Feasibility study on lengthening the high-voltage cable section and reducing the number of cable joints via alternative bonding methods

The mesosphere is perhaps the least explored region in the atmosphere with very few methods of observing. This thesis will primarily be exploring a new technique for measuring the distribution of kinetic energy in the mesosphere across a wide range of spatial and temporal scales. The method being used relies on correlation functions between pairs of meteor measurements. These measurements are made using a network of specular meteor radars located in Northern Norway. This network produced 32 million meteor measurements over a 2 year period. The correlation function estimation method has been previously used on a smaller data set, but has so far not been used for a longer data set and at high latitudes. The main advantage of the new technique is that by studying the second order statistics of the wind field, we can obtain significantly better temporal and spatial resolution than before. Such a large data set allows for great resolution for both spatial and temporal correlation functions. By using temporal correlation functions and the kinetic energy spectrum, different atmospheric wave phenomena can be studied. These include diurnal and semi diurnal tides. The horizontal and vertical correlation functions will be used to verify that the kinetic energy follows a power law, as theoretically expected by the Kolmogorov theory for turbulence. This was done by using a second order structure function applied to correlation functions. The temporal and horizontal correlation functions were used to study the summer-winter variation in kinetic energy, some variation in the temporal domain is the impact from large scale waves as well as in the power spectra were there is a steeper power law slope during the winter. As for the horizontal domain there are differences in kinetic energy in the zonal and meridional direction for both large and small scale waves. The dataset in this thesis a lot more can be found out about the mesosphere, in this thesis only a few of the possibilities are explored. The results are in agreement with earlier work, confirming the results obtained by the earlier study

Effects of stator-rotor interaction on unsteady aerodynamic load of compressor rotor blades

In compressor working, unsteady aerodynamic load induced by the interaction of stator-rotor blade rows is the main vibration source of blade high cycle fatigue. It has a direct influence on fatigue strength of compressor blades. Further research on unsteady aerodynamic load has very important significance for improving the service life and reliability of compressor blades. Based on an aero-engine compressor rotor system, three-dimensional flow field model of former stator and downstream rotor is established. With the method of numerical simulation, compressor flow characteristics are solved at different moments. Then the paper analyzes the process of stator-rotor interaction and the distribution law of rotor blade aerodynamic load. In addition, the effects on rotor blade aerodynamic load are discussed at different pressure ratios, rotational speeds and ratios of stator-rotor blade number. The results show unsteady flow field area with lower speed is induced by stator-rotor interaction at rotor blade leading edge. When the overlap space between stator and rotor channels is the maximum, mass flow and static pressure around rotor blade will appear jumping fluctuations. Unsteady aerodynamic load fluctuates periodically, and dominant frequencies are manly at frequency doubling of stator-rotor interaction, especially at one time frequency (1×f0). In the interaction period T, variations of aerodynamic load on pressure and suction surfaces take the contrary trend, magnitude and pulsation amplitude on pressure surface are far greater than that on suction surface. Effects of pressure ratio on pressure and suction surfaces are consistent, and the magnitude of aerodynamic load increases with pressure ratio. Rotational speed and stator-rotor blade number ratio affect the magnitude of aerodynamic load on suction surface more heavily than that on pressure surface. With the increasing of rotational speed, unsteady characteristics of aerodynamic load are enhanced. Besides, pulsation amplitude and peak value of unsteady aerodynamic load reach the maximum when stator-rotor blade number ratio λ=1. This research provides the theoretical basis for dynamics design of aero-engine compressor rotor syste

T-cadherin deficiency increases vascular vulnerability in T2DM through impaired NO bioactivity.

BACKGROUND: Endothelial dysfunction plays a critical role in the development of type 2 diabetes (T2DM). T-cadherin (T-cad) has gained recognition as a regulator of endothelial cell (EC) function. The present study examined whether T-cad deficiency increases vascular vulnerability in T2DM. METHODS: Vascular segments were isolated from WT or T-cad knockout mice. Endothelial function, total NO accumulation, and the expression of T-cad related proteins were determined. RESULTS: Ach and acidified NaNO2 induced similar vasorelaxation in WT groups. T-cad KO mice exhibited normal response to acidified NaNO2, but manifested markedly reduced response to Ach. NO accumulation was also decreased in T-cad KO group. T-cad expression was reduced in WT mice fed 8 weeks of high fat diet (HFD). Furthermore, exacerbated reduction of vasorelaxation was observed in T-cad KO mice fed 8 weeks of HFD. CONCLUSIONS: In the current study, we provide the first in vivo evidence that T-cadherin deficiency causes endothelial dysfunction in T2DM vascular segments, suggesting the involvement of T-cad deficiency in T2DM pathogenesis

A health economic analysis of an integrated diabetes care program in China: based on real-world evidence

IntroductionAn integrated care program was set up in China to improve the collaboration between primary healthcare centers and hospitals on diabetes management. This study aims to evaluate the economic value of this program with real-world data and to examine whether it can be promoted in primary healthcare settings in China.MethodsThis integrated diabetes care program was implemented in Yuhuan City, China, to coordinate primary care and specialty care, treatment and prevention services, as well as the responsibilities of doctors and nurses. Cost-effectiveness analysis was used to compare the short-term economic value of this program (intervention group) versus usual diabetes management (control group). The cost data were collected from a societal perspective, while the effectiveness indicators pointed to the improvement of control rates of fasting blood glucose (FBG), systolic blood pressure (SBP), and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) levels after the 1 year intervention. In addition, cost-utility analysis was applied to evaluate the long-term value of the two groups. Patients’ long-term diabetes management costs and quality-adjusted life years (QALYs) were simulated by the United Kingdom Prospective Diabetes Study Outcomes Model 2.ResultsThe results showed that for 1% FBG, SPB, and DBP control rate improvement, the costs for the intervention group were 290.53, 124.39, and 249.15 Chinese Yuan (CNY), respectively, while the corresponding costs for the control group were 655.19, 610.43, and 1460.25 CNY. Thus, the intervention group’s cost-effectiveness ratios were lower than those of the control group. In addition, compared to the control group, the intervention group’s incremental costs per QALY improvement were 102.67 thousand CNY, which means that the intervention was cost-effective according to the World Health Organization’s standards.DiscussionIn conclusion, this study suggested that this integrated diabetes care program created short-term and long-term economic values through patient self-management support, primary care strengthening, and care coordination. As this program followed the principles of integrated care reform, it can be promoted in China. Also, its elements can provide valuable experience for other researchers to build customized integrated care models

MATHEMATICAL MODELING AND PREDICTION METHOD OF CONCRETE CARBONATION AND ITS APPLICATIONS

ABSTRACT The carbonation process of concrete is principally a diffusion phenomenon. The penetration rate of carbon dioxide depends mainly on the concrete quality and the exposure condition. Based on both Fick's first and second laws of linear diffusion equations, the threedimensional equation of conservation of mass is expressed. This equation can be reduced to two-and one-dimensional equations of conservation of mass which can predict the carbonation depth beneath corners and the general surface of concrete structures, respectively. The objectives of this investigation are to measure the depth of carbonation from the free surface of a concrete member and to predict the carbonation depth using a statistical method. The result of the present study indicates that the maximum carbonation depth of concrete at corners is larger than 2 times that of the general surface under the conditions of homogeneous, isotropic and uncracked concrete subjected to static load. The carbonation depths of ten existing reinforced concrete (RC) bridges in Taiwan were predicted by the statistical method. The predicted results can be offered as a reference basis of repair, reinforcement or demolition for the existing concrete structures