Optimization of Conical Micro-Diffusers and Micro-Nozzles Considering Entropy Generation

Fluid flow characteristics and entropy generation in a circular diffuser/nozzle element are studied numerically. The flow is assumed to be isothermal, laminar and incompressible with constant thermo-physical properties. The velocity field, mass flow rate, and entropy generation are investigated for several half angles in combination with several values of pressure drops. The effect of diffuser half angle on the entropy generation is investigated and discussed. Furthermore, the effect of the half angle of diffuser on the diffuser efficiency and the effect on the rectification efficiency are explained. It is shown that there is an optimum operation half angle for which the diffuser efficiency has a maximum value. In the case of a micro-diffuser 1 mm long with an inlet diameter of 100 μm, the optimum half angle was found to be 2.5°. These results are based on several parametric simulations ranging from 0 to 7° half angles and covering pressure drops between 500 and 2000 Pa.King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals (Deanship of Scientific Research

Changes in some physico-chemical content of Anatolian buffalo milk according to the some environmental factors

The aim of this study was to determine the some physico-chemical content of raw milk from Anatolian water buffaloes raised under different village conditions in the Tokat province of Northern Turkey. The study materials included 1272 milk samples from 149 water buffaloes raised at 12 separate villages of the Erbaa, Turhal, and Pazar counties in the Tokat Province. Milk samples were collected during the morning milking between the months of February and May 2012 to 2014. The density, freezing point degree, dry matter, nonfat dry matter (or solid non fat), fat, protein, lactose, milk urea nitrogen and casein content of the milk samples were determined. The study results demonstrated that the mean dry matter, nonfat dry matter, fat, protein, lactose, casein content, density, milk urea nitrogen (MUN) and freezing point degree (FPD) of the raw milk samples were 16.99±0.108%, 10.88±0.036%, 5.98±0.107%, 4.85±0.043%, 5.17±0.021%, 3.61±0.036%, 1029±0.056, 21, 22 mg/dl and 0.55°C, respectively. The study data were evaluated according to the water buffaloes’ lactation stage, parity, and season by using the SPSS statistical program. It was concluded that the sampling time, parity, village conditions, stage of lactation and calving age had a significant effect (P<0.05) on the density, freezing point degree, dry matter, nonfat dry matter, fat, protein, lactose, and casein content of raw milk from the Anatolian water buffalo. © 2016, Kasetsart University. All rights reserved.TAGEM/60MANDA2011-01 --This investigation was supported by Republic of Turkey Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Livestock, General Directorate of Agricultural Research and Policies for financial support (TAGEM/60MANDA2011-01). -

Negative phase advance in polarization independent, multi-layer negative-index metamaterials

Cataloged from PDF version of article.We demonstrate a polarization independent negative-index metamaterial (NIM) at microwave frequencies. Transmission measurements and simulations predict a left-handed transmission band with negative permittivity and negative permeability. A negative-index is verified by using the retrieval procedure. Effective parameters of single-layer and twolayer NIMs are shown to be different. Negative phase advance is verified within the negative-index regime by measuring the phase shift between different sized negative-index metamaterials. Backward wave propagation is observed in the numerical simulations at frequencies where the phase advance is negative. ©2008 Optical Society of Americ

Generating Diffusion MRI scalar maps from T1 weighted images using generative adversarial networks

Diffusion magnetic resonance imaging (diffusion MRI) is a non-invasive microstructure assessment technique. Scalar measures, such as FA (fractional anisotropy) and MD (mean diffusivity), quantifying micro-structural tissue properties can be obtained using diffusion models and data processing pipelines. However, it is costly and time consuming to collect high quality diffusion data. Here, we therefore demonstrate how Generative Adversarial Networks (GANs) can be used to generate synthetic diffusion scalar measures from structural T1-weighted images in a single optimized step. Specifically, we train the popular CycleGAN model to learn to map a T1 image to FA or MD, and vice versa. As an application, we show that synthetic FA images can be used as a target for non-linear registration, to correct for geometric distortions common in diffusion MRI

A Partition-Based Random Search Method for Multimodal Optimization

Practical optimization problems are often too complex to be formulated exactly. Knowing multiple good alternatives can help decision-makers easily switch solutions when needed, such as when faced with unforeseen constraints. A multimodal optimization task aims to find multiple global optima as well as high-quality local optima of an optimization problem. Evolutionary algorithms with niching techniques are commonly used for such problems, where a rough estimate of the optima number is required to determine the population size. In this paper, a partition-based random search method is proposed, in which the entire feasible domain is partitioned into smaller and smaller subregions iteratively. Promising regions are partitioned faster than unpromising regions, thus, promising areas will be exploited earlier than unpromising areas. All promising areas are exploited in parallel, which allows multiple good solutions to be found in a single run. The proposed method does not require prior knowledge about the optima number and it is not sensitive to the distance parameter. By cooperating with local search to refine the obtained solutions, the proposed method demonstrates good performance in many benchmark functions with multiple global optima. In addition, in problems with numerous local optima, high-quality local optima are captured earlier than low-quality local optima

The design of a wideband and widebeam piston transducer in a finite closed circular baffle

The design of a high power piezoelectric underwater transducer operating at frequency range 40 kHz-80 kHz with acoustic power capability in excess of 250W is described. The transducer consists of two back-toback elements. Each element is formed by stacked PZT-4 ceramic rings, a matching and a steel backing layer, and placed in a finite rigid circular baffle. We investigate the dependence of bandwidth and beamwidth to the combination of piston and baffle radii, a and b, respectively. With ka of 2.45 (κ is the wave number) at resonance and a b/a ratio of 2, the transducer resonates at 60kHz with 67% bandwidth and has a beamwidth of 60° at each half space. We show that when two transducers are placed at right angles spatially and driven in parallel, we can obtain an omnidirectional beam pattern in the lower frequency band. The beam pattern exhibits two dips in each quadrant at the higher end of the frequency band, which are within 8 dB. We also investigated power handling capability of the transducer from thermal point of view using finite element analysis. The input impedance measurements agree well with the numerical results within the pass band

Economical Feasibility of Utilizing Photovoltaics for Water Pumping in Saudi Arabia

Energy and water are the two major need of the globe which need to be addressed for the sustenance of the human beings on this planet. All the nations, no matter most populous, developed and developing need to diversify the means and ways of producing energy and at the same time guarding the environment. This study aims at techno economical feasibility of producing energy using PV solar panels and utilizing it to pump-water at Dhahran, Riyadh, Jeddah, Guriat, and Nejran regions in Saudi Arabia. The solar radiation data from these stations was used to generate electricity using PV panels of 9.99 kW total capacity. Nejran region was found to be most economical in terms of minimal payback period and cost of energy and maximum internal rate of return whereas PV power production was concerned. Water-pumping capacity of the solar PV energy system was calculated at five locations based on the PV power production and Goulds model 45J series of pumps. Monthly total and annual total water pumping capacities were determined. Considering the capital cost of combined solar PV energy system and the pump unit a cost analysis of water pumping for a well of 50 m total dynamic head (TDH) was carried out. The cost of water pumping was found to vary between 2 and 3 /m3

MicroRNA-519a is a novel oncomir conferring tamoxifen resistance by targeting a network of tumour-suppressor genes in ER+ breast cancer

Cataloged from PDF version of article.Tamoxifen is an endocrine therapy which is administered to up to 70% of all breast cancer patients with oestrogen receptor alpha (ERα) expression. Despite the initial response, most patients eventually acquire resistance to the drug. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are a class of small non-coding RNAs which have the ability to post-transcriptionally regulate genes. Although the role of a few miRNAs has been described in tamoxifen resistance at the single gene/target level, little is known about how concerted actions of miRNAs targeting biological networks contribute to resistance. Here we identified the miRNA cluster, C19MC, which harbours around 50 mature miRNAs, to be up-regulated in resistant cells, with miRNA-519a being the most highly up-regulated. We could demonstrate that miRNA-519a regulates tamoxifen resistance using gain- and loss-of-function testing. By combining functional enrichment analysis and prediction algorithms, we identified three central tumour-suppressor genes (TSGs) in PI3K signalling and the cell cycle network as direct target genes of miR-519a. Combined expression of these target genes correlated with disease-specific survival in a cohort of tamoxifen-treated patients. We identified miRNA-519a as a novel oncomir in ER+ breast cancer cells as it increased cell viability and cell cycle progression as well as resistance to tamoxifen-induced apoptosis. Finally, we could show that elevated miRNA-519a levels were inversely correlated with the target genes' expression and that higher expression of this miRNA correlated with poorer survival in ER+ breast cancer patients. Hence we have identified miRNA-519a as a novel oncomir, co-regulating a network of TSGs in breast cancer and conferring resistance to tamoxifen. Using inhibitors of such miRNAs may serve as a novel therapeutic approach to combat resistance to therapy as well as proliferation and evasion of apoptosis in breast cancer. © 2014 The Authors. The Journal of Pathology published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Pathological Society of Great Britain and Ireland

PTPN22 gene polymorphism in Takayasu's arteritis

Objective. Takayasu's arteritis (TA) is a chronic, rare granulomatous panarteritis of unknown aetiology involving mainly the aorta and its major branches. In this study, genetic susceptibility to TA has been investigated by screening the functional single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) of PTPN22 gene encoding the lymphoid-specific protein tyrosine phosphatase. Methods. Totally, 181 patients with TA and 177 healthy controls are genotyped by PCR-RFLP method for the SNP rs2476601 (A/G) of PTPN22 gene. Polymorphic region was amplified by PCR and digested with Xcm I enzyme. Results. Detected frequencies of heterozygous genotype (AG) were 5.1% (9/177) in control group and 3.8% (7/181) in TA group (P = 0.61, odds ratio: 0.75, 95% CI: 0.3, 2.0). No association with angiographic type, vascular involvement or prognosis of TA was observed either. Conclusion. The distribution of PTPN22 polymorphism did not reveal any association with TA in Turkey. © The Author 2008. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the British Society for Rheumatology. All rights reserved