VISUALIZATION OF PSEUDOCAVERNS IN STIRRED VESSELS

A new technique for reconstructing the geometry of well-mixed regions (pseudocaverns for Newtonian fluids) in unbaffled vessels agitated with radial discharge impellers eccentrically placed has been developed for obtaining their three dimensional geometry. The mixer frame rotates at low speed allowing the video system to capture a sequence of pictures of the flow patterns by using the laser induced fluorescence technique. The recorded video sequence was used to isolate the contours of the pseudocaverns for reconstructing the three dimensional structure of the well-mixed regions within the tank

Analysis of the thermal sensation in single-family home from microclimatic monitoring: Case study Bucaramanga Colombia

The present work describes the experimentation of monitoring for the finding of the heat index and the indi-vidual thermal sensation, where the behavior of the real temperature in the exterior and interior of a conven-tional single-family house with a warm and temperate climate in Colombia was analyzed. The detailed mon-itoring campaign is carried out for 2880 hours, where the conditions of the interior area of the house and the local climatic conditions of the area are recorded, through the implementation of a thermohydrometers regis-tration system. The methodology for the calculation of the sensation of heat and thermal comfort was deter-mined under the adjusted equation of cooling power of Leonardo Hill and Morikofer-Davos, applied in the analyses of the Institute of Hydrology, Meteorology and Environmental Studies - IDEAM. The results showed a thermal sensation of dissatisfaction of 97.7%, because with the monitored temperature the thermal sensation is calculated yielding in 1382.4 hours with very hot, 1151.6 hours of hot and 280.8 hours of warmthermal sensation

Long-term care insurance in Italy: medico-legal and socio-economic profiles

Long-term care insurance (LTCI) plays a crucial role in providing substantial aid in non-self-sufficient situations and complementing existing state protection mechanisms. With an aging population and increasing demand for healthcare services LTC policies have become indispensable. While individual LTCI policies face adoption challenges, group insurances offer a more streamlined alternative. However, realizing the full potential of these insurances necessitates targeted legislative intervention to improve accessibility and ensure sustainability. This article explores the evolution of LTCI policies in Italy, offering an overview of the current landscape and highlighting the socio-economic and medico-legal factors shaping the present scenario. By providing this analysis, we seek to offer insights into the dynamic evolution of LTCI policies and the crucial role of legislative measures in enhancing their effectiveness and accessibility

Design Considerations in Laminar Fluid Mixing with Unconventional Geometries

Laminar mixing in stirred vessels is often inefficient due to the presence of flowstructures generated during the process. Very long mixing times are then required for achieving a specific homogeneity level into the tank. Although the easiest way of removing such structures consist of increasing the impeller rotational speed, in many cases the turbulent regime cannot be achieved due to excessive media heating by viscous dissipation, torque limitations on the kinematic chain, and the costly power consumption. To alleviate these obstacles, alternate configurations specifically designed for operation in the laminar regime have been introduced. This paper dealswith a review of these non-typical alternate configurations based mainly on off-centered impellers, multi-shaft equipment and planetary mixers. It will be shown that the performance of these systems paves the way to a new technological paradigm in laminar mixing

FMECA and FTA analysis applied to the manufacturing process of pulsating heat pipes

Pulsating heat pipes (PHPs) offer significant advantages for the thermal control of electronic components due to their simple manufacturing and high heat transfer rates. The reliability of PHPs has traditionally been assessed through long-life testing, but detailed reliability analyses from an equipment perspective are limited. The study of PHP reliability is essential due to its application and operational conditions. For instance, in aerospace applications these devices operate under severe conditions, and maintenance or replacement is impossible during operation, making them critical components in system functionality. The reliability analysis of PHPs focuses on the manufacturing process, considering future operating conditions. Although preliminary PHP testing will be conducted on Earth, laboratory conditions are less stringent due to the difficulty of replicating launch acceleration and space conditions for long-term testing under microgravity. This study presents an FMECA (Failure Modes, Effects, and Criticality Analysis) of the pulsating heat pipe manufacturing process, breaking down the production of each component. The results indicate that the most critical point is concentrated in the assembly of these components, leading to a higher incidence of welding failures. It recommends further work to improve welding and analyze mechanical stresses within the heat pipe

Design and construction of a solar tracking system for linear fresnel concentrator

An open circuit solar tracking system has been designed, manufactured, simulated and implemented for a handcrafted prototype of a small scale linear Fresnel reflector with a single axis of motion. The electronic control system is governed by an Arduino UNO R3 board and two main auxiliary systems; a Microstep Driver TB6600 and an RTC DS1302 module. Further, a mechanism was implemented that joins the reflectors to a stepper motor that executes a single movement per sequence, to move the set of reflector mirrors that make up the reflection system of the device. The positioning angles of the reflectors determined by the control algorithm models for solar tracking, allowed to feed the TONATIUH software to evaluate the path of the solar rays through the 3D modeling of the Linear Fresnel reflector on a real scale. The software was designed to follow the path of the sun by means of astronomical equations. In this way, the mirrors of the Linear Fresnel reflector can follow the solar path on a single axis from 7 am to 5 pm, making changes in the position of each element in 15-minute intervals. The percentage of position deviation of the reflectors does not exceed 1% between the location of the full-scale system mirrors and the position angles provided by the control algorithm. The efficiency of the implemented automatic solar tracking system increased by more than 50% compared to the manual tracking system

Extensional viscosity of coating colors and its relation with jet coating performance

Résumé: Un rhéomètre à orifice a été utilisé pour mesurer la viscosité extensionnelle de plusieurs fluides non pigmentés et de sauces de couchage prépareés à base de carbonate de calcium dans le cadre d’une application de couchage par jet. Le rhéomètre à orifice a été tout d’abord étalonné en utilisant une courbe du nombre d’Euler en fonction du nombre de Reynolds avec des fluides newtoniens. Cette courbe d’étalonnage a par la suite été utilisée pour déterminer la viscosité extensionnelle apparente des sauces de couchage. Dans l’intervalle des vitesses de déformation étudié, tous les fluides ont montré une rhéofluidifiance en extension, le rapport de Trouton des sauces de couchage étant compris entre 5 et 20. Des essais de couchage par jet ont été aussi menés dans le but d’évaluer l’effet de la viscosité extensionnelle des sauces de couchage sur la performance du jet. Il s’est avéré que la viscosité extensionnelle est un paramètre clé déterminant la configuration du ménisque en aval de la région de contact sur le substrat. ---------- Abstract: An orifice flowmeter was used to measure the extensional viscosity of several non-pigmented fluids and paper coating colors containing calcium carbonate as pigment in the context of a jet coating application. The orifice flowmeter was first calibrated in terms of a dimensionless Euler number versus Reynolds number curve with Newtonian fluids. The calibration curve was then used to determine the apparent extensional viscosity of coating colors. In the strain rate range investigated, all the fluids were found to exhibit strain-thinning and the Trouton ratio of the coating colors was in the range 5 to 20. Jet coating tests were also carried out in order to evaluate the effect of the extensional viscosity on the jet performance. The extensional viscosity was shown to be a key parameter determining the configuration of the downstream meniscus in the web contact region

Epidemiology of Neonatal Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome:Prospective, Multicenter, International Cohort Study

OBJECTIVES: Age-specific definitions for acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) are available, including a specific definition for neonates (the "Montreux definition"). The epidemiology of neonatal ARDS is unknown. The objective of this study was to describe the epidemiology, clinical course, treatment, and outcomes of neonatal ARDS. DESIGN: Prospective, international, observational, cohort study. SETTING: Fifteen academic neonatal ICUs. PATIENTS: Consecutive sample of neonates of any gestational age admitted to participating sites who met the neonatal ARDS Montreux definition criteria. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Neonatal ARDS was classified as direct or indirect, infectious or noninfectious, and perinatal (≤ 72 hr after birth) or late in onset. Primary outcomes were: 1) survival at 30 days from diagnosis, 2) inhospital survival, and 3) extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO)-free survival at 30 days from diagnosis. Secondary outcomes included respiratory complications and common neonatal extrapulmonary morbidities. A total of 239 neonates met criteria for the diagnosis of neonatal ARDS. The median prevalence was 1.5% of neonatal ICU admissions with male/female ratio of 1.5. Respiratory treatments were similar across gestational ages. Direct neonatal ARDS (51.5% of neonates) was more common in term neonates and the perinatal period. Indirect neonatal ARDS was often triggered by an infection and was more common in preterm neonates. Thirty-day, inhospital, and 30-day ECMO-free survival were 83.3%, 76.2%, and 79.5%, respectively. Direct neonatal ARDS was associated with better survival outcomes than indirect neonatal ARDS. Direct and noninfectious neonatal ARDS were associated with the poorest respiratory outcomes at 36 and 40 weeks' postmenstrual age. Gestational age was not associated with any primary outcome on multivariate analyses. CONCLUSIONS: Prevalence and survival of neonatal ARDS are similar to those of pediatric ARDS. The neonatal ARDS subtypes used in the current definition may be associated with distinct clinical outcomes and a different distribution for term and preterm neonates

Doñana. Acta vertebrata. vol 12(1)

Contribución a la biometría y biología de la Bermejuela Rutilus arcasii (Steindch., 1866) del embalse de PinillaSistemática de iguanidae, sensu lato y de anolinae en Cuba (Repitilia, sauria)Nueva subespecie de Anolis isolepis (Lacertilia: Iguanidae) para CubaAlimentación del ratonero común (Buteo buteo,L. 1758) en el norte de España.Censo y datos sobre la biología del Halcón de Eleonor (Falco eleonorae Gené, 1839) en las Islas Canarias. Agosto-septiembre 1983Selección de hábitat en un grupo de aves forestales del norte de la Península Ibérica:Importancia de la estructura de la vegetación y competencia interespecíficaThe intersexual differentiation in the foraging behaviour of Oenanthe hispanica L. during the breeding seasonEtograma de Gazella dorcasAlgunos datos sobre el crecimiento y las dimorfometrías sexuales del esqueleto postcraneal de Mus spretus Lataste, 1883 (Rodentia: muridaeDistribución y taxonomía de Molossops temminckii (Chiroptera, Molossidae) en Venezuela.Estudio de una población rural de ratones (Mus musculus L.) II. Análisis comparativo de once estimadores del tamaño poblacional.Distribución de Hyla arborea L. (AMPHIBIA, ANURA, HYLIDAE) en el macizo ibérico septentrionaPresencia y nidificación de gavilán (Accipiter nisus granti Sharpe 1890) en la isla de el Hierro.Autumn food of the ptarmigan (Lagopus mutus Montin, 17776 in the spanish central pyreneesPollo atípico en nido de Hirundo rustica.Primera cita del chorlito social (Vanellus gragarius) en las marismas del GuadalquivirPeer reviewe

Procalcitonin Is Not a Reliable Biomarker of Bacterial Coinfection in People With Coronavirus Disease 2019 Undergoing Microbiological Investigation at the Time of Hospital Admission

Admission procalcitonin measurements and microbiology results were available for 1040 hospitalized adults with coronavirus disease 2019 (from 48 902 included in the International Severe Acute Respiratory and Emerging Infections Consortium World Health Organization Clinical Characterisation Protocol UK study). Although procalcitonin was higher in bacterial coinfection, this was neither clinically significant (median [IQR], 0.33 [0.11–1.70] ng/mL vs 0.24 [0.10–0.90] ng/mL) nor diagnostically useful (area under the receiver operating characteristic curve, 0.56 [95% confidence interval, .51–.60])