283 research outputs found

    Enhancing Heat Transfer in Mini-Scale Liquid-Cooled Heat Sinks by Flow Oscillation—A Numerical Analysis

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    \ua9 2024 by the authors. Oscillatory baffled flows (OBFs) provide a combined active and passive means of achieving convective heat transfer enhancement, and previous studies at large scale have demonstrated the heat transfer benefits of OBFs. To date, however, this technology has not been scaled down for the purpose of heat sink performance enhancement. Presented in this study is a numerical investigation of a single baffled channel with a hydraulic diameter of 2.8 mm, containing gate baffles, with a 50% open area, which are spaced 7.5 mm apart. Three net-flow rates were investigated while varying the oscillation conditions by varying the oscillation amplitude (3 mm to 7 mm) and by varying the oscillation frequency (0 to 8 Hz). Increasing the oscillation intensity had a greater impact on the Nusselt number compared to simply increasing the net-flow rate, with Nu enhancements of up to 330% observed when imposing oscillatory flow on a purely steady flow. Ideal operating conditions were identified by grouping the data by velocity ratio ((Formula presented.)) and graphing the theoretical pumping power against the thermal resistance of the channel. The highest Nu enhancement of 330% was achieved for a net-flow Reynolds number ((Formula presented.)) of 165, oscillatory amplitude of 5 mm and a frequency of 8 Hz. Ideal operating conditions can be predicted by selecting conditions with (Formula presented.) > 1. A flow with a (Formula presented.) of 46, (Formula presented.) of 7 and Nu = 12 required the same pumping power as a flow with a (Formula presented.) of 165, (Formula presented.) of 0.65 and Nu = 6

    Range extensions of the seaweeds Codium taylorii and Caulerpa prolifera into the lower Laguna Madre, Texas

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    Between January 1999 and April 2000 two chlorophyte algae, Codium taylorii Silva and Caulerpa prolifera F. obovata (Forsskal) Lamouroux were found in the lower Laguna Madre (LLM). Both are coenocytic algae and are members of the chlorophyte class Bryopsidophyceae ( van den Hoek et al. 1995). The species descriptions in Taylor (1960) were used in the identification of the specimens. Her barium specimens have been deposited at the University of Texas- Pan American Coastal Studies Laboratory (accession numbers COlO - C. prolifera, COl 1 - C. taylorii) , University of California at Berkeley (UC 1753606 - C. taylorii) , University of Michigan and the University of Texas Marine Science Institute

    Diversity of Chironomidae (Diptera) breeding in the Great Stour, Kent: baseline results from the Westgate Parks non-biting midge project

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    Chalk rivers and streams are of conservation importance due their ecological diversity, historical relevance and economic value. With more than 200 chalk watercourses, England is considered unusual in having the most chalk rivers in the world. However, due to increasing anthropogenic activities, many English chalk rivers and streams are becoming badly degraded. The non-biting midges or chironomids (Diptera, Chironomidae) are considered key-stone taxa in aquatic food webs, and have been used as ecological indicators of freshwater quality and environmental stress. Here we determined the generic richness, diversity, and community structure of Chironomidae across six sites in the mid-section of the Great Stour in Kent, a chalk river for which concern has been expressed regarding both water and habitat quality. Based on the morphological identification of 1336 insect larvae from the six sites (four in Westgate Parks, Canterbury, and two at nearby locations upstream and downstream from Canterbury City), a total of 20 genera of Chironomidae were identified, including some taxa indicative of freshwater habitats with low levels of organic pollution. There were different levels of generic richness and diversity among sites, and while there was little variation in the community composition among the sites within Westgate Parks, there were noticeable generic differences among Westgate Parks sites compared with those upstream and downstream, showing the highest complementarity and Beta diversity values. Overall, the results were comparable with other studies on chironomids in chalk rivers and other river systems. Although spatially limited to a small stretch of river, this represents the first study on chironomids in the Great Stour and provides baseline information on the diversity and structure of this important insect group with aquatic larvae, useful for the objective interpretation of any future biological assessments and monitoring programmes on the Kentish Stour, and also for comparisons with other chalk rivers

    Re-occurrence of the tropical green macroalga, Penicillus capitatus (Chlorophyta: Bryopsidales), in Lower Laguna Madre of South Texas.

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    The siphonaceous green alga Penicillus capitatus Lamarck is a common macroalga of the Carribean and Gulf of Mexico (Littler & Littler 2000). This shaving brush-shaped macroalga was a common inhabitant of the Lower Laguna Madre Texas (LLM) until about 40 years ago when the population was decimated following a salinity decline in the fall of 1959, another salinity reduction due to Hurricane Carla in 1961, and finally a severe freeze in 1962 (Sorensen 1963). Since that time, there have been no reports of P. capitatus in the LLM. During a reconnaissance trip in July 2006, a small population was found in the southern portion of the LLM. The species descriptions by Taylor (1960) and Sorensen (1979) were used in the identification of specimens. Herbarium specimens have been deposited in the herbaria of The University of Texas-Pan American Coastal Studies Laboratory (accession number C012), and the University of Texas at Austin Marine Science Institute

    A Comparison of Salinity Effects from Hurricanes Dolly (2008) and Alex (2010) in a Texas Lagoon System

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    A comparison of salinity effects from hurricanes Dolly (2008) and Alex (2010) in a Texas lagoon system.Hurricanes are not uncommon along the Gulf of Mexico coast, but there are few studies of the effects they have on coastal embayments. Hurricanes Dolly (2008) and Alex (2010) were both Category 2 storms affecting the Lower Laguna Madre (LLM) of Texas. Surveys were performed to assess poststorm water quality after landfall of both storms at up to 18 sample stations. The main difference between storm effects was salinity reduction because of stormwater input from the watershed. Effects from Hurricane Dolly were of short duration and small magnitude, whereas the effects from Hurricane Alex were extensive and lasted more than a month. Differences in spatial patterns in salinity were significantly more pronounced across the LLM than were temporal differences. Precipitation of 50–100 cm caused stormwater discharge to exceed 1000 m s−1 to the LLM during the Alex event and depressed salinity over more than three-fourths (ca. 500 km2) of the estuary for 2 months. Storm-related effects on water-column physiochemistry were persistently lowest near freshwater drains (Arroyo Colorado). Salinity remained less than 5 for more than 2 months during the Alex freshet. Freshwater input from Hurricane Dolly was relatively minor because the storm precipitation was largely restricted to the small Arroyo Colorado watershed. Effects from Alex were delayed but were greater because of the bulk of the precipitation falling in the Rio Grande/Rio Bravo drainage basin in México. The greatest impact from that freshwater disturbance was the loss of seagrasses after prolonged exposure to hyposalinity. Hurricanes Dolly and Alex both affected the LLM but with contrasting impacts that reflected spatial and meteorological differences between the two storms

    Measurement of soil carbon oxidation state and oxidative ratio by (13)C nuclear magnetic resonance

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    Extent: 14p.The oxidative ratio (OR) of the net ecosystem carbon balance is the ratio of net O₂and CO₂ fluxes resulting from photosynthesis, respiration, decomposition, and other lateral and vertical carbon flows. The OR of the terrestrial biosphere must be well characterized to accurately estimate the terrestrial CO₂sink using atmospheric measurements of changing O₂ and CO₂levels. To estimate the OR of the terrestrial biosphere, measurements are needed of changes in the OR of aboveground and belowground carbon pools associated with decadal timescale disturbances (e.g., land use change and fire). The OR of aboveground pools can be measured using conventional approaches including elemental analysis. However, measuring the OR of soil carbon pools is technically challenging, and few soil OR data are available. In this paper we test three solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) techniques for measuring soil OR, all based on measurements of the closely related parameter, organic carbon oxidation state (Cox). Two of the three techniques make use of a molecular mixing model which converts NMR spectra into concentrations of a standard suite of biological molecules of known Cox. The third technique assigns Cox values to each peak in the NMR spectrum. We assess error associated with each technique using pure chemical compounds and plant biomass standards whose Cox and OR values can be directly measured by elemental analyses. The most accurate technique, direct polarization solid-state ¹³C NMR with the molecular mixing model, agrees with elemental analyses to ±0.036 Cox units (±0.009 OR units). Using this technique, we show a large natural variability in soil Cox and OR values. Soil Cox values have a mean of −0.26 and a range from −0.45 to 0.30, corresponding to OR values of 1.08 ± 0.06 and a range from 0.96 to 1.22. We also estimate the OR of the carbon flux from a boreal forest fire. Analysis of soils from nearby intact soil profiles imply that soil carbon losses associated with the fire had an OR of 1.091 (±0.003). Fire appears to be a major factor driving the soil C pool to higher oxidation states and lower OR values. Episodic fluxes caused by disturbances like fire may have substantially different ORs from ecosystem respiration fluxes and therefore should be better quantified to reduce uncertainties associated with our understanding of the global atmospheric carbon budget.W. C. Hockaday, C. A. Masiello, J. T. Randerson, R. J. Smernik, J. A. Baldock, O. A. Chadwick and J. W. Harde

    Early relapse after high‐dose melphalan autologous stem cell transplant predicts inferior survival and is associated with high disease burden and genetically high‐risk disease in multiple myeloma

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    Predicting patient outcome in multiple myeloma remains challenging despite the availability of standard prognostic biomarkers. We investigated outcome for patients relapsing early from intensive therapy on NCRI Myeloma XI. Relapse within 12 months of autologous stem cell transplant was associated with markedly worse median progression‐free survival 2 (PFS2) of 18 months and overall survival (OS) of 26 months, compared to median PFS2 of 85 months and OS of 91 months for later relapsing patients despite equal access to and use of subsequent therapies, highlighting the urgent need for improved outcome prediction and early intervention strategies for myeloma patients

    Costs and staffing resource requirements for adaptive clinical trials: quantitative and qualitative results from the Costing Adaptive Trials project

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    Background Adaptive designs offer great promise in improving the efficiency and patient-benefit of clinical trials. An important barrier to further increased use is a lack of understanding about which additional resources are required to conduct a high-quality adaptive clinical trial, compared to a traditional fixed design. The Costing Adaptive Trials (CAT) project investigated which additional resources may be required to support adaptive trials. Methods We conducted a mock costing exercise amongst seven Clinical Trials Units (CTUs) in the UK. Five scenarios were developed, derived from funded clinical trials, where a non-adaptive version and an adaptive version were described. Each scenario represented a different type of adaptive design. CTU staff were asked to provide the costs and staff time they estimated would be needed to support the trial, categorised into specified areas (e.g. statistics, data management, trial management). This was calculated separately for the non-adaptive and adaptive version of the trial, allowing paired comparisons. Interviews with 10 CTU staff who had completed the costing exercise were conducted by qualitative researchers to explore reasons for similarities and differences. Results Estimated resources associated with conducting an adaptive trial were always (moderately) higher than for the non-adaptive equivalent. The median increase was between 2 and 4% for all scenarios, except for sample size re-estimation which was 26.5% (as the adaptive design could lead to a lengthened study period). The highest increase was for statistical staff, with lower increases for data management and trial management staff. The percentage increase in resources varied across different CTUs. The interviews identified possible explanations for differences, including (1) experience in adaptive trials, (2) the complexity of the non-adaptive and adaptive design, and (3) the extent of non-trial specific core infrastructure funding the CTU had. Conclusions This work sheds light on additional resources required to adequately support a high-quality adaptive trial. The percentage increase in costs for supporting an adaptive trial was generally modest and should not be a barrier to adaptive designs being cost-effective to use in practice. Informed by the results of this research, guidance for investigators and funders will be developed on appropriately resourcing adaptive trials

    Assessment of ibrutinib plus rituximab in front-line CLL (FLAIR trial): study protocol for a phase III randomised controlled trial

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    Background Treatment of chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL) has seen a substantial improvement over the last few years. Combination immunochemotherapy, such as fludarabine, cyclophosphamide and rituximab (FCR), is now standard first-line therapy. However, the majority of patients relapse and require further therapy, and so new, effective, targeted therapies that improve remission rates, reduce relapses, and have fewer side effects, are required. The FLAIR trial will assess whether ibrutinib plus rituximab (IR) is superior to FCR in terms of progression-free survival (PFS). Methods/design FLAIR is a phase III, multicentre, randomised, controlled, open, parallel-group trial in patients with previously untreated CLL. A total of 754 participants will be randomised on a 1:1 basis to receive standard therapy with FCR or IR. Participants randomised to FCR will receive a maximum of six 28-day treatment cycles. Participants randomised to IR will receive six 28-day cycles of rituximab, and ibrutinib taken daily for 6 years until minimal residual disease (MRD) negativity has been recorded for the same amount of time as it took to become MRD negative, or until disease progression. The primary endpoint is PFS according to the International Workshop on CLL (IWCLL) criteria. Secondary endpoints include: overall survival; proportion of participants with undetectable MRD; response to therapy by IWCLL criteria; safety and toxicity; health-related quality of life (QoL); and cost-effectiveness. Discussion The trial aims to provide evidence for the future first-line treatment of CLL patients by assessing whether IR is superior to FCR in terms of PFS, and whether toxicity rates are favourable. Trial registration ISRCTN01844152. Registered on 8 August 2014, EudraCT number 2013-001944-76. Registered on 26 April 2013
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