Synthesis of ZnO in aqueous media. Influence of several synthesis parameters on particle size and shape

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On the influence of virtual camber effect on airfoil polars for use in simulations of Darrieus wind turbines

Darrieus vertical-axis wind turbines are experiencing renewed interest from researchers and manufacturers, though their efficiencies still lag those of horizontal-axis wind turbines. A better understanding of their aerodynamics is required to improve on designs, for example through the development of more accurate low-order (e.g. blade element momentum) models. Many of these models neglect the impact of the curved paths that are followed by blades on their performance. It has been theorized that the curved streamlines of the flow impart a virtual camber and incidence on them, giving a performance analogous to a cambered blade in a rectilinear flow. To test the extent of this effect, wind tunnel experiments have been conducted in a rectilinear flow to obtain lift and drag for three airfoils: a NACA 0018 and two conformal transforms of the profile. The transformed airfoils exhibit the virtual camber that the theory predicts is imparted to a NACA 0018 when used in a Darrieus turbine with blade chord-to-turbine radius ratios, c/R, of 0.114 and 0.25. A parallel computational fluid dynamics campaign has been conducted to study the aerodynamic behavior of the same blades in curvilinear flow in Darrieus-like motion with c/R = 0.114 and 0.25, at tip-speed ratios of 2.1 and 3.1, using novel techniques to obtain blade effective angles of attack. The analysis confirms that the theory holds, with the wind tunnel results for the NACA 0018 being analogous to numerical results for the relevant cambered airfoils. In addition, turbine performance is calculated using computational fluid dynamics and a blade element momentum code, for each of the blades in turn. The computational fluid dynamics results for the NACA 0018 agree closely to blade element momentum results for the equivalent cambered airfoil where c/R = 0.25, for both turbine power and blade tangential forces. Agreement between the two methods using geometrically identical blades is poor at both the blade and turbine level for c/R = 0.25. It is concluded that when modeling a Darrieus rotor using blade element momentum methods, applying experimental data for the profile used in the turbine will yield inaccurate results if the c/R ratio is high, in such cases it is necessary to select a profile based on the virtual shape of the blades

Metabolomic profile of amniotic fluid to evaluate lung maturity: the diaphragmatic hernia lamb model

Background: Tracheal occlusion (TO) stimulates lung growth in fetuses affected with congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH) although the processes involved in lung maturation still remain unknown. The objective of this study was to evaluate the metabolomic profile of amniotic fluid (AF) following TO in fetal lamb model in order to obtain an indirect view of mechanisms involved in pulmonary reversal hypoplasia and biochemical maturity in response to fetal TO. Methods: Liquid Chromatography Mass Spectrometry was performed on lamb AF samples at: age I (70 days' gestation); age II (102 days' gestation); age III (136 days' gestation). CDH was induced at age I and TO at age II. Results: Betaine, choline, creatinine were found significantly increased during gestation in the control group. The CDH group showed choline (p =0.007) and creatinine (p =0.004) decreases during pregnancy. In the TO group choline and creatinine profiles were restored. Conclusions: Alveolar tissue and fetal global growth ameliorated after TO. Metabolomics provided usefu information on biochemical details during lung maturation. Metabolomic profiling would help to identify the best time to perform TO, in order to increase survival of CDH affected patients

Testing the validity of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) safety culture model

This paper takes the first steps to empirically validate the widely used model of safety culture of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), composed of five dimensions, further specified by 37 attributes. To do so, three independent and complementary studies are presented. First, 290 students serve to collect evidence about the face validity of the model. Second, 48 experts in organizational behavior judge its content validity. And third, 468 workers in a Spanish nuclear power plant help to reveal how closely the theoretical five-dimensional model can be replicated. Our findings suggest that several attributes of the model may not be related to their corresponding dimensions. According to our results, a one-dimensional structure fits the data better than the five dimensions proposed by the IAEA. Moreover, the IAEA model, as it stands, seems to have rather moderate content validity and low face validity. Practical implications for researchers and practitioners are included

Helix And Model Graft Flows: Mri Measurement And Cfd Simulations

The patterns of the flow in arteries are strongly influenced by the three-dimensional geometry of the conduits they provide for the flow. Curvature and torsion imposed on the flow by the geometry alters the axial velocity distribution, and introduces cross flow velocity components (with implications for mixing and wall shear for example). A local change in geometry can affect the flow quite far downstream; in this paper, MRI measurements and CFD simulations of steady flow show the persistence of effects induced by helical curvature on the flow in a downstream straight tube. The flow in a simple model of an end-to-side anastomosis is also studied using CFD, and the results show that changing the graft geometry from a planar to non-planar design strongly affects the flow. INTRODUCTION Assumptions of rigid arteries and Newtonian Flow The flow in arteries, as in any internal flow problem, is determined by the boundary conditions at inflow, outflow and along the wall, as well as the intrin..