16,478 research outputs found

    A Posteriori Error Estimates for Nonconforming Approximations of Evolutionary Convection-Diffusion Problems

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    We derive computable upper bounds for the difference between an exact solution of the evolutionary convection-diffusion problem and an approximation of this solution. The estimates are obtained by certain transformations of the integral identity that defines the generalized solution. These estimates depend on neither special properties of the exact solution nor its approximation, and involve only global constants coming from embedding inequalities. The estimates are first derived for functions in the corresponding energy space, and then possible extensions to classes of piecewise continuous approximations are discussed.Comment: 10 page

    MHD free convection-radiation interaction in a porous medium - part I : numerical investigation

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    A numerical investigation of two dimensional steady magnetohydrodynamics heat and mass transfer by laminar free convection from a radiative horizontal circular cylinder in a non-Darcy porous medium is presented by taking into account the Soret/Dufour effects. The boundary layer conservation equations, which are parabolic in nature, are normalized into non-similar form and then solved numerically with the well-tested, efficient, implicit, stable Keller–Box finite-difference scheme. We use simple central difference derivatives and averages at the mid points of net rectangles to get finite difference equations with a second order truncation error. We have conducted a grid sensitivity and time calculation of the solution execution. Numerical results are obtained for the velocity, temperature and concentration distributions, as well as the local skin friction, Nusselt number and Sherwood number for several values of the parameters. The dependency of the thermophysical properties has been discussed on the parameters and shown graphically. The Darcy number accelerates the flow due to a corresponding rise in permeability of the regime and concomitant decrease in Darcian impedance. A comparative study between the previously published and present results in a limiting sense is found in an excellent agreement

    THE NEW DIAGNOSTIC CRITERIA OF AUTISM: IMPLICATIONS FOR RESEARCH AND PRACTICE IN THE MIDDLE EAST AND NORTH AFRICAN REGION

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    This article discusses history of autism diagnosis and provides an update of the latest diagnostic criteria. This is essential before starting any research or intervention for people with autism anywhere in the world, particularly in the Middle East and North African (MENA) region where autism diagnosis and public perception about this condition is challenging. We start by defining autism and its diagnostic criteria according to American Psychiatric Society (DSM-5 2013), including an outline of some characteristics of people with autism and some related terms e.g. the notion of a ‘triad of impairments’, ‘Autistic Spectrum Disorder’ (ASD) and its relationship with ‘learning disabilities/difficulties’. We concluded that the latest diagnostic criteria according to DSM-5 2013 is very helpful in terms of treating autism as spectrum of different abilities and allow for designing a bespoke individualised interventional approaches to help them. As far as autism in the MENA region is concerned we argue that the new diagnostic criteria if implemented will result in improving the life of people of autism and their families

    Computational fluid dynamics simulation of a nanofluid-based annular solar collector with different metallic nano-particles

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    A numerical study of convective heat transfer in an annular pipe solar collector system is conducted. The inner tube contains pure water and the annular region contains nanofluid. Three-dimensional steady-state incompressible laminar flow comprising water-based nanofluid containing a variety of metallic nano-particles (copper oxide, aluminium oxide and titanium oxide nano-particles)is examined. The Tiwari-Das model is deployed for whichthermal conductivity, specific heat capacity and viscosity of the nanofluid suspensions is evaluated as a function of solid nano-particle volume fraction. Radiative heat transfer is also incorporated using the ANSYS solar flux and Rosseland radiative models. The ANSYS FLUENTfinite volume code (version 18.1) is employed to simulate the thermo-fluid characteristics. Mesh-independence tests are conducted. The influence of volume fraction on temperature, velocity, pressure contours is computed and visualized.Copper oxide nanofluid is observed to achieve the best temperature enhancement. Temperature contours at cross-sections of the annulus are also computed

    Cognitive Behavioural Therapy versus Education of adult patients with chronic pain. A meta-analysis of the change of pain intensity post-intervention and after 6 months

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    Background: Sessions of Pain Management Programme in which an element of education of patients is involved are similar in structure to cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT) sessions. The key principles of education sessions primarily begin with establishing good rapport and explaining the rationale for therapy (Thorn et al. 2011). Systematic reviews comparing CBT with other treatments concluded that CBT is superior only to treatment as usual or waiting list in improving pain (Eccleston et al 2012). On the other hand Geneen et al (2015) concluded in a systematic review they couldn’t confidently conclude that education alone is effective in reducing pain intensity or related disability in chronic pain in adults. We have decided to review the literature for studies that compared CBT against Education head to head and evaluate the evidence. Aims: To compare the effectiveness of CBT versus Education of patients (Edu) regardless of its delivery method in reducing pain intensity just after the intervention and at 6 months follow up. Methods: Randomised Controlled Trials (RCTs) studies, including 20 or more participants in CBT and Edu arms for the management non-malignant chronic pain of adult patients (18- 65 years of age) were searched in PubMed, Cochrane, Science direct. Data on improvement of pain (measured as pain intensity using a numerical rating scale from 0-10 with 10 is the most severe pain, immediately post intervention and at after 6 months follow up) were extracted from the relevant studies. A meta-analysis approach was followed to estimate the total effect size of the difference between the two interventions in improving pain. Results: Out of initial eligible 5 studies that compared CBT against Education in the same sample of patients at the same time only 3 was qualified for this meta-analysis. These were Turner et al (2006) (n=72 CBT, 76 Edu), Thorn et al. (2011) (n=49 CBT, 34 Edu) and Carmody et al. (2013) (n=48 CBT, 50 Edu). All studies reported that patients were randomised to either CBT or Edu and pain intensity was similar between the two intervention groups at baseline (P>0.1). The overall effect size of the mean difference between CBT and Edu groups’ pain intensity suggested that there is no differences between the two interventions post-intervention (z=.044, P=0.66) or at 6 months follow up (z=-1.126, P=0.26). There was an intermediate level of heterogeneity (Q=4.22, P=0.12, I squared=52.60) but no publication bias among these three studies was identified. Conclusion: CBT and Education programmes of chronic pain management resulted in the same level of pain intensity reduction post-intervention and after 6 months follow up. The two interventions only slightly reduced the pain intensity score in the 3 samples studied which was statistically significant in one study only

    Decreasing amyloid toxicity through an increased rate of aggregation

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    Amyloid β is one of the peptides involved in the onset of Alzheimer's disease, yet the structure of the toxic species and its underlying mechanism remain elusive on account of the dynamic nature of the Aβ oligomerisation process. While it has been reported that incubation of Amyloid β (1-42) sequences (Aβ42) lead to formation of aggregates that vary in morphology and toxicity, we demonstrate that addition of a discrete macrocyclic host molecule, cucurbit[8]uril (CB[8]), substantially reduces toxicity in the neuronal cell line SH-SY5Y. The macrocycle preferentially targets Phe residues in Aβ42 complexing them in a 2 : 1 fashion in neighboring peptide strands. A small but significant structural 'switch' occurs, which induces an increased aggregation rate, suggesting a different cell-uptake mechanism for Aβ42 in the presence of CB[8]. Dramatically increasing the rate of Aβ42 aggregation with CB[8] bypasses the toxic, oligomeric state offering an alternative approach to counter Alzheimer's disease.The authors are grateful for funding from an ERC Starting Investigator grant ASPiRe (No. 240629) and an EPSRC Programme grant SNaP (EP/G060649/1)

    Exact analysis of heat convection in viscoelastic FENE-P fluids through isothermal slits and tubes

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    In this article, two exact analytical solutions for heat convection in viscoelastic fluid flow through isothermal tubes and slits are presented for the first time. Herein, a Peterlin type of finitely extensible nonlinear elastic (FENE-P) model is used as the nonlinear constitutive equation for the viscoelastic fluid. Due to the eigenvalue form of the heat transfer equation, the modal analysis technique has been used to determine the physical temperature distributions. The closed form solution for the temperature profile is obtained in terms of a Heun Tri-confluent function for slit flow and then the Frobenius method is used to evaluate the temperature distribution for the tube flow. Based on these solutions, the effects of extensibility parameter and Deborah number on thermal convection in FENE-P fluid flow have been studied in detail. The fractional correlations for reduced Nusselt number in terms of material modulus are also derived. Here, it is shown that by increasing the Deborah number from 0 to 100, the Nusselt number is enhanced by 8.5% and 13.5% for slit and tube flow, respectively
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