On Moving Least Squares Based Flow Visualization

Modern simulation and measurement methods tend to produce meshfree data sets if modeling of processes or objects with free surfaces or boundaries is desired. In Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD), such data sets are described by particle-based vector fields. This paper presents a summary of a selection of methods for the extraction of geometric features of such point-based vector fields while pointing out its challenges, limitations, and applications

Generation of Adaptive Streak Surfaces Using Moving Least Squares

We introduce a novel method for the generation of fully adaptive streak surfaces in time-varying flow fields based on particle advection and adaptive mesh refinement. Moving least squares approximation plays an important role in multiple stages of the proposed algorithm, which adaptively refines the surface based on curvature approximation and circumradius properties of the underlying Delaunay mesh. We utilize the grid-less Moving Least Squares approximation method for both curvature and surface estimation as well as vector field evaluation during particle advection. Delaunay properties of the surface triangulation are guaranteed by edge flipping operations on the progressive surface mesh. The results of this work illustrate the benefit of adaptivity techniques to streak surface generation and provide the means for a qualitative analysis of the presented approach

Audio-visual Virtual Reality System for Room Acoustics

We present an audio-visual Virtual Reality display system for simulated sound fields. In addition to the room acoustic simulation by means of phonon tracing and finite element method this system includes the stereoscopic visualization of simulation results using a 3D back projection system as well as auralization by use of a professional sound equipment. For auralization purposes we develop a sound field synthesis approach for accurate control of the loudspeaker system

Simulation and Visualization of Medical Application to the Inner Ear of the Guinea Pig to Reduce Animal Experiments

We present a novel approach to simulate drug application to the inner ear of the guinea pig with the goal to reduce animal experiments and to increase the accuracy of measurements. The framework is based on a tetrahedral grid representing the individual compartments of the cochlea, associated with a finite element model used to simulate medical diffusion and clearance. In a first simulation scenario, we were able to compute transfer coefficients between the inner compartments of the ear, validating experiments from the literature, and to prove the existence of clearance at the inner scala tympani. In a second scenario, the cochlea was unwound to obtain a one-dimensional model for efficient simulation-based transfer coefficient identification. These coefficients are useful to predict the impact of novel medication application systems

Enhancing motivation and learning in engineering courses: a challenge-based approach to teaching embedded systems

This paper addresses an approach to teaching embedded systems programming through a challenge-based competition involving robots. This pedagogical project distinguishes itself by incorporating international students from three international institutions through the Blended Intensive Program (BIP). The research findings indicate that this approach yields excellent results regarding student engagement and learning outcomes. The challenge-based program effectively promotes students’ creative problem-solving abilities by combining theoretical instruction with hands-on experience in a competitive setting.The authors are grateful to the Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT, Portugal) for financial support through national funds FCT/MCTES (PIDDAC) to CeDRI (UIDB/05757/2020 and UIDP/05757/2020), SusTEC (LA/P/0007/2021) and project LA/P/0063/2020. This work was supported by Blended Intensive Programme ID: 2021- 1-PT01-KA131-HED-000004268-2, Embedded Systems Applications. The authors thank CEFET/RJ, the Institute of Engineering and the Research Centre on Bio-based Economy of Hanze University of Applied Sciences, the ERASMUS program, and the Brazilian research agencies CAPES, CNPq, and FAPERJ.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Global patient outcomes after elective surgery: prospective cohort study in 27 low-, middle- and high-income countries.

BACKGROUND: As global initiatives increase patient access to surgical treatments, there remains a need to understand the adverse effects of surgery and define appropriate levels of perioperative care. METHODS: We designed a prospective international 7-day cohort study of outcomes following elective adult inpatient surgery in 27 countries. The primary outcome was in-hospital complications. Secondary outcomes were death following a complication (failure to rescue) and death in hospital. Process measures were admission to critical care immediately after surgery or to treat a complication and duration of hospital stay. A single definition of critical care was used for all countries. RESULTS: A total of 474 hospitals in 19 high-, 7 middle- and 1 low-income country were included in the primary analysis. Data included 44 814 patients with a median hospital stay of 4 (range 2-7) days. A total of 7508 patients (16.8%) developed one or more postoperative complication and 207 died (0.5%). The overall mortality among patients who developed complications was 2.8%. Mortality following complications ranged from 2.4% for pulmonary embolism to 43.9% for cardiac arrest. A total of 4360 (9.7%) patients were admitted to a critical care unit as routine immediately after surgery, of whom 2198 (50.4%) developed a complication, with 105 (2.4%) deaths. A total of 1233 patients (16.4%) were admitted to a critical care unit to treat complications, with 119 (9.7%) deaths. Despite lower baseline risk, outcomes were similar in low- and middle-income compared with high-income countries. CONCLUSIONS: Poor patient outcomes are common after inpatient surgery. Global initiatives to increase access to surgical treatments should also address the need for safe perioperative care. STUDY REGISTRATION: ISRCTN5181700