Higher order time integration schemes for thermal coupling of flows and structures

The application of higher order implicit time integration schemes to conjugate heat transfer problems is analyzed with Dirichlet-Neumann as the decomposition method. In the literature, only up to second order implicit time integration schemes have been reported while there is a potential for gaining computational efficiency using higher orders. For loose coupling of the domains, the IMEX scheme consisting of the ESDIRK scheme for integrating the governing equations within the subdomains and an ERK scheme for explicit integration of the explicit coupling terms is utilized. The IMEX scheme is analyzed for two cases. In one, the material properties of the coupled domains are the same and in the other they are different. While for both cases, the IMEX scheme preserves the design order of the time integration scheme, different stability and accuracy properties are observed for the two. Finally, the computational efficiency of the higher order IMEX schemes relative to the second order scheme is demonstrated using a test case in 2-D involving coupled conduction problem of three domains

Treatment of wastewater using response surface methodology: a brief review

Response surface methodology (RSM) is widely applied to gathering knowledge on the interactions among parameters that require optimization during the treatment of wastewater. It can be used to optimize parameters during the process of treating wastewater, e.g., landfill leachate. The experimental design methods are useful to evaluate the parameters involved in a treatment with the minimum number of experiments. This will reduce the need for reagents and materials for experiments, which finally causes both time and expense to be increased. Anaerobic digestion of wastewater technologies escalated depending on the design configuration of the reactor. Several important parameters are taken into consideration in designing an anaerobic reactor such as operating conditions, seed sludge, wastewater composition and mixing. To construct a highly efficient degradation system, it is necessary to optimize such effective parameters. As a result, the advanced statistical design is used for process characterization, optimization and modelling. In this paper, the fundamentals of RSM and its application in the anaerobic treatment of wastewater was discussed in brief. The various works done in an anaerobic reactor using RSM for prediction and optimization are given

Prediction and optimization of the Fenton process for the treatment of landfill leachate using an artificial neural network

In this study, the artificial neural network (ANN) technique was employed to derive an empirical model to predict and optimize landfill leachate treatment. The impacts of H2O2:Fe2+ ratio, Fe2+ concentration, pH and process reaction time were studied closely. The results showed that the highest and lowest predicted chemical oxygen demand (COD) removal efficiency were 78.9% and 9.3%, respectively. The overall prediction error using the developed ANN model was within -0.625%. The derived model was adequate in predicting responses (R2 = 0.9896 and prediction R2 = 0.6954). The initial pH, H2O2:Fe2+ ratio and Fe2+ concentrations had positive effects, whereas coagulation pH had no direct effect on COD removal. Optimized conditions under specified constraints were obtained at pH = 3, Fe2+ concentration = 781.25 mg/L, reaction time = 28.04 min and H2O2:Fe2+ ratio = 2. Under these optimized conditions, 100% COD removal was predicted. To confirm the accuracy of the predicted model and the reliability of the optimum combination, one additional experiment was carried out under optimum conditions. The experimental values were found to agree well with those predicted, with a mean COD removal efficiency of 97.83%

The effects of bracing on sagittal spinopelvic parameters and Cobb angle in adolescents with idiopathic scoliosis: A before-after clinical study

Objectives: This study aims to evaluate the effects of bracing on the Cobb angle and sagittal spinopelvic parameters in adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) patients. Patients and methods: A total of 25 adolescents (2 males, 23 females; mean age 12.7±1.6; range, 10-15 years) with AIS who received bracing between January 2000 and June 2017 were retrospectively analyzed. The initial and final out-of-brace radiographs of 25 AIS patients were analyzed with regard to the spinopelvic parameters. The pelvic incidence (PI), pelvic tilt (PT), sacral slope (SS), Cobb angle, thoracic kyphosis (TK), and lumbar lordosis (LL) were measured. Results: The mean age at the initiation of bracing was 12.7±1.6 years. The mean initial Cobb angle was 31.8°±5.9°. There were no statistically significant differences between the baseline and the final measurements of the PI, PT, and SS. However, there were statistically significant differences between the baseline and the final measurements of the TK, LL, and Cobb angle. A significant correlation was observed between the PI and Cobb angle and TK and between the LL and SS. Conclusion: Our study results show significant associations between the sagittal pelvic parameters and the spinal parameters during the brace treatment of adolescents with idiopathic scoliosis. © 2020 All right reserved by the Turkish Society of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation This is an open access article under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial License, which permits use, distribution and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited and is not used for commercial purposes (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/)

Effect of covid-19 virus on reducing GHG emission and increasing energy generated by renewable energy sources: a brief study in Malaysian context

Coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) has globally affected the human mortality rate and economic history of the modern world. According to the World Health Organization, COVID-19 has caused a severe threat to the health of the vulnerable groups, notably the elderly. There is still some disagreements regarding the source of the virus and its intermediate host. However, the spread of this disease has caused most countries to enforce strict curfew laws and close most industrial and recreational centres. This study aims to show the potential positive effects of COVID-19 on the environment and the increase of renewable energy generation in Malaysia. To prevent the spread of this disease, Malaysia enacted the Movement Control Order (MCO) law in March 2020. Implementation of this law led to a reduction in environmental pollution, especially air pollution, in this country. The greenhouse gases (GHG) emission , which was 8 Mt CO2 eq. from January 2020 to March 2020, reduced to <1 Mt CO2 eq. for April and May. The reduction of GHG emission and pollutant gases allowed more sunlight to reach photovoltaic panels, hence increasing the renewable energy generation

Experimental Evaluation of Mouse Hind Paw Edema Induced by Iranian Naja oxiana Venom

Iranian Naja oxiana (the Elapidae family) known as cobra snake inhabits in the northwestern part of Iran. This study aimed to evaluate the edematogenic potency of the crude venom with intraplantar injection into mice. Additionally, the inhibitory effects of three different drugs (i.e., promethazine, dexamethasone, and piroxicam) on paw edema were examined. Moreover, the gelatinase activity of this venom was assessed using the zymography method. Paw edema was induced by the intraplantar injection of different concentrations of the venom (0.5-5 &mu;g dissolved in 50 &mu;l of normal saline) into the mice (six in each group). It was estimated through the measurement of the increase in the paw thickness (%) with a digital caliper. The paws were pretreated and the rate of changes was measured after the venom injection. Pathological findings in the treated paws were evaluated with hematoxylin and eosin staining. Paw thickness reached its maximum amount within 5 min and resolved after 1 h. This venom had no gelatinase activity using the zymography method ruling out its role in edema. It caused non-hemorrhagic diffuse edema with the infiltration of inflammatory cells (i.e., leukocytes and lymphocytes) in the dermis. Intraperitoneal pretreatment with drugs significantly inhibited the venom-induced (1 &mu;g/paw) edema; however, all the mice died unexpectedly a day after piroxicam injection. This in vitro and in vivo preliminary study demonstrated for the first time that N. oxiana venom-induced non-hemorrhagic edema in a short time. Dexamethasone (phospholipase A2 inhibitor; 1 mg/kg) and promethazine (H1 inhibitor; 5 mg/kg) decreased the venom-induced edema (p &lt;0.001). It is suggested to carry out further studies to identify different mediators in venom-induced edema formation

A comparative study on the equine and camelid antivenoms upon cardiovascular changes induced with Hemiscorpius lepturus venom in rats

Objective(s): In this study, the neutralizing abilities of the equine and the recently introduced camelid antivenoms on the hemodynamic parameters (inotropism, chronotropism, and arrhythmogenicity) were assessed following envenomation by Hemiscorpius lepturus venom in rats. Materials and Methods: At first, the electrophoretic profiles of both products were obtained by using the SDS-PAGE method (12.5%) and stained with Coomassie blue and silver nitrate. Secondly, different doses of the camelid antivenom (10, 50, and 100 μl) were given intravenously in 10 min before venom injection (400 μg/rat). The neutralizing potencies of camelid and equine antivenoms were measured by preincubation (100 μl) with H. lepturus venom for 30 min at room temperature. Finally, equal amounts of the antivenoms were injected intravenously to observe the hemodynamic changes. Results: Based on the electrophoretic profile, it was evident that undesired proteins significantly decreased in equine antivenom, owing to impurities. Pretreatment with the camelid antivenom (100 μl), neutralized the elevation of the mean arterial pressure evoked with scorpion venom injection (88.15±4.56 versus 10.2±1.23 percent at the 8th min). The Incubation of the venom and the camelid antivenom counteracted the hemodynamic changes, but the equine product had no effect. The intravascular injection of the equine antivenom transiently increased the mean arterial pressure as compared to the control (108.67±8.63 mmHg versus 52.67±1.93 mmHg at the 10th min). Conclusion: The most obvious finding emerging from this study was that the camelid antivenom neutralized the hemodynamic changes in rats significantly, but in comparison, the equine antivenom had just a minor ability

Metaheuristics for Transmission Network Expansion Planning

This chapter presents the characteristics of the metaheuristic algorithms used to solve the transmission network expansion planning (TNEP) problem. The algorithms used to handle single or multiple objectives are discussed on the basis of selected literature contributions. Besides the main objective given by the costs of the transmission system infrastructure, various other objectives are taken into account, representing generation, demand, reliability and environmental aspects. In the single-objective case, many metaheuristics have been proposed, in general without making strong comparisons with other solution methods and without providing superior results with respect to classical mathematical programming. In the multi-objective case, there is a better convenience of using metaheuristics able to handle conflicting objectives, in particular with a Pareto front-based approach. In all cases, improvements are still expected in the definition of benchmark functions, benchmark networks and robust comparison criteria

Pancreatic beta cell protection/regeneration with phytotherapy

Although currently available drugs are useful in controlling early onset complications of diabetes, serious late onset complications appear in a large number of patients. Considering the physiopathology of diabetes, preventing beta cell degeneration and stimulating the endogenous regeneration of islets will be essential approaches for the treatment of insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus. The current review focused on phytochemicals, the antidiabetic effect of which has been proved by pancreatic beta cell protection/regeneration. Among the hundreds of plants that have been investigated for diabetes, a small fraction has shown the regenerative property and was described in this paper. Processes of pancreatic beta cell degeneration and regeneration were described. Also, the proposed mechanisms for the protective/regenerative effects of such phytochemicals and their potential side effects were discussed