Single-scatter channel impulse response model of non-line-of-sight ultraviolet communications

Previous studies on the temporal characteristics of single-scatter transmission in non-line-of-sight (NLOS) ultraviolet communications (UVC) were based on the prolate-spheroidal coordinate system. In this work, a novel single-scatter channel impulse response (CIR) model is proposed in the spherical coordinate system, which is more natural and comprehensible than the prolate-spheroidal coordinate system in practical applications. Additionally, the results of the widely accepted Monte-Carlo (MC)-based channel model of NLOS UVC are provided to verify the proposed single-scatter CIR model. Results indicate that the computational time costed by the proposed single-scatter CIR model is decreased to less than 0.7% of the MC-based one with comparable accuracy in assessing the temporal characteristics of NLOS UVC channels.Comment: 10 pages, 4 figure

Development of a Virtual CFR Engine Model for Knocking Combustion Analysis

[EN] Knock is a major bottleneck to achieving higher thermal efficiency in spark-ignited (SI) engines. The overall tendency to knock is highly dependent on fuel anti-knock quality as well as engine operating conditions. It is, therefore, critical to gain a better understanding of fuel-engine interactions in order to develop robust knock mitigation strategies. In the present work, a numerical model based on three-dimensional (3-D) computational fluid dynamics (CFD) was developed to capture knock in a Cooperative Fuel Research (CFR) engine. For combustion modeling, a hybrid approach incorporating the G-equation model to track turbulent flame propagation, and a homogeneous reactor multi-zone model to predict end-gas auto-ignition ahead of the flame front and post-flame oxidation in the burned zone, was employed. In addition, a novel methodology was implemented wherein a laminar flame speed lookup table generated a priori from a chemical kinetic mechanism could be used to provide flame speed as an input to the G-equation model, instead of using conventional empirical correlations. Multi-cycle Reynolds-Averaged Navier Stokes (RANS) simulations were performed for two different spark timings (STs) corresponding to non-knocking and knocking conditions, with other operating conditions kept the same as those of a standard Research Octane Number (RON) test. Iso-octane was considered as the fuel for the numerical study. Two different reduced kinetic mechanisms were employed to describe end-gas auto-ignition chemistry and to generate the flame speed lookup table. Experimental data, including intake/exhaust boundary conditions, was provided by a spark timing sweep study conducted in an in-house CFR engine. Moreover, cylinder wall/valve/port surface temperatures and residual gas fraction (RGF) were estimated using a well-calibrated one-dimensional (1-D) model. On the other hand, a novel methodology was also developed to analyze experimental data for the knocking case and identify the most representative cycle. For the non-knocking case, a good agreement was found between experiment and CFD simulation, with respect to cycle-averaged values of 10% burn point (CA10), 50% burn point (CA50) and peak pressure magnitude/location. The virtual CFR engine model was also demonstrated to be capable of predicting average knock characteristics for the knocking case, such as knock point, knock intensity and energy of resonance, with good accuracy.The submitted manuscript has been created by UChicago Argonne, LLC, Operator of Argonne National Laboratory (Argonne). Argonne, a U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Science laboratory, is operated under Contract No. DEAC02-06CH11357. The U.S. Government retains for itself, and others acting on its behalf, a paid-up nonexclusive, irrevocable worldwide license in the said article to reproduce, prepare derivative works, distribute copies to the public, and perform publicly and display publicly, by or on behalf of the Government. This research was partially funded by DOE's Office of Vehicle Technologies and Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) under Contract No. DE-AC02-06CH11357. The authors wish to thank Gurpreet Singh, Kevin Stork, and Leo Breton, program managers at DOE, for their support. This research was conducted as part of the Co-Optimization of Fuels and Engines (Co-Optima) project sponsored by the U.S. DOE Office of EERE, Bioenergy Technologies and Vehicle Technologies OfficesPal, P.; Kolodziej, C.; Choi, S.; Som, S.; Broatch, A.; Gómez-Soriano, J.; Wu, Y.... (2018). Development of a Virtual CFR Engine Model for Knocking Combustion Analysis. SAE International Journal of Engines. 11(6):1069-1082. https://doi.org/10.4271/2018-01-0187S1069108211

Design and baseline characteristics of the finerenone in reducing cardiovascular mortality and morbidity in diabetic kidney disease trial

Background: Among people with diabetes, those with kidney disease have exceptionally high rates of cardiovascular (CV) morbidity and mortality and progression of their underlying kidney disease. Finerenone is a novel, nonsteroidal, selective mineralocorticoid receptor antagonist that has shown to reduce albuminuria in type 2 diabetes (T2D) patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) while revealing only a low risk of hyperkalemia. However, the effect of finerenone on CV and renal outcomes has not yet been investigated in long-term trials. Patients and Methods: The Finerenone in Reducing CV Mortality and Morbidity in Diabetic Kidney Disease (FIGARO-DKD) trial aims to assess the efficacy and safety of finerenone compared to placebo at reducing clinically important CV and renal outcomes in T2D patients with CKD. FIGARO-DKD is a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel-group, event-driven trial running in 47 countries with an expected duration of approximately 6 years. FIGARO-DKD randomized 7,437 patients with an estimated glomerular filtration rate >= 25 mL/min/1.73 m(2) and albuminuria (urinary albumin-to-creatinine ratio >= 30 to <= 5,000 mg/g). The study has at least 90% power to detect a 20% reduction in the risk of the primary outcome (overall two-sided significance level alpha = 0.05), the composite of time to first occurrence of CV death, nonfatal myocardial infarction, nonfatal stroke, or hospitalization for heart failure. Conclusions: FIGARO-DKD will determine whether an optimally treated cohort of T2D patients with CKD at high risk of CV and renal events will experience cardiorenal benefits with the addition of finerenone to their treatment regimen. Trial Registration: EudraCT number: 2015-000950-39; ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT02545049