Investigating rough single-fracture permeabilities with persistent homology

The permeability of rock fractures is a crucial parameter for flow processes in the subsurface. In the last few decades, different methods were developed to investigate on permeability in fractures, such as flow-through experiments, numerical flow simulations, or empirical equations. In recent years, the topological method of persistent homology was also used to estimate the permeability of fracture networks and porous rocks but not for rough single fractures yet. Hence, we apply persistent homology analysis on a decimetre-scale, rough sandstone bedding joint. To investigate the influence of roughness, three different data sets are created to perform the analysis: (1) 200 µm, (2) 100 µm, and (3) 50 µm resolutions. All estimated permeabilities were then compared to values derived by experimental air permeameter measurements and numerical flow simulation. The results reveal that persistent homology analysis is able to estimate the permeability of a single fracture, even if it tends to slightly overestimate permeabilities compared to conventional methods. Previous studies using porous media showed the same overestimation trend. Furthermore, the expenditure of time for persistent homology analysis, as well as air permeameter measurements and numerical flow simulation, was compared, which showed that persistent homology analysis can be also an acceptable alternative method.</p

Microwave rapid heating system using carbon heating tube

[EN] We report a microwave heating system with a carbon heating tube (CHT) made by a 4-mm diameter quartz tube filled carbon particles and Ar gas at 1400 Pa. 2.45-GHz microwave at 200 W was introduced to a 300-dimameter metal cavity, in which 60-mm-long CHT was set at the central position. The numerical simulation with a finite element moment method resulted in the standing wave of the electric field caused by three dimensional Fresnel interference effect with low high electric field intensity ranging from from 1 to 6 kV/m because of effective absorption of microwave power by the CHT. The lowest average electrical field intensity of 5 kV/m in the cavity space was given by the electrical conductivity of carbon ranging from 10 to 55 S/m. The CHT with 55 S/m heated to 1200oC by microwave irradiation at 200 W. This heating method was applied to activate 1.0x1015-cm-2 boron and phosphorus implanted regions in n-type crystalline silicon substrate to fabricate pn junction and solar cells. The CHT heating at 1200oC realized decrease in the sheet resistivity to 146 Ω/sq, decrease in the density of defect states to 1.3x1011 and 9.2x1010 cm-2 for boron (p+) and phosphorus (n+) implanted surfaces, and solar cell characteristic with a conversion efficiency of 15% under illumination of air mass 1.5 at 0.1 W/cm2.Sameshima, T.; Kikuchi, T.; Uehara, T.; Arima, T.; Hasumi, M.; Miyazaki, T.; Kobayashi, G.... (2019). Microwave rapid heating system using carbon heating tube. En AMPERE 2019. 17th International Conference on Microwave and High Frequency Heating. Editorial Universitat Politècnica de València. 318-325. https://doi.org/10.4995/AMPERE2019.2019.9756OCS31832

Modeling ocean-cryosphere interactions off Adélie and George V Land, East Antarctica

Ocean–cryosphere interactions along the Adélie and George V Land (AGVL) coast are investigated using a coupled ocean–sea ice–ice shelf model. The dominant feature of the Mertz Glacier Tongue (MGT), located at approximately 145°E, was a highly productive winter coastal polynya system, until its calving in February 2010 dramatically changed the regional “icescape.” This study examines the annual mean, seasonal, and interannual variabilities of sea ice production; basal melting of the MGT; ice shelves, large icebergs, and fast ice; Dense Shelf Water (DSW) export; and bottom water properties on the continental slope and rise, and assesses the impacts of the calving event. The interannual variability of the winter coastal polynya regime is dominated by the regional offshore winds and air temperature, which are linked to activity of the Amundsen Sea low pressure system. This is the main driver of the interannual variability of DSW exported from the AGVL region. The calving event led to a decrease in sea ice production that resulted in a decrease in the density of DSW export. Subsequently, there is extensive freshening downstream over the continental shelf and slope regions. In addition, it is found that the calving event causes a significant decrease in the mean melt rate of the MGT, resulting from a decrease in ocean heat flux into the cavity due to ocean circulation changes

A One-Armed Phase I Dose Escalation Trial Design: Personalized Vaccination with IKKβ-Matured, RNA-Loaded Dendritic Cells for Metastatic Uveal Melanoma

Uveal melanoma (UM) is an orphan disease with a mortality of 80% within one year upon the development of metastatic disease. UM does hardly respond to chemotherapy and kinase inhibitors and is largely resistant to checkpoint inhibition. Hence, further therapy approaches are urgently needed. To improve clinical outcome, we designed a trial employing the 3rd generation personalized IKKβ-matured RNA-transfected dendritic cell (DC) vaccine which primes T cells and in addition activates NK cells. This ongoing phase I trial [NCT04335890 (www.clinicaltrials.gov), Eudract: 2018-004390-28 (www.clinicaltrialsregister.eu)] investigates patients with treatment-naive metastatic UM. Monocytes are isolated by leukapheresis, differentiated to immature DCs, matured with a cytokine cocktail, and activated via the NF-κB pathway by electroporation with RNA encoding a constitutively active mutant of IKKβ. Three types of antigen-RNA are co-electroporated: i) amplified mRNA of the tumor representing the whole transcriptome, ii) RNA encoding driver mutations identified by exome sequencing, and iii) overexpressed non-mutated tumor antigens detected by transcriptome sequencing. This highly personalized DC vaccine is applied by 9 intravenous infusions in a staggered schedule over one year. Parallel to the vaccination, standard therapy, usually an immune checkpoint blockade (ICB) as mono (anti-PD-1) or combined (anti-CTLA4 and anti-PD-1) regimen is initiated. The coordinated vaccine-induced immune response encompassing tumor-specific T cells and innate NK cells should synergize with ICB, perhaps resulting in measurable clinical responses in this resistant tumor entity. Primary outcome measures of this trial are safety, tolerability and toxicity; secondary outcome measures comprise overall survival and induction of antigen-specific T cells

Treatment of squamous cell carcinoma of the uterine cervix with radiation therapy alone: long-term survival, late complications, and incidence of second cancers

The objective of this retrospective study was to determine the survival rate, incidence of late complications, and incidence of second cancers when radiation therapy alone is used for carcinoma of the uterine cervix. Between 1971 and 1995, 1495 patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the uterine cervix (stages I–IV) were treated with radiation therapy alone in our hospital. Radiation therapy consisted of a combination of high-dose-rate intracavitary brachytherapy and external beam radiotherapy. The cumulative 5-year survival rates for stages Ib, II, and III/IVa carcinoma were 93.5, 77.0, and 60.3%, respectively, and the 10-year survival rates were 90.9, 74.5, and 56.1%, respectively. Local control rates for stages Ib, II, and III/IVa carcinoma were 92.0, 79.4 and 64.2%, respectively. Eighty-two (5.5%) patients suffered grade III/IV or V (fatal) complications. A second cancer developed in 13 (0.87%) patients. Second cancers were observed most frequently in the rectum (five cases), colon (three cases), and uterine body (two cases). Long-term follow-up data revealed that our method of radiation therapy alone for locally advanced carcinoma of the uterine cervix is effective, with low incidences of late complications and second cancers