Cross-Newell equations for hexagons and triangles

The Cross-Newell equations for hexagons and triangles are derived for general real gradient systems, and are found to be in flux-divergence form. Specific examples of complex governing equations that give rise to hexagons and triangles and which have Lyapunov functionals are also considered, and explicit forms of the Cross-Newell equations are found in these cases. The general nongradient case is also discussed; in contrast with the gradient case, the equations are not flux-divergent. In all cases, the phase stability boundaries and modes of instability for general distorted hexagons and triangles can be recovered from the Cross-Newell equations.Comment: 24 pages, 1 figur

On the interplay of body-force distributions and flow speed for dielectric-barrier discharge plasma actuators

The dielectric-barrier discharge plasma actuator is a well-established device commonly operated in boundary-layer airflows for active flow control. In the present experimental investigation, their ability to cause momentum transfer to the surrounding fluid is analyzed by means of spatio-temporal body-force distributions in both quiescent air and external airflow conditions. The work is motivated by the limitation to quiescent-air operating conditions of frequent previous efforts. Available analytical velocity-information-based force derivation approaches are contrasted to investigate the actuator performance under conditions of their area of application. Results of body force in quiescent air, in agreement with literature, confirm the major taken assumption for Navier–Stokes-based body-force formulations—a negligible pressure gradient. However, the previous circumstance turns out as an invalid assumption for plasma actuation encountering an external airflow. These outcomes coincide with the findings in the numerical work of (2015 Numerical investigation of plasma-actuator force-term estimations from flow experiments J. Phys. D: Appl. Phys.48 395203), following the recommendation to apply a vorticity-equation-based approach under such conditions. Furthermore, the shape of the spatio-temporal body-force distribution is observed to undergo changes when the airflow speed increases. On the other hand, the integral force magnitude is found to remain approximately constant. Moreover, the choice of phase resolution of the discharge cycle has an implication on the accuracy of the temporal force evolution, therefore, clarifying the importance of a priori defining the type of body-force analysis in an experiment; i.e. integral force magnitude, time-averaged or time-resolved evaluation. As a promising finding of utmost importance for the actuator performance, the actuator remains as effective as in quiescent air under presence of the external airflow, which immediately renders the actuator fluid-mechanic efficiency to increase for increasing airflow speed

Liquid Xenon Detectors for Positron Emission Tomography

PET is a functional imaging technique based on detection of annihilation photons following beta decay producing positrons. In this paper, we present the concept of a new PET system for preclinical applications consisting of a ring of twelve time projection chambers filled with liquid xenon viewed by avalanche photodiodes. Simultaneous measurement of ionization charge and scintillation light leads to a significant improvement to spatial resolution, image quality, and sensitivity. Simulated performance shows that an energy resolution of <10% (FWHM) and a sensitivity of 15% are achievable. First tests with a prototype TPC indicate position resolution <1 mm (FWHM).Comment: Paper presented at the International Nuclear Physics Conference, Vancouver, Canada, 201

Association between aortic peak wall stress and rupture index with abdominal aortic aneurysm–related events

Objective: The aim of this study was to assess whether aortic peak wall stress (PWS) and peak wall rupture index (PWRI) were associated with the risk of abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) rupture or repair (defined as AAA events) among participants with small AAAs. Methods: PWS and PWRI were estimated from computed tomography angiography (CTA) scans of 210 participants with small AAAs (≥ 30 and ≤ 50 mm) prospectively recruited between 2002 and 2016 from two existing databases. Participants were followed for a median of 2.0 (inter-quartile range 1.9, 2.8) years to record the incidence of AAA events. The associations between PWS and PWRI with AAA events were assessed using Cox proportional hazard analyses. The ability of PWS and PWRI to reclassify the risk of AAA events compared to the initial AAA diameter was examined using net reclassification index (NRI) and classification and regression tree (CART) analysis. Results: After adjusting for other risk factors, one standard deviation increase in PWS (hazard ratio, HR, 1.56, 95% confidence intervals, CI 1.19, 2.06; p = 0.001) and PWRI (HR 1.74, 95% CI 1.29, 2.34; p 0.562. PWRI, but not PWS, significantly improved the classification of risk of AAA events compared to the initial AAA diameter alone. Conclusion: PWS and PWRI predicted the risk of AAA events but only PWRI significantly improved the risk stratification compared to aortic diameter alone. Key Points: • Aortic diameter is an imperfect measure of abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) rupture risk. • This observational study of 210 participants found that peak wall stress (PWS) and peak wall rupture index (PWRI) predicted the risk of aortic rupture or AAA repair. • PWRI, but not PWS, significantly improved the risk stratification for AAA events compared to aortic diameter alone

Modelling of dielectric barrier discharge plasma actuators for direct numerical simulations

In recent years the development of devices known as plasma actuators has advanced the promise of controlling flows in new ways that increase lift, reduce drag and improve aerodynamic efficiencies; advances that may lead to safer, more efficient and quieter aircraft. The large number of parameters (location of the actuator, orientation, size, relative placement of the embedded and exposed electrodes, materials, applied voltage, frequency) affecting the performance of plasma actuators makes their development, testing and optimisation a very complicated task. Several approaches have been proposed for developing numerical models for plasma actuators. The discharge can be modelled by physics-based kinetic methods based on first principles, by semi-empirical phenomenological approaches and by PIV-based methods where the discharge is replaced by a steady-state body force. The latter approach receives a recent interest for its easy implementation in RANS and U-RANS solvers. Here, a forcing term extracted from experiments is implemented into our high-order Navier-Stokes solver (DNS) in order to evaluate its robustness and ability to mimic the effects of a surface dielectric barrier discharge. This experimental forcing term is compared to the numerical forcing term developed by Suzen & Huang (1, 2) with an emphasis on the importance of the wall-normal component of each model

Surface tension, rheology and hydrophobicity of rhizodeposits and seed mucilage influence soil water retention and hysteresis

Aims: Rhizodeposits collected from hydroponic solutions with roots of maize and barley, and seed mucilage washed from chia, were added to soil to measure their impact on water retention and hysteresis in a sandy loam soil at a range of concentrations. We test the hypothesis that the effect of plant exudates and mucilages on hydraulic properties of soils depends on their physicochemical characteristics and origin.Methods: Surface tension and viscosity of the exudate solutions were measured using the Du Noüy ring method and a cone-plate rheometer, respectively. The contact angle of water on exudate treated soil was measured with the sessile drop method. Water retention and hysteresis were measured by equilibrating soil samples, treated with exudates and mucilages at 0.46 and 4.6 mg g−1 concentration, on dialysis tubing filled with polyethylene glycol (PEG) solution of known osmotic potential.Results: Surface tension decreased and viscosity increased with increasing concentration of the exudates and mucilage in solutions. Change in surface tension and viscosity was greatest for chia seed exudate and least for barley root exudate. Contact angle increased with increasing maize root and chia seed exudate concentration in soil, but not barley root. Chia seed mucilage and maize root rhizodeposits enhanced soil water retention and increased hysteresis index, whereas barley root rhizodeposits decreased soil water retention and the hysteresis effect. The impact of exudates and mucilages on soil water retention almost ceased when approaching wilting point at −1500 kPa matric potential.Conclusions: Barley rhizodeposits behaved as surfactants, drying the rhizosphere at smaller suctions. Chia seed mucilage and maize root rhizodeposits behaved as hydrogels that hold more water in the rhizosphere, but with slower rewetting and greater hysteresis

Weak ferromagnetism with very large canting in a chiral lattice: (pyrimidine)2FeCl2

The transition metal coordination compound (pyrimidine)2FeCl2 crystallizes in a chiral lattice, space group I 4_1 2 2 (or I4_3 2 2). Combined magnetization, Mossbauer spectroscopy and powder neutron diffraction studies reveal that it is a canted antiferromagnet below T_N = 6.4 K with an unusually large canting of the magnetic moments of 14 deg. from their general antiferromagnetic alignment, one of the largest reported to date. This results in weak ferromagnetism with a ferromagnetic component of 1 mu_B. The large canting is due to the interplay between the antiferromagnetic exchange interaction and the local single-ion anisotropy in the chiral lattice. The magnetically ordered structure of (pyrimidine)2FeCl2, however, is not chiral. The implications of these findings for the search of molecule based materials exhibiting chiral magnetic ordering is discussed.Comment: 6 pages, 5 figure

Production of radiometals in a liquid target

Introduction Access to radiometals suitable for labeling novel molecular imaging agents requires that they be routinely available and inexpensive to obtain. Proximity to a cyclotron center outfitted with solid target hardware, or to an isotope generator for a radiometal of interest is necessary, both of which can be significant hurdles in availability of less common isotopes. Herein, we describe the production of 44Sc, 68Ga, 89Zr, 86Y and 94mTc in a solution target which allows for the production of various radiometallic isotopes, enabling rapid isotope-biomolecule pairing optimization for tracer development. Work on solution targets has also been performed by other groups [e.g. 1, 2]. Material and Methods Solutions containing a high concentration of natural-abundance zinc nitrate, yttrium nitrate, calcium nitrate [3], strontium nitrate or ammonium heptamolybdate [4] were irradiated on a 13 MeV cyclotron using a standard liquid target. Some of the solutions contained additional hydrogen peroxide or nitric acid to improve solubility and reduce pressure rise in the target during irradiation. Yields calculated using theoretical cross sections (EMPIRE [5]) were compared to the measured yields. In addition, we tested a thermo-syphon target design for the production of 44Sc. Chemical separation of the product from the target material was carried out on a remote apparatus modeled after that of Siikanen [6]. Results and Conclusion The proposed approach enabled the production of quantities sufficient for chemical or biological studies for all metals discussed. In the case of 68Ga, activity up to 480 ± 22 MBq was obtained from a one hour run with a beam current of 7 µA, potentially enabling larger scale clinical production. Considering all reactions, the ratio of theoretical saturation yields to experimental yields ranges from 0.8 for 94mTc to 4.4 for 44Sc. The thermo-syphon target exhibited an increase of current on the target by a factor of 2.5 and an increase in yield by a factor of five for the production of 44Sc. Separation methods were developed for all isotopes and separation efficiency ranges from 71 ± 1 % for 94mTc to 99 ± 4 % for 86Y. 44Sc, 68Ga, and 86Y were successfully used in labeling studies with a model 1,4,7,10-tetrazacyclododecane-1,4,7,10-tetraacetic acid (DOTA) chelate, while 89Zr coordination behavior was tested using desferrioxamine-alkyne (DFO-alkyne). In summary, we present a promising new method to produce a suite of radiometals in a liquid target. Future work will continue to expand the list of radiometals and to apply this approach to the development of various peptide, protein and antibody radiotracers

Synthesis and evaluation of 18F-labeled carbonic anhydrase IX inhibitors for imaging with positron emission tomography

Two carbonic anhydrase IX (CA IX) inhibitors were radiolabeled with (18)F, and evaluated for imaging CA IX expression. Despite good affinity for CA IX and excellent plasma stability, uptake of both tracers in CA IX-expressing HT-29 tumor xenografts in mice was low. (18)F-FEC accumulated predominately in the liver and nasal cavity, whereas a significant amount of (18)F-U-104 was retained in blood. Due to minimal uptake in HT-29 tumors compared to other organs/tissues, these two tracers are not suitable for use for CA IX-targeted imaging