Characterization of transverse plasma jet and its effects on ramp induced separation

Plasma synthetic jet actuator (PSJA), which produces pulsed jets, is used to control the shock wave boundary layer interaction at a compression ramp at Ma = 2.0. The flow topology of the wall transverse plasma jet (TPJ) from the PSJA is first visualized through particle laser scattering (PLS) photography. The PSJA aperture effect is also examined by comparing the jets out of the apertures of 1.2 mm and 2 mm respectively. The control effect is later investigated by both PLS and particle image velocimetry (PIV). Further, the interaction process between the TPJ and the ramp-induced separation is discussed. The results show that the flow is characterized by two typical structures: the jet plume and the trailing vortex structures similar as those produced in the wake of vortex generator. And the PSJA with larger jet aperture is found to generate a stronger jet plume and the trailing vortices with a deeper penetration. Moreover, the reduced interaction region is only observed with the wider aperture through PLS technique. For PIV measurement, some further evidence on the reduced separated flow is given. The vortex shedding in the velocity shear layer is enhanced by the jet plume and the trailing vortex structures. Subsequently, the reduction of the separation zone is revealed with the overall shear layer reduced, which indicates the momentum exchange between the shear layer and mainstream. At last, a conceptual model based on two typical structures is suggested to reveal the control process

Prosumer Nanogrids: A Cybersecurity Assessment

Nanogrids are customer deployments that can generate and inject electricity into the power grid. These deployments are based on behind-the-meter renewable energy resources and are labeled as “prosumer setups”, allowing customers to not only consume electricity, but also produce it. A residential nanogrid is comprised of a physical layer that is a household-scale electric power system, and a cyber layer that is used by manufacturers and/or grid operators to remotely monitor and control the nanogrid. With the increased penetration of renewable energy resources, nanogrids are at the forefront of a paradigm shift in the operational landscape and their correct operation is vital to the electric power grid. In this paper, we perform a cybersecurity assessment of a state-of-the art residential nanogrid deployment. For this purpose, we deployed a real-world experimental nanogrid setup that is based on photovoltaic (PV) generation. We analyzed the security and the resiliency of this system at both the cyber and physical layers. While we noticed improvements in the cybersecurity measures employed in the current nanogrid compared to previous generations, there are still major concerns. Our experiments show that these concerns range from exploiting well-known protocols, such as Secure Shell (SSH) and Domain Name Service (DNS), to the leakage of confidential information, and major shortcomings in the software updating mechanism. While the compromise of multiple nanogrids can have a negative effect on the entire power grid, we focus our analysis on individual households and have determined through Simulink-based simulations the economic loss of a compromised deployment.National Science Foundation under Grant 1850406

GGE biplot for stability and adaptability in cashew tree clones.

The interaction genotype versus environment makes it difficult the genetic improvement of the species for the selection of more adapted and stable genotypes. Thus, the objective of this work was to evaluate new clones of early dwarf cashews, in terms of stability and adaptability, employing the GGE biplot methodology. The experimental design was based on randomized blocks with four replications and 15 treatments (different clones). The variables evaluated were cashew production per plant (PCP), average mass of chashew (MMC) and early harvest (PRE). The clones G1 and G3 for MMC, G15, G2, G14 and G8 for PRE and G3, G10 and G2 for PCP approached the ideotype; the clones identified as top for each characteristic were not coincident; the majority of the clones were stable for MMC, while for PRE and PCP were not stable; the clone G4 had the best average in PRE, but with low stability; in the GGE biplot the environments A3 for MMC, A4 to PRE and A5 for PCP were the most discriminating; all environments had greater contribution in the differentiation of clones in PRE and MMC, for PCP were the environments A4 and A5; in relation at the average representativeness the environments A1 in MMC and A2 for PRE and PCP stood out. = A interação genótipos versus ambientes dificulta o melhoramento genético das espécies para a seleção de genótipos adaptados e estáveis. Assim, objetivou-se com este trabalho avaliar novos clones de cajueiro-anão precoce, quanto a estabilidade e adaptabilidade, empregando a metodologia Biplot GGE. O delineamento experimental foi em blocos casualizados com quatro repetições e 15 tratamentos (diferentes clones). As variáveis avaliadas foram produção de castanha por planta (PCP), massa média de castanha (MMC) e precocidade de colheita (PRE). Os clones G1 e G3 para MMC; G15, G2, G14 e G8 para PRE e, G3, G10 e G2 para PCP se aproximaram do ideótipo; os clones identificados como superiores para cada característica não foram coincidentes; a maioria dos clones foram estáveis para MMC, enquanto que para PRE e PCP não foram estáveis; o clone G4 teve a melhor média em PRE, mas com baixa estabilidade; no GGE Biplot os ambientes A3 para MMC, A4 para PRE e A5 para PCP foram os mais discriminadores; todos os ambientes tiveram maior contribuição na diferenciação dos clones em PRE e MMC, para PCP foram os ambientes A4 e A5 e; em relação a representatividade média os ambientes A1 em MMC e A2 para PRE e PCP se destacaram

GGE biplot for stability and adaptability in cashew tree clones.

The interaction genotype versus environment makes it difficult the genetic improvement of the species for the selection of more adapted and stable genotypes. Thus, the objective of this work was to evaluate new clones of early dwarf cashews, in terms of stability and adaptability, employing the GGE biplot methodology. The experimental design was based on randomized blocks with four replications and 15 treatments (different clones). The variables evaluated were cashew production per plant (PCP), average mass of chashew (MMC) and early harvest (PRE). The clones G1 and G3 for MMC, G15, G2, G14 and G8 for PRE and G3, G10 and G2 for PCP approached the ideotype; the clones identified as top for each characteristic were not coincident; the majority of the clones were stable for MMC, while for PRE and PCP were not stable; the clone G4 had the best average in PRE, but with low stability; in the GGE biplot the environments A3 for MMC, A4 to PRE and A5 for PCP were the most discriminating; all environments had greater contribution in the differentiation of clones in PRE and MMC, for PCP were the environments A4 and A5; in relation at the average representativeness the environments A1 in MMC and A2 for PRE and PCP stood out

Droplet Self-Propulsion on Slippery Liquid-Infused Surfaces with Dual Lubricant Wedge-Shaped Wettability Patterns

Young’s equation is fundamental to the concept of the wettability of a solid surface. It defines the contact angle for a droplet on a solid surface through a local equilibrium at the three-phase contact line. Recently, the concept of a liquid Young’s law contact angle has been developed to describe the wettability of slippery liquid-infused porous surfaces (SLIPS) by droplets of an immiscible liquid. In this work, we present a new method to fabricate biphilic SLIP surfaces and show how the wettability of the composite SLIPS can be exploited with a macroscopic wedge-shaped pattern of two distinct lubricant liquids. In particular, we report the development of composite liquid surfaces on silicon substrates based on lithographically patterning a Teflon AF1600 coating and a superhydrophobic coating (Glaco Mirror Coat Zero), where the latter selectively dewets from the former. This creates a patterned base surface with preferential wetting to matched liquids: the fluoropolymer PTFE with a perfluorinated oil Krytox and the hydrophobic silica-based GLACO with olive oil (or other mineral oils or silicone oil). This allows us to successively imbibe our patterned solid substrates with two distinct oils and produce a composite liquid lubricant surface with the oils segregated as thin films into separate domains defined by the patterning. We illustrate that macroscopic wedge-shaped patterned SLIP surfaces enable low-friction droplet self-propulsion. Finally, we formulate an analytical model that captures the dependence of the droplet motion as a function of the wettability of the two liquid lubricant domains and the opening angle of the wedge. This allows us to derive scaling relationships between various physical and geometrical parameters. This work introduces a new approach to creating patterned liquid lubricant surfaces, demonstrates long-distance droplet self-propulsion on such surfaces, and sheds light on the interactions between liquid droplets and liquid surfaces

GGE biplot for stability and adaptability in cashew tree clones.

The interaction genotype versus environment makes it difficult the genetic improvement of the species for the selection of more adapted and stable genotypes. Thus, the objective of this work was to evaluate new clones of early dwarf cashews, in terms of stability and adaptability, employing the GGE biplot methodology. The experimental design was based on randomized blocks with four replications and 15 treatments (different clones). The variables evaluated were cashew production per plant (PCP), average mass of chashew (MMC) and early harvest (PRE). The clones G1 and G3 for MMC, G15, G2, G14 and G8 for PRE and G3, G10 and G2 for PCP approached the ideotype; the clones identified as top for each characteristic were not coincident; the majority of the clones were stable for MMC, while for PRE and PCP were not stable; the clone G4 had the best average in PRE, but with low stability; in the GGE biplot the environments A3 for MMC, A4 to PRE and A5 for PCP were the most discriminating; all environments had greater contribution in the differentiation of clones in PRE and MMC, for PCP were the environments A4 and A5; in relation at the average representativeness the environments A1 in MMC and A2 for PRE and PCP stood out

Within-Session Analysis of Amphetamine-Elicited Rotation Behavior Reveals Differences between Young Adult and Middle-Aged F344/BN Rats with Partial Unilateral Striatal Dopamine Depletion

Preclinical modeling of Parkinson's disease using 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA) has been valuable in developing and testing therapeutic strategies. Recent efforts have focused on modeling early stages of disease by infusing 6-OHDA into the striatum. The partial DA depletion that follows intrastriatal 6-OHDA is more variable than the near complete depletion following medial forebrain bundle infusion, and behavioral screening assays are not as well characterized in the partial lesion model. We compared relationships between amphetamine-elicited rotation behavior and DA depletion following intrastriatal 6-OHDA (12.5 μg) in 6 month vs. 18 month F344/BN rats, at 2-weeks and 6-weeks post-lesion. We compared the total number of rotations with within-session (bin-by-bin) parameters of rotation behavior as indicators of DA depletion. Striatal DA depletion was greater in the young adult than in the middle-aged rats at 2 weeks but not at 6 weeks post-lesion. The total number of rotations for the whole session and striatal DA depletion did not differ between the two age groups. Regression analysis revealed a greater relationship between within-session parameters of rotation behavior and DA depletion in the middle-aged group than in the young adult group. These results have implications for estimating DA depletion in preclinical studies using rats of different ages

Validation and Utilization of a Clinical Next-Generation Sequencing Panel for Selected Cardiovascular Disorders

The development of high-throughput technologies such as next-generation sequencing (NGS) has allowed for thousands of DNA loci to be interrogated simultaneously in a fast and economical method for the detection of clinically deleterious variants. Whenever a clinical diagnosis is known, a targeted NGS approach involving the use of disease-specific gene panels can be employed. This approach is often valuable as it allows for a more specific and clinically relevant interpretation of results. Here, we describe the customization, validation, and utilization of a commercially available targeted enrichment platform for the scalability of clinical diagnostic cardiovascular genetic tests, including the design of the gene panels, the technical parameters for the quality assurance and quality control, the customization of the bioinformatics pipeline, and the post-bioinformatics analysis procedures. Regions of poor base coverage were detected and targeted by Sanger sequencing as needed. All panels were successfully validated using genotype-known DNA samples either commercially available or from research subjects previously tested in outside clinical laboratories. In our experience, utilizing several of the sub-panels in a clinical setting with 33 real-life cardiovascular patients, we found that 20% of tests requested were reported to have at least one pathogenic or likely pathogenic variant that could explain the patient phenotype. For each of these patients, the positive results may aid the clinical team and the patients in best developing a disease management plan and in identifying relatives at risk

Metaheuristic optimization of insulin infusion protocols using historical data with validation using a patient simulator

Metaheuristic search algorithms are used to develop new protocols for optimal intravenous insulin infusion rate recommendations in scenarios involving hospital in-patients with Type 1 Diabetes. Two metaheuristic search algorithms are used, namely, Particle Swarm Optimization and Covariance Matrix Adaption Evolution Strategy. The Glucose Regulation for Intensive Care Patients (GRIP) serves as the starting point of the optimization process. We base our experiments on a methodology in the literature to evaluate the favorability of insulin protocols, with a dataset of blood glucose level/insulin infusion rate time series records from 16 patients obtained from the Waikato District Health Board. New and significantly better insulin infusion strategies than GRIP are discovered from the data through metaheuristic search. The newly discovered strategies are further validated and show good performance against various competitive benchmarks using a virtual patient simulator