A phase-field method coupled with CALPHAD for the simulation of ordered κ-carbide precipitates in both disordred γ and α phases in low density steel

In order to simulate multi-component diffusion controlled precipitation of ordered phases in low density steels using the phase-field method, the Gibbs free energy of the γ, α and κ phases in the quaternary Fe-Mn-Al-C system was linked to the CALPHAD method using a three-sublattice model which is based on the accumulation of considerable thermodynamic data in multi-component systems and the assurance of continuous variation of the interface area. This model includes the coherent precipitation of κ phase from a disordered FCC γ phase and semi-coherent precipitation of the same κ phase from a disordered BCC α structure. The microstructure evolution of κ- carbide was simulated with three-dimensional phase-field model. The simulation was first performed for a single particle in both γ and α phases to investigate the evolution of interfacial and elastic strain energy during the precipitation process. The simulation results show that κ has a cuboidal morphology in γ and elongated plate-like morphology in α which is in agreement with the morphologies reported in the literature. The multi-particle simulations were also performed for the precipitation of κ phase from both disordered γ and α. The results also demonstrate that the size of κ precipitates in γ is remarkably smaller than that in α phase

Intra-operative peri-articular cocktail injection in inflammatory arthritis patients undergoing total knee arthroplasty

Pain following TKA is often severe in most patients. The purpose of this case series was to assess the efficiency of intra-operative peri-articular cocktail injection in management of pain following total knee arthroplasty. This case series involves 16 patients with inflammatory arthritis of knee undergoing total knee arthroplasty (TKA). All patients had received peri-articular cocktail of drugs before the implantation of prosthesis with cement. In our study, there was significant improvement of Knee Clinical Score and Knee Functional Score following TKA. The mean KSS score was 37.5 (range: 31-44) improved to 92.5 (range, 86-99) and the functional score improved from 25.5 (range, 18-33) to 76 (range, 72- 80) at 6 months and 93 (range: 90-96) at 12 months. Intraoperative peri-articular injection with 20 ml of 0.5% ropivacaine, 1 ml of ketorolac, 1ml of clonidine and 0.5ml noradrenaline diluted in 20 ml of saline is effective in reducing immediate post-operative pain and thereby improving the overall functional outcome

Data compression of discrete sequence: A tree based approach using dynamic programming

A dynamic programming based approach for data compression of a ID sequence is presented. The compression of an input sequence of size N to that of a smaller size k is achieved by dividing the input sequence into k subsequences and replacing the subsequences by their respective average values. The partitioning of the input sequence is carried with the intention of reducing the mean squared error in the reconstructed sequence. The complexity involved in finding the partitions which would result in such an optimal compressed sequence is reduced by using the dynamic programming approach, which is presented

Centrifugal terms in the WKB approximation and semiclassical quantization of hydrogen

A systematic semiclassical expansion of the hydrogen problem about the classical Kepler problem is shown to yield remarkably accurate results. Ad hoc changes of the centrifugal term, such as the standard Langer modification where the factor l(l+1) is replaced by (l+1/2)^2, are avoided. The semiclassical energy levels are shown to be exact to first order in $\hbar$ with all higher order contributions vanishing. The wave functions and dipole matrix elements are also discussed.Comment: 5 pages, to appear in Phys. Rev.

Communications and information research: Improved space link performance via concatenated forward error correction coding

With the development of new advanced instruments for remote sensing applications, sensor data will be generated at a rate that not only requires increased onboard processing and storage capability, but imposes demands on the space to ground communication link and ground data management-communication system. Data compression and error control codes provide viable means to alleviate these demands. Two types of data compression have been studied by many researchers in the area of information theory: a lossless technique that guarantees full reconstruction of the data, and a lossy technique which generally gives higher data compaction ratio but incurs some distortion in the reconstructed data. To satisfy the many science disciplines which NASA supports, lossless data compression becomes a primary focus for the technology development. While transmitting the data obtained by any lossless data compression, it is very important to use some error-control code. For a long time, convolutional codes have been widely used in satellite telecommunications. To more efficiently transform the data obtained by the Rice algorithm, it is required to meet the a posteriori probability (APP) for each decoded bit. A relevant algorithm for this purpose has been proposed which minimizes the bit error probability in the decoding linear block and convolutional codes and meets the APP for each decoded bit. However, recent results on iterative decoding of 'Turbo codes', turn conventional wisdom on its head and suggest fundamentally new techniques. During the past several months of this research, the following approaches have been developed: (1) a new lossless data compression algorithm, which is much better than the extended Rice algorithm for various types of sensor data, (2) a new approach to determine the generalized Hamming weights of the algebraic-geometric codes defined by a large class of curves in high-dimensional spaces, (3) some efficient improved geometric Goppa codes for disk memory systems and high-speed mass memory systems, and (4) a tree based approach for data compression using dynamic programming

Gamma Radiation influence on Growth, Biochemical and Yield Characters of Cajanus cajan (L.) Millsp.

The present investigation deals with the effect of gamma radiation on growth, Biochemical and yield traits of Pigeon pea. The seeds of Pigeon pea Var.CO-7 were treated with different doses of gamma rays like 15, 20 and 25KR. The treated seeds were sown in field along with control to raise M1 generation and the radiation effects was noted from seed germination percentage, seedling survival (%), seedling height on 30th days, Days to first flower, plant height, (at maturity), number of branches, number  of leaves, number of cluster, pollen viability (%), number of pods, seed yield, hundred seed weight (g), fresh and dry weight (g), Seed viability (%) and seed protein content (%). The results indicates that the growth, biochemical and yield parameters were gradually decreased when compare to control and the highest reduction was noted at higher doses of gamma radiation treatments. The pollen and seed viability (%) analysis were also reveled that gradually reduction in lower to higher doses of gamma rays treatments

Live Wire Segmentation Tool for Osteophyte Detection in Lumbar Spine X-Ray Images

Computer-assisted vertebra segmentation in x-ray images is a challenging problem. Inter-subject variability and the generally poor contrast of digitized radiograph images contribute to the segmentation difficulty. In this paper, a semi-automated live wire approach is investigated for vertebrae segmentation. The live wire approach integrates initially selected user points with dynamic programming to generate a closed vertebra boundary. In order to assess the degree to which vertebra features are conserved using the live wire technique, convex hull-based features to characterize anterior osteophytes in lumbar vertebrae are determined for live wire and manually segmented vertebrae. Anterior osteophyte discrimination was performed over 405 lumbar vertebrae, 204 abnormal vertebrae with anterior osteophytes and 201 normal vertebrae. A leave-one-out standard back propagation neural network was used for vertebrae segmentation. Experimental results show that manual segmentation yielded slightly better discrimination results than the live wire technique

Arthroscopic Wrist Debridement and Radial Styloidectomy for Advanced Scapholunate Advanced Collapse Wrist: Long-term Follow-up

© The Author(s) 2017. Background: Symptomatic stage 2 or 3 scapholunate advanced collapse (SLAC) wrist is aggressively treated with salvage procedures, such as proximal row carpectomy or partial wrist fusion with resultant pain relief but limited motion. We hypothesize that arthroscopic synovectomy, radial styloidectomy, and neurectomy will preserve wrist motion, relieve pain, and delay or avoid salvage procedures. Methods: We evaluated outcomes in 13 wrists through questionnaires and 11 of these through additional physical examination at a mean follow-up of 5.0 years. Eight wrists were stage 2 and 5 were stage 3. Data at final follow-up included mobility/strength measurements, subjective outcome scores (Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder, and Hand [DASH] and visual analog scale [VAS] pain), patient satisfaction, and return to work statistics. Results: Patients had an average flexion-extension arc of 88.0° in the treated wrist and an average grip strength that was 95.0% of the contralateral side. No patients required revision surgery at follow-up. The 13 wrists reported an average DASH score of 16.4 and mean VAS pain score at rest and with activity of 17.9 and 31.6, respectively. All patients working prior to the procedure (n = 8) were able to immediately return to work. In all, 84.6% of patients were satisfied. Conclusions: The procedure studied may have advantages in relieving pain, while preserving wrist motion for SLAC stage 2 or 3 disease. This procedure does not preclude future salvage procedures in those patients with severe disease who prefer to maintain wrist motion for the short term. Patients experience good functional outcomes with the majority experiencing a reduction in pain with the ability to return to work