsets.Целью исследования явилось определение экспрессии CXCR4 в различных популяциях циркулирующих (ЦОК) и одиночных (дискретных) опухолевых клеток рака молочной железы.Материал и методы. В исследование были включены 35 пациенток с инвазивной карциномой неспецифического типа молочной железы (T1–4N0–2M0) в возрасте от 29 до 69 лет. Экспрессию CXCR4 в  различных популяциях ЦОК оценивали методом проточной цитометрии. Для оценки экспрессии CXCR4 в  аналогичных популяциях одиночных (дискретных) опухолевых клеток в первичной опухоли использовали метод конфокальной микроскопии.Результаты. Нами было установлено, что CXCR4 экспрессировался ЦОК без признаков стволовости и  эпителиально-мезенхимального перехода (ЭМП), ЦОК с признаками ЭМП, но без маркеров стволовости, а  также ЦОК с признаками стволовости, но без признаков ЭМП. У всех пациенток в крови ЦОК с признаками  стволовости и ЭМП не экспрессировался CXCR4. В первичной опухоли молочной железы CXCR4  обнаруживался как на одиночных (дискретных) опухолевых клетках без признаков стволовости с  признаками ЭМП, так и на клетках с маркерами стволовости и ЭМП. У всех пациенток в образцах первичной  опухоли отсутствовали стволовые и нестволовые клетки без признаков ЭМП.Заключение. Таким образом, CXCR4 экспрессируются на различных популяциях ЦОК. Экспрессия CXCR4  не зависит от наличия или отсутствия признаков стволовости и/или ЭМП в опухолевых клетках. Также мы  показали, что некоторые популяции одиночных (дискретных) опухолевых клеток в первичной опухоли  характеризуются способностью презентировать на своей мембране CXCR4 и могут являться источником соответствующих популяций ЦОК

A Blind comparative study of focused wave interactions with a fixed FPSO-like structure (CCP-WSI Blind Test Series 1)

Results from Blind Test Series 1, part of the Collaborative Computational Project in Wave Structure Interaction (CCP-WSI), are presented. Participants, with a range of numerical methods, simulate blindly the interaction between a fixed structure and focused waves ranging in steepness and direction. Numerical results are compared against corresponding physical data. The predictive capability of each method is assessed based on pressure and run-up measurements. In general, all methods perform well in the cases considered, however, there is notable variation in the results (even between similar methods). Recommendations are made for appropriate considerations and analysis in future comparative studies.</p

A Blind Comparative Study of Focused Wave Interactions with a Fixed FPSO-like Structure (CCP-WSI Blind Test Series 1)

Results from Blind Test Series 1, part of the Collaborative ComputationalProject in Wave Structure Interaction (CCP-WSI), are presented. Partici-pants, with a range of numerical methods, simulate blindly the interactionbetween a fixed structure and focused waves ranging in steepness and di-rection. Numerical results are compared against corresponding physicaldata. The predictive capability of each method is assessed based on pres-sure and run-up measurements. In general, all methods perform well inthe cases considered, however, there is notable variation in the results(even between similar methods). Recommendations are made for appro-priate considerations and analysis in future comparative studies

Clinical picture features of community-acquired pneumonia depending on the preventive vaccination against influenza and pneumococcal infection

The aim of the study was to study the clinical features of community-acquired pneumonia, depending on the preventive vaccination against pneumococcal infection and influenza using a computer program for interactive interviewing patients ‘Electronic Polyclinic'. 34 patients with community-acquired pneumonia aged 16-35 years were examined, 19 of whom were vaccinated against pneumococcal infection and influenza, and the second subgroup (15 people) did not receive preventive vaccination. In both subgroups, along with the examination within the verification of the diagnosis, all patients underwent an interactive questionnaire using the respiratory module of the automated system ‘Electronic Polyclinic'. Results. A special feature of community-acquired pneumonia in the group of vaccinated persons (group 1) was mild clinical symptomatology, a smaller amount of pulmonary tissue damage. The main clinical manifestations were presented with mild cough and / or fever. There was a lower incidence of dyspnoea compared with the group of patients ^without preventive vaccination' (group 2). The physical signs of the pulmonary densification syndrome were revealed only in 58% of cases in patients of the 1st group, in the second subgroup - in 95% of cases. In the first group, assessment of the X-ray data allowed us to state a segmental lesion of the lung parenchyma in 95% of cases, and only in 1 case - lobar pneumonia. In the second subgroup, on the contrary, in 14 out of 15 patients, lobar pneumonia was observed, and in 1 case a bilateral polysegmental lesion occurred. Statistically significant differences were obtained (p <0.05): in the first group of patients the median of pneumonia severity index (10%., 90%o) was 19 (18,20) points, in the second group - 26 (24.30). The conclusion. A conclusion was made about less severe symptoms and a decrease in the severity index of pneumonia in group 1, probably influenced by influenza vaccination and pneumococcal infection.Целью исследования явилось изучение особенностей клинической картины внебольничной пневмонии в зависимости от профилактической вакцинации против пневмококковой инфекции и гриппа с использованием компьютерной программы для интерактивного опроса больных «Электронная поликлиника». Обследованы 34 больных внебольничной пневмонией в возрасте 16-35 лет, 19 из которых были привиты от пневмококковой инфекции и гриппа, а вторая подгруппа (15 человек) - не проходили предупредительной вакцинации. В обеих подгруппах наряду с обследованием в рамках верификации диагноза все пациенты прошли интерактивное анкетирование с помощью респираторного модуля автоматизированной системы «Электронная поликлиника». Результаты. Особенностью течения внебольничной пневмонии в группе привитых лиц (группа 1) являлись маловыраженная клиническая симптоматика, меньший объем поражения легочной ткани. Основные клинические проявления были представлены слабовыраженным кашлем и/или лихорадкой. Отмечалась меньшая частота выявления одышки по сравнению с группой больных «без предупредительной вакцинопрофилактики» (группа 2). Физикальные признаки синдрома уплотнения легочной ткани были выявлены лишь в 58% случаев у больных 1-й группы, во второй подгруппе - в 95% случаев. В 1-й группе оценка данных рентгенологической картины позволила констатировать сегментарное поражение паренхимы легких в 95% случаев, и только в 1 случае - долевое поражение. Во второй подгруппе, наоборот, у 14 из 15 пациентов наблюдалась долевая пневмония, и в 1 случае имело место двустороннее полисегментарное поражение. Получены статистически значимые различия (р<0,05): в 1-й группе пациентов медиана (Me) индекса тяжести пневмонии (10%о; 90%о) составила 19 (18; 20) баллов, во второй - 26 (24; 30). Заключение. Сделан вывод о менее выраженных симптомах и снижении индекса тяжести течения пневмонии в 1 группе наблюдения, вероятно, под влиянием вакцинопрофилактики гриппа и пневмококковой инфекции

A Comparative Study on the Nonlinear Interaction Between a Focusing Wave and Cylinder Using State-of-the-art Solvers: Part A

This paper presents ISOPE’s 2020 comparative study on the interaction between focused waves and a fixed cylinder. The paper discusses the qualitative and quantitative comparisons between 20 different numerical solvers from various universities across the world for a fixed cylinder. The moving cylinder cases are reported in a companion paper as part B (Agarwal, Saincher, et al., 2021). The numerical solvers presented in this paper are the recent state of the art in the field, mostly developed in-house by various academic institutes. The majority of the participants used hybrid modeling (i.e., a combination of potential flow and Navier–Stokes solvers). The qualitative comparisons based on the wave probe and pressure probe time histories and spectral components between laminar, turbulent, and potential flow solvers are presented in this paper. Furthermore, the quantitative error analyses based on the overall relative error in peak and phase shifts in the wave probe and pressure probe of all the 20 different solvers are reported. The quantitative errors with respect to different spectral component energy levels (i.e., in primary, sub-, and superharmonic regions) capturing capability are reported. Thus, the paper discusses the maximum, minimum, and median relative errors present in recent solvers as regards application to industrial problems rather than attempting to find the best solver. Furthermore, recommendations are drawn based on the analysis

The comparative responsiveness of Hospital Universitario Princesa Index and other composite indices for assessing rheumatoid arthritis activity

Objective To evaluate the responsiveness in terms of correlation of the Hospital Universitario La Princesa Index (HUPI) comparatively to the traditional composite indices used to assess disease activity in rheumatoid arthritis (RA), and to compare the performance of HUPI-based response criteria with that of the EULAR response criteria. Methods Secondary data analysis from the following studies: ACT-RAY (clinical trial), PROAR (early RA cohort) and EMECAR (pre-biologic era long term RA cohort). Responsiveness was evaluated by: 1) comparing change from baseline (Delta) of HUPI with Delta in other scores by calculating correlation coefficients; 2) calculating standardised effect sizes. The accuracy of response by HUPI and by EULAR criteria was analyzed using linear regressions in which the dependent variable was change in global assessment by physician (Delta GDA-Phy). Results Delta HUPI correlation with change in all other indices ranged from 0.387 to 0.791); HUPI's standardized effect size was larger than those from the other indices in each database used. In ACT-RAY, depending on visit, between 65 and 80% of patients were equally classified by HUPI and EULAR response criteria. However, HUPI criteria were slightly more stringent, with higher percentage of patients classified as non-responder, especially at early visits. HUPI response criteria showed a slightly higher accuracy than EULAR response criteria when using Delta GDA-Phy as gold standard. Conclusion HUPI shows good responsiveness in terms of correlation in each studied scenario (clinical trial, early RA cohort, and established RA cohort). Response criteria by HUPI seem more stringent than EULAR''s