A Statistical Prescription to Estimate Properly Normalized Distributions of Different Particle Species

We describe a statistical method to avoid biased estimation of the content of different particle species. We consider the case when the particle identification information strongly depends on some kinematical variables, whose distributions are unknown and different for each particles species. We show that the proposed procedure provides properly normalized and completely data-driven estimation of the unknown distributions without any a priori assumption on their functional form. Moreover, we demonstrate that the method can be generalized to any kinematical distribution of the particles

Validation of the transient liquid crystal thermography technique for heat transfer measurements on a rotating cooling passage

The transient liquid crystal thermography can be a suitable tool to study heat\u2010transfer performances on internal cooling schemes of gas turbine blades. One of the hot topics related to this methodology is about the level of reliability of the heat\u2010transfer assessments in rotating tests where the fluid experiences time\u2010dependent rotating effects. The present study contribution aims to experimentally validate by cross\u2010comparison of the outcomes obtained by employing the transient technique with those from the steady\u2010state liquid crystal thermography in which the rotational effects occur as time\u2010stable by definition. Heat\u2010transfer measurements have been conducted on a rib\u2010roughened square cross\u2010section channel, with an inlet Reynolds number equal to 20,000 and rotation number up to 0.2. Special attention has been paid to the definition of the more reliable calibration strategy for liquid crystals that are employed in the transient thermography and to the proper estimation of the heat losses in the post\u2010processing of the steady\u2010state experimental data. The results show great accordance between the indications provided by the two techniques both in static and rotating conditions, demonstrating the possibility to exploit the advantages of the transient liquid crystal thermography for the investigation of heat transfer into rotating cooling channels

Process and Data Flow Control in KLOE

Abstract The core of the KLOE distributed event building system is a switched network. The online processes are distributed over a large set of processors in this network. All processes have to change coherently their state of activity as a consequence of local or remote commands. A fast and reliable message system based on the SNMP protocol has been developed. A command server has been implemented as a non privileged daemon able to respond to "set" and "get" queries on private SNMP variables. This process is able to convert remote set operations into local commands and to map automatically an SNMP subtree on a user-defined set of process variables. Process activity can be continuously monitored by remotely accessing their variables by means of the command server. Only the command server is involved in these operations, without disturbing the process flow. Subevents coming from subdetectors are sent to different nodes of a computing farm for the last stage of event building. Based on features of the SNMP protocol and of the KLOE message system, the Data Flow Control System (DFC) is able to rapidly redirect network traffic, keeping in account the dynamics of the whole DAQ system in order to assure coherent subevent addressing in an asynchronous "push" architecture, without introducing dead time. The KLOE DFC is currently working in the KLOE DAQ system. Its main characteristics and performance are discussed

Comparison of rankine cycles for micro-CHP generation based on inward flow radial turbine or scroll expander

This contribution aims to analyze micro-CHP units based on Rankine cycles. Two types of expander are considered: a small scale inward flow radial turbine and a volumetric scroll type expander. This latter, should allow to overcome the limitation imposed by a standard steam-turbine that arise when the required shaft-power is very low. Moreover, the scroll expander will also allow to easily treat wet steams, which must be avoided when considering a turbo-expander. The final aim is to deduce which one of the two types of expander is more suitable, with a specified target performance and the availability of a certain hot source. In order to define the thermodynamic expansion process, the analysis uses a one-dimensional model of the radial turbine, previously developed by the authors, and of an estimation of the scroll expander efficiency. Also, the analysis is carried out for different working fluids, such as water, and two organic fluids, cyclohexane and toluene. Through the discussion of the results, for a specified set of constraints (e.g. expander inlet temperature, temperature of condensation, expander geometrical parameters) it is possible to deduce important indications on the most suitable expander for a given cycle layout

An efficient numerical model of pulsating combustion and its experimental validation

A simple and efficient numerical model is presented for the simulation of pulse combustors. It is based on the numerical solution of the quasi-ID unsteady flow equations and on phenomenological sub-models of turbulence and combustion. The gas dynamics equations are solved by using the Flux Difference Splitting (FDS) technique, a finite-volume upwind numerical scheme, and ENO reconstructions to obtain secondorder accurate non-oscillatory solutions. The numerical fluxes computed at the cell interfaces are used to transport also the reacting species, their formation energy and the turbulent kinetic energy. The combustion progress in each cell is evaluated explicitly at the end of each time step according to a second-order overall reaction kinetics. In this way, the computations of gas dynamic evolution and heat release are decoupled, which makes the model particularly simple and efficient. A comprehensive set of measurements has been performed on a small Helmholtz type pulse-jet in order to validate the model. Air and fuel consumptions, wall temperatures, pressure cycles in both combustion chamber and tail-pipe, and instantaneous thrust have been recorded in different operating conditions of the device. The comparison between numerical and experimental results turns out to be satisfactory in all the working conditions of the pulse-jet. In particular, accurate predictions are obtained of the device operating frequency and of shape, amplitude and phase of the pressure waves in both combustion chamber and tail-pipe

The Controversial Clinicobiological Role of Breast Cancer Stem Cells

Breast cancer remains a leading cause of morbidity and mortality in women mainly because of the propensity of primary breast tumors to metastasize. Growing experimental evidence suggests that cancer stem cells (CSCs) may contribute to tumor progression and metastasis spread. However, despite the tremendous clinical potential of such cells and their possible therapeutic management, the real nature of CSCs remains to be elucidated. Starting from what is currently known about normal mammary stem/progenitor cells, to better define the cell that originates a tumor or is responsible for metastatic spread, this review will discuss experimental evidence of breast cancer stem cells and speculate about the clinical importance and implications of their evaluation

Effects of rotation and buoyancy forces on the flow field behavior inside a triangular rib roughened channel

The flow field inside a triangular cooling channel for the leading edge of a gas turbine blade has been investigated. The efforts were focused on the investigation of the interaction between effects of rotation, of buoyancy forces, and those induced by turbulence promoters, i.e., perpendicular square ribs placed on both leading and trailing sides of the duct. Particle image velocimetry (PIV) and stereo-PIV measurements have been performed for Re-Dh = 10(4), rotation number of 0, 0.2, and 0.6, and buoyancy parameter equal to 0, 0.08, and 0.7. Coriolis secondary flows are detected in the duct cross section, but contrary to the smooth case, they are characterized by a single main vortex and are less affected by an increase of the rotation parameter. Moreover, their main topology is only marginally sensitive to the buoyancy forces. Conversely, the features of the recirculation structure downstream the ribs turned out to be more sensitive to both the buoyancy forces and to the stabilizing/destabilizing effect on the separated shear layer induced by rotation