Jet pumps for thermoacoustic applications: design guidelines based on a numerical parameter study

The oscillatory flow through tapered cylindrical tube sections (jet pumps) is characterized by a numerical parameter study. The shape of a jet pump results in asymmetric hydrodynamic end effects which cause a time-averaged pressure drop to occur under oscillatory flow conditions. Hence, jet pumps are used as streaming suppressors in closed-loop thermoacoustic devices. A two-dimensional axisymmetric computational fluid dynamics model is used to calculate the performance of a large number of conical jet pump geometries in terms of time-averaged pressure drop and acoustic power dissipation. The investigated geometrical parameters include the jet pump length, taper angle, waist diameter and waist curvature. In correspondence with previous work, four flow regimes are observed which characterize the jet pump performance and dimensionless parameters are introduced to scale the performance of the various jet pump geometries. The simulation results are compared to an existing quasi-steady theory and it is shown that this theory is only applicable in a small operation region. Based on the scaling parameters, an optimum operation region is defined and design guidelines are proposed which can be directly used for future jet pump design.Comment: The following article has been accepted by the Journal of the Acoustical Society of America. After it is published, it will be found at http://scitation.aip.org/JAS

A numerical investigation on the vortex formation and flow separation of the oscillatory flow in jet pumps

A two-dimensional computational fluid dynamics model is used to predict the oscillatory flow through a tapered cylindrical tube section (jet pump) placed in a larger outer tube. Due to the shape of the jet pump, there will exist an asymmetry in the hydrodynamic end effects which will cause a time-averaged pressure drop to occur that can be used to cancel Gedeon streaming in a closed-loop thermoacoustic device. The performance of two jet pump geometries with different taper angles is investigated. A specific time-domain impedance boundary condition is implemented in order to simulate traveling acoustic wave conditions. It is shown that by scaling the acoustic displacement amplitude to the jet pump dimensions, similar minor losses are observed independent of the jet pump geometry. Four different flow regimes are distinguished and the observed flow phenomena are related to the jet pump performance. The simulated jet pump performance is compared to an existing quasi-steady approximation which is shown to only be valid for small displacement amplitudes compared to the jet pump length.Comment: The following article has been accepted by the Journal of the Acoustical Society of America. After it is published, it will be found at: http://scitation.aip.org/JAS

A Randomized Controlled Trial of Artemotil (Β-Arteether) in Zambian Children With Cerebral Malaria

The efficacy and safety of intramuscular artemotil (ARTECEF®) was compared to intravenous quinine in African children with cerebral malaria. This prospective block randomized open-label study was conducted at two centers in Zambia. Subjects were children aged 0 to 10 years of age with cerebral malaria and a Blantyre Coma Score of 2 or less. Ninety two children were studied; 48 received artemotil and 44 quinine. No significant differences in survival, coma resolution time, neurologic sequelae, parasite clearance time, and fever resolution time were seen between the two regimens. Rates for negative malaria smears one month after therapy were similar in both groups. Artemotil was a well-tolerated drug in the 48 patients in this study. It appears to be at least therapeutically equivalent to quinine for the treatment of pediatric cerebral malaria. It has the advantage of being able to be given intramuscularly once daily for only five days

Combined optical coherence tomography and intravascular ultrasound radio frequency data analysis for plaque characterization. Classification accuracy of human coronary plaques in vitro

This study was performed to characterize coronary plaque types by optical coherence tomography (OCT) and intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) radiofrequency (RF) data analysis, and to investigate the possibility of error reduction by combining these techniques. Intracoronary imaging methods have greatly enhanced the diagnostic capabilities for the detection of high-risk atherosclerotic plaques. IVUS RF data analysis and OCT are two techniques focusing on plaque morphology and composition. Regions of interest were selected and imaged with OCT and IVUS in 50 sections, from 14 human coronary arteries, sectioned post-mortem from 14 hearts of patients dying of non-cardiovascular causes. Plaques were classified based on IVUS RF data analysis (VH-IVUSTM), OCT and the combination of those. Histology was the benchmark. Imaging with both modalities and coregistered histology was successful in 36 sections. OCT correctly classified 24; VH-IVUS 25, and VH-IVUS/OCT combined, 27 out of 36 cross-sections. Systematic misclassifications in OCT were intimal thickening classified as fibroatheroma in 8 cross-sections. Misclassifications in VH-IVUS were mainly fibroatheroma as intimal thickening in 5 cross-sections. Typical image artifacts were found to affect the interpretation of OCT data, misclassifying intimal thickening as fibroatheroma or thin-cap fibroatheroma. Adding VH-IVUS to OCT reduced the error rate in this study

Restoration of Bile Duct Injury of Donor Livers During Ex Situ Normothermic Machine Perfusion

BACKGROUND: End-ischemic ex situ normothermic machine perfusion (NMP) enables assessment of donor livers prior to transplantation. The objective of this study was to provide support for bile composition as a marker of biliary viability and to investigate whether bile ducts of high-risk human donor livers already undergo repair during NMP.METHODS: Forty-two livers that were initially declined for transplantation were included in our NMP clinical trial. After NMP, livers were either secondary declined (n = 17) or accepted for transplantation (n = 25) based on the chemical composition of bile and perfusate samples. Bile duct biopsies were taken before and after NMP and assessed using an established histological injury severity scoring system and a comprehensive immunohistochemical assessment focusing on peribiliary glands (PBGs), vascular damage, and regeneration.RESULTS: Bile ducts of livers that were transplanted after viability testing during NMP showed better preservation of PBGs, (micro)vasculature, and increased cholangiocyte proliferation, compared with declined livers. Biliary bicarbonate, glucose, and pH were confirmed as accurate biomarkers of bile duct vitality. In addition, we found evidence of PBG-based progenitor cell differentiation toward mature cholangiocytes during NMP.CONCLUSIONS: Favorable bile chemistry during NMP correlates well with better-preserved biliary microvasculature and PBGs, with a preserved capacity for biliary regeneration. During NMP, biliary tree progenitor cells start to differentiate toward mature cholangiocytes, facilitating restoration of the ischemically damaged surface epithelium.</p

AChR deficiency due to ε-subunit mutations: two common mutations in the Netherlands

Congenital myasthenic syndromes are a clinically and genetically heterogeneous group of hereditary disorders affecting neuromuscular transmission. We have identified mutations within the acetylcholine receptor (AChR) ε-subunit gene underlying congenital myasthenic syndromes in nine patients (seven kinships) of Dutch origin. Previously reported mutations ε1369delG and εR311Q were found to be common; ε1369delG was present on at least one allele in seven of the nine patients, and εR311Q in six. Phenotypes ranged from relatively mild ptosis and external ophthalmoplegia to generalized myasthenia. The common occurrence of εR311Q and ε1369delG suggests a possible founder for each of these mutations originating in North Western Europe, possibly in Holland. Knowledge of the ethnic or geographic origin within Europe of AChR deficiency patients can help in targeting genetic screening and it may be possible to provide a rapid genetic diagnosis for patients of Dutch origin by screening first for εR311Q and ε1369delG