Projected changes in extreme temperature and precipitation indices over CORDEX-MENA domain

In this study, projected changes in climate extreme indices defined by the Expert Team on Climate Change Detection and Indices were investigated over Middle East and North Africa. Changes in the daily maximum and minimum temperature-and precipitation-based extreme indices were analyzed for the end of the 21st century compared to the reference period 1971–2000 using regional climate model simulations. Regional climate model, RegCM4.4 was used to downscale two different global climate model outputs to 50 km resolution under RCP4.5 and RCP8.5 scenarios. Results generally indicate an intensification of temperature-and precipitation-based extreme indices with increasing radiative forcing. In particular, an increase in annual minimum of daily minimum temperatures is more pronounced over the northern part of Mediterranean Basin and tropics. High increase in warm nights and warm spell duration all over the region with a pronounced increase in tropics are projected for the period of 2071–2100 together with decrease or no change in cold extremes. According to the results, a decrease in total wet-day precipitation and increase in dry spells are expected for the end of the century.Publisher's Versio

A new method in thoracoscopic inferior mediastinal lymph node biopsy: a case report

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Introduction</p> <p>We performed video-thoracoscopy with a video-mediastinoscope to conduct a mediastinal lymph node biopsy. Here, we discuss the various advantages of the method.</p> <p>Case presentation</p> <p>A 56-year-old Turkish Caucasian man had been complaining of dyspnea on exertion, hacking cough, fever and continuous sweating for one and a half months. Thoracic computed tomography revealed enlarged paratracheal and aorticopulmonary lymph nodes, the largest of which was 1 cm in diameter and reticulo-micronodular interstitial infiltration extending symmetrically to the pleural surfaces in both pulmonary perihilar areas. Computed tomography supported positron emission tomography showed increased fluorodeoxyglucose retention in lymph nodes in both hilar areas (10R and 10L) (maximum standardized uptake values 5.6 and 5.7), and in the right lower paratracheal (4R) (maximum standardized uptake value 4.1) and right para-esophageal (8) (maximum standardized uptake value 8.9) lymph nodes. Pathological examination of the right lymph node number 8 biopsy using the video-mediastinoscope revealed the presence of granulomatous inflammation. No problems were observed during the postoperative period.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>The use of the video-mediastinoscope for inferior lymph node biopsy in thoracoscopy is an easy, safe and practical method, especially in patients with pleural adhesions.</p

Droplet Impingement Chemical Reactors and Methods of Processing Fuel

Fuel processors, methods of using fuel processors, and the like, are disclosed

CMUTs with integrated electronics for forward looking IVUS imaging

Issued as final reportBoston Scientific CorporationCapacitive micromachined ultrasonic transducers (cMUTs) have a great potential for implementing miniature arrays for intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) imaging. The Degertekin laboratory has recently developed cMUT manufacturing processes which enable post-CMOS fabrication of cMUT arrays for electronics integration. The purpose of this research proposal is to develop forward looking cMUT IVUS arrays and associated electronics for operation in the 10-50MHz range, and investigate the feasibility of integration of high performance cMUTs with CMOS electronics on a single silicon chip for the first time. If successful, this project will lead to low-cost forward looking IVUS imaging devices with high imaging performance and enable numerous diagnosis and therapeutic applications of IVUS

Characterization and imaging of single layered materials by the Lamb wave lens

Ankara : Department of Electrical and Electronics Engineering and Institute of Engineering Sciences, Bilkent Univ., 1991.Thesis (Master's) -- Bilkent University, 1991.Includes bibliographical references leaves 37-39.The Lamb wave lens, which was introduced earlier as a new kind of lens for scanning acoustic microscope, is analyzed theoretically. A simulation program capable of handling single layered materials with different material parameters and bonding conditions is developed. The validity of theory is investigated by comparing the simulation results with the experimented ones for speciidly prepared samples. Parameter sensitivity of V{f) curves are used to test the characterization ability of the lens in layered materials. Sul)surface imaging ability of the Lamb wave lens is also investigated by forming amplitude and peak frequency images of some samples.Değertekin, F LeventM.S

A CONDUCTING COMPOSITE OF POLYPYRROLE .1. SYNTHESIS AND CHARACTERIZATION

A conducting composite of polypyrrole was prepared via electrochemical methods. A polyamide was used as the insulating matrix polymer. The characterization of the composite was done by FT-IR, SEM, TGA, DSC and pyrolysis studies. Conductivity and solubility studies together with spectroscopic methods reveal that H bonding exists between the two polymers and a possible grafting to a certain extent

Trilinear Higgs couplings in the two Higgs doublet model with CP violation

We carry out a detailed analysis of the general two Higgs doublet model with CP violation. We describe two different parametrizations of this model, and then study the Higgs boson masses and the trilinear Higgs couplings for these two parametrizations. Within a rather general model, we find that the trilinear Higgs couplings have a significant dependence on the details of the model, even when the lightest Higgs boson mass is taken to be a fixed parameter. We include radiative corrections in the one-loop effective potential approximation in our analysis of the Higgs boson masses and the Higgs trilinear couplings. The one-loop corrections to the trilinear couplings of the two Higgs doublet model also depend significantly on the details of the model, and can be rather large. We study quantitatively the trilinear Higgs couplings, and show that these couplings are typically several times larger than the corresponding Standard Model trilinear Higgs coupling in some regions of the parameter space. We also briefly discuss the decoupling limit of the two Higgs doublet model.Comment: 23 pages, 15 figures. v2: References added, version to appear in PR

Profit-oriented disassembly-line balancing

As product and material recovery has gained importance, disassembly volumes have increased, justifying construction of disassembly lines similar to assembly lines. Recent research on disassembly lines has focused on complete disassembly. Unlike assembly, the current industry practice involves partial disassembly with profit-maximization or cost-minimization objectives. Another difference between assembly and disassembly is that disassembly involves additional precedence relations among tasks due to processing alternatives or physical restrictions. In this study, we define and solve the profit-oriented partial disassembly-line balancing problem. We first characterize different types of precedence relations in disassembly and propose a new representation scheme that encompasses all these types. We then develop the first mixed integer programming formulation for the partial disassembly-line balancing problem, which simultaneously determines (1) the parts whose demand is to be fulfilled to generate revenue, (2) the tasks that will release the selected parts under task and station costs, (3) the number of stations that will be opened, (4) the cycle time, and (5) the balance of the disassembly line, i.e. the feasible assignment of selected tasks to stations such that various types of precedence relations are satisfied. We propose a lower and upper-bounding scheme based on linear programming relaxation of the formulation. Computational results show that our approach provides near optimal solutions for small problems and is capable of solving larger problems with up to 320 disassembly tasks in reasonable time

Lattice Boltzmann Simulations of Multiple Droplet Interactions During Impingement on the Substrate

Studying material interface evolution in the course of multiple droplet interactions is critical for understanding the material additive process in inkjet deposition. In this paper, we have developed a novel numerical model based on the Lattice Boltzmann Method (LBM) to simulate the interface dynamics during impingement and interaction of multiple droplets. A lattice Boltzmann formulation is proposed to solve the governing equations of the continuous phasefield model that are used in commercial software COMSOL. The LBM inter-particle force is derived by comparing the recovered macroscopic equations from LBM equations with the governing equations of the phase-field model. In addition, a new set of boundary conditions for the LBM formulation is proposed based on conservation of mass and momentum to ensure correct evolution of contact line dynamics. The results of LBM simulations are compared with those of COMSOL and experimental data from literature. The comparison shows the proposed LBM model not only yields a significant improvement in computational speed, but also results in better accuracy than COMSOL as validated against the experiments. We have also demonstrated the capability of the developed LBM numerical solver for simulating interactions between multiple droplets impinging on the substrate, which is critical for development and optimization of inkjet manufacturing.Mechanical Engineerin