Numerical Investigation of Heat Transfer Enhancement in a Circular Tube with Rectangular Opened Rings

Turbulent forced convection of coolant air flow (10 m/s velocity) in a steel tube of 50 cm long having outside diameter of 60 mm and inside diameter of 30 mm with constant outside surface temperature of 1000, 1200 and 1400 Ko is numerically analyzed. The renormalization group k-ε model is used to simulate turbulence in ANSYS - FLUENT 14.5. An opened ring of rectangular cross section (5x7 mm) is fitted in the tube and separated by 8cm pitch. Results of temperature and velocity distribution along the tube center line for the case of tube with internal ribs were compared with that of plain tube , these results show that the use of internal ribs enhance the heat transfer rate and found to possess the highest performance factors for turbulent flow

Effect of Irrigation and Tillage Systems on The Amount of Wasted Water and Net Profit of Broccoli Plants

The experiment was carried out in the research field of the College of Agriculture and Forestry / University of Mosul / Tourist Forest Area, during the growing season (2023-2024). The experiment included studying the effect of two factors, the first factor: tillage systems (surface plowing and deep plowing) and the second factor included irrigation systems (drip irrigation system and flood irrigation system). Thus, the experiment included 4 treatments (2 × 2). The study was carried out in the field using a split-plot system within a completely randomized block design (RCBD), where tillage systems were placed in the main plots , and irrigation systems were placed in the Sub plots. The results can be summarized as follows:- A- The characteristics represented by the amount of water per 30 cm and the amount of wasted water were affected by the factor of tillage systems, as the surface tillage system showed significant superiority in these characteristics over the deep tillage system. B- The characteristics represented by characteristics of vegetative growth were affected by the factor of deep plowing systems, as the deep tillage system showed lower costs compared to the surface tillage system, which gave better values ​​in terms of net profit for the production process. The bilateral interaction treatment between the surface tillage system and the drip irrigation system showed the highest net profit for Characteristics of vegetative growth

Mechanical and thermal properties of the waste low and high density polyethylene-nanoclay composites

In extension with the previous work, recycling of the waste polyolefins by dissolution/reprecipitation method, has been investigated. The goal of study was to explore the influence of organo-modified/unmodified sodium montmorillonite clays, on the behaviours of waste polyolefins inclusive low density polyethylene (LDPE) and high density polyethylene (HDPE). 1-5 wt % of unmodified (MMT) and Organo-modified clay (OMMT) were added to the polyolefins, to prepare polyolefin-clay nanocomposites by melt intercalation method. X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscope (FESEM) were used to estimate the dispersion of clay in the polymer matrices and the morphology of nanocomposites. Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC) were used to analyse the change in the thermic properties of the waste polyolefins nanocomposites. The XRD and FESEM results showed an intercalated structure in the HDPE and LDPE with Organo-clay nanocomposites, whereas no exfoliation was observed with unmodified clay in both waste HDPE and LDPE, respectively. DSC and TGA, showed an improved thermal behaviours in the HDPE/Organo-clay nanocomposites (3 wt%) clay loading. Melting temperature and crystallization percentage were observed to increase in 1, 2, and 3 wt% loadings. In waste LDPE/clay nanocomposites, no improvement was established in the thermal stability

Machine Learning Based Classification of Resting-State fMRI Features Exemplified by Metabolic State (Hunger/Satiety)

ObjectiveResting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (rs-fMRI) has become an essential measure to investigate the human brain’s spontaneous activity and intrinsic functional connectivity. Several studies including our own previous work have shown that the brain controls the regulation of energy expenditure and food intake behavior. Accordingly, we expected different metabolic states to influence connectivity and activity patterns in neuronal networks.MethodsThe influence of hunger and satiety on rs-fMRI was investigated using three connectivity models (local connectivity, global connectivity and amplitude rs-fMRI signals). After extracting the connectivity parameters of 90 brain regions for each model, we used sequential forward floating selection strategy in conjunction with a linear support vector machine classifier and permutation tests to reveal which connectivity model differentiates best between metabolic states (hunger vs. satiety).ResultsWe found that the amplitude of rs-fMRI signals is slightly more precise than local and global connectivity models in order to detect resting brain changes during hunger and satiety with a classification accuracy of 81%.ConclusionThe amplitude of rs-fMRI signals serves as a suitable basis for machine learning based classification of brain activity. This opens up the possibility to apply this combination of algorithms to similar research questions, such as the characterization of brain states (e.g., sleep stages) or disease conditions (e.g., Alzheimer’s disease, minimal cognitive impairment)

Impact of Hunger, Satiety, and Oral Glucose on the Association Between Insulin and Resting-State Human Brain Activity

To study the interplay of metabolic state (hungry vs. satiated) and glucose administration (including hormonal modulation) on brain function, resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (rs-fMRI) and blood samples were obtained in 24 healthy normal-weight men in a repeated measurement design. Participants were measured twice: once after a 36 h fast (except water) and once under satiation (three meals/day for 36 h). During each session, rs-fMRI and hormone concentrations were recorded before and after a 75 g oral dose of glucose. We calculated the amplitude map from blood-oxygen-level-dependent (BOLD) signals by using the fractional amplitude of low-frequency fluctuation (fALFF) approach for each volunteer per condition. Using multiple linear regression analysis (MLRA) the interdependence of brain activity, plasma insulin and blood glucose was investigated. We observed a modulatory impact of fasting state on intrinsic brain activity in the posterior cingulate cortex (PCC). Strikingly, differences in plasma insulin levels between hunger and satiety states after glucose administration at the time of the scan were negatively related to brain activity in the posterior insula and superior frontal gyrus (SFG), while plasma glucose levels were positively associated with activity changes in the fusiform gyrus. Furthermore, we could show that changes in plasma insulin enhanced the connectivity between the posterior insula and SFG. Our results indicate that hormonal signals like insulin alleviate an acute hemostatic energy deficit by modifying the homeostatic and frontal circuitry of the human brain

IKKβ regulates essential functions of the vascular endothelium through kinase-dependent and -independent pathways

Vascular endothelium provides a selective barrier between the blood and tissues, participates in wound healing and angiogenesis, and regulates tissue recruitment of inflammatory cells. Nuclear factor (NF)-κB transcription factors are pivotal regulators of survival and inflammation, and have been suggested as potential therapeutic targets in cancer and inflammatory diseases. Here we show that mice lacking IKKβ, the primary kinase mediating NF-κB activation, are smaller than littermates and born at less than the expected Mendelian frequency in association with hypotrophic and hypovascular placentae. IKKβ-deleted endothelium manifests increased vascular permeability and reduced migration. Surprisingly, we find that these defects result from loss of kinase-independent effects of IKKβ on activation of the serine-threonine kinase, Akt. Together, these data demonstrate essential roles for IKKβ in regulating endothelial permeability and migration, as well as an unanticipated connection between IKKβ and Akt signalling

Field quality of quadrupole R&D models for the LHC IR

Superconducting quadrupole magnets operating in superfluid helium at 1.9 K, with 70 mm bore and nominal field gradient of 205 T/m at collision optics, are being developed by the US LHC Accelerator Project for the Interaction Regions of the Large Hadron Collider (LHC). A magnet model program to validate and optimize the design is underway. This paper reports results of field quality measurements of four model magnets. (3 refs)

Quench performance of Fermilab high gradient quadrupole short models for the LHC Interaction Regions

Fermilab and LBNL are in the midst of superconducting magnet R&D program to test and optimize the design of quadrupoles to be used in the LHC Interaction Region inner triplets. The magnets are required to deliver a 215 T/m gradient across a 70 mm aperture. Five quadrupole short models have been fabricated and four of them have been tested. This paper describes the last model design details and reports the results of the magnet quench performance study. (5 refs)

Support to the public services mutation through continuous improvement in a french metropolis

Public Services have their own principles and codes in order to address needs of general interest through the procurement of physical objects, information or services to various kinds of users. Characterized by a political context and a dedicated legal framework, public services have specific constraints and objectives. This communication shows how continuous improvement methods born in an industrial context could be adapted for addressing the specificity of public service, especially in the new context of "Smart Cities"