Denoising and Fuel Spray Droplet Detection From Light-Scattered Images Using Deep Learning

13-C-AJFF-PU-011This is an open access article under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International (CC BY-NC-ND 4.0) license https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/. Please cite this article as: Veeraraghava Raju Hasti, Dongyun Shin, Denoising and fuel spray droplet detection from light-scattered images using deep learning, Energy and AI, Volume 7, 2022, 100130, ISSN 2666-5468, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.egyai.2021.100130.A deep learning-based method for denoising and detecting the gas turbine engine spray droplets in the light-scattered image (Mie scattering) is proposed for the first time. A modified U-Net architecture is employed in the proposed method to denoise and regenerate the droplets. We have compared and validated the performance of the modified U-Net architecture with standard conventional neural networks (CNN) and modified ResNet architectures for denoising spray images from the Mie scattering experiment. The modified U-Net architecture performed better than the other two networks with significantly lower Mean Squared Error (MSE) on the validation dataset. The modified U-Net architecture also produced images with the highest Power Signal to Noise Ratio (PSNR) compared to the other two networks. This superior performance of the modified U-Net architecture is attributed to the encoder-decoder structure. During downsampling, as part of the encoder, only the most prominent features of the image are selectively retained by excluding any noise. This reconstruction of the noise-free features has produced a more accurate and better denoised image. The denoised images are then passed through a center predictor CNN to determine the location of the droplets with an average error of 1.4 pixels. The trained deep learning method for denoising and droplet center detection takes about 2.13 s on a single graphics processing unit (GPU). This study shows the promise for real-time processing of the experimental data using the well-optimized network

A novel small molecule, CU05-1189, targeting the pleckstrin homology domain of PDK1 suppresses VEGF-mediated angiogenesis and tumor growth by blocking the Akt signaling pathway

Inhibition of angiogenesis is considered a promising therapeutic approach for cancer treatment. Our previous genetic research showed that the use of a cell-penetrating peptide to inhibit the pleckstrin homology (PH) domain of 3-phosphoinositide-dependent kinase 1 (PDK1) was a viable approach to suppress pathological angiogenesis. Herein, we synthesized and characterized a novel small molecule, CU05-1189, based on our prior study and present evidence for the first time that this compound possesses antiangiogenic properties both in vitro and in vivo. The computational analysis showed that CU05-1189 can interact with the PH domain of PDK1, and it significantly inhibited vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)-induced proliferation, migration, invasion, and tube formation in human umbilical vein endothelial cells without apparent toxicity. Western blot analysis revealed that the Akt signaling pathway was specifically inhibited by CU05-1189 upon VEGF stimulation, without affecting other VEGF receptor 2 downstream molecules or cytosolic substrates of PDK1, by preventing translocation of PDK1 to the plasma membrane. We also found that CU05-1189 suppressed VEGF-mediated vascular network formation in a Matrigel plug assay. More importantly, CU05-1189 had a good pharmacokinetic profile with a bioavailability of 68%. These results led to the oral administration of CU05-1189, which resulted in reduced tumor microvessel density and growth in a xenograft mouse model. Taken together, our data suggest that CU05-1189 may have great potential and be a promising lead as a novel antiangiogenic agent for cancer treatment

An Investigation of Alternative Aviation Fuel Spray Characteristics at Lean Blowout Conditions Using Hybrid Air-Blast Pressure Swirl Atomizer

Many efforts on reducing pollutant emissions from the aviation gas turbines have been to mitigate the climate change and air quality. The National Jet Fuel Combustion Program (NJFCP) was initiated to develop new alternative aviation fuels, which are composed solely on hydrocarbons (non-petroleum), and to understand better the impact of chemical/physical properties of the fuels on combustion. One of the major objectives of NJFCP is to study the spray characteristics of the alternative jet fuels compared to conventional jet fuels to ensure that the performance of the alternative jet fuels is comparable to conventional jet fuels. In this study, spray measurements for alternative jet fuels with Phase Doppler Anemometry are presented. The major objective of this work is to study spray characteristics such as droplet size, drop velocity, and spray cone angle for candidate alternative jet fuels for operating conditions corresponding to lean blowout (LBO). A hybrid air-blast pressure swirl atomizer from Parker-Hannifin Corporation is used in the experiments. The spray cone angles are investigated using shadowgraph imaging with a high speed camera. Six fuels selected by the NJFCP on the basis of chemistry are A-2, C-1, C-5, C-7, C-8, C-9. The droplet sizes and velocities are measured and compared among six fuels at LBO conditions. For spray cone angles, three fuels (A-2, C-1, and C-5) were investigated at LBO conditions. The effects of the fuel injection pressure and the pressure drop across the injector swirler assembly on the spray characteristics have been studied. The droplet sizes and velocities were varied for each fuel. However, the differences were minimal among the fuels. The fuel injection pressure was observed to have minimal effect on the mean drop sizes and velocities, while the pressure drop across the swirler assembly had a significant effect on those characteristics. For spray cone angles, it was observed that the effects of the injection pressure, pressure drop, and fuel type were not significant

An Investigation of Alternative Aviation Fuel Spray Characteristics at Lean Blowout Conditions Using Hybrid Air-Blast Pressure-Swirl Atomizer

Many efforts on reducing pollutant emissions from the aviation gas turbines have been to mitigate the climate change and air quality. The National Jet Fuel Combustion Program (NJFCP) was initiated to develop new alternative aviation fuels, which are composed solely on hydrocarbons (non-petroleum), and to understand better the impact of chemical/physical properties of the fuels on combustion. One of the major objectives of NJFCP is to study the spray characteristics of the alternative jet fuels compared to conventional jet fuels to ensure that the performance of the alternative jet fuels is comparable to conventional jet fuels. In this study, spray measurements for alternative jet fuels with Phase Doppler Anemometry are presented. The major objective of this work is to study spray characteristics such as droplet size, drop velocity, and spray cone angle for candidate alternative jet fuels for operating conditions corresponding to lean blowout (LBO). A hybrid air-blast pressure swirl atomizer from Parker-Hannifin Corporation is used in the experiments. The spray cone angles are investigated using shadowgraph imaging with a high speed camera. Six fuels selected by the NJFCP on the basis of chemistry are A-2, C-1, C-5, C-7, C-8, C-9. The droplet sizes and velocities are measured and compared among six fuels at LBO conditions. For spray cone angles, three fuels (A-2, C-1, and C-5) were investigated at LBO conditions. The effects of the fuel injection pressure and the pressure drop across the injector swirler assembly on the spray characteristics have been studied. The droplet sizes and velocities were varied for each fuel. However, the differences were minimal among the fuels. The fuel injection pressure was observed to have minimal effect on the mean drop sizes and velocities, while the pressure drop across the swirler assembly had a significant effect on those characteristics. For spray cone angles, it was observed that the effects of the injection pressure, pressure drop, and fuel type were not significant

Non-Reacting Spray Characteristics of Alternative Aviation Fuels at Gas Turbine Engine Conditions

The aviation industry is continuously growing amid tight restrictions on global emission reductions. Alternative aviation fuels have gained attention and developed to replace the conventional petroleum-derived aviation fuels. The replacement of conventional fuels with alternative fuels, which are composed solely of hydrocarbons (non-petroleum), can mitigate impacts on the environment and diversify the energy supply, potentially reducing fuel costs. To ensure the performance of alternative fuels, extensive laboratory and full-scale engine testings are required, thereby a lengthy and expensive process. The National Jet Fuel Combustion Program (NJFCP) proposed a plan to reduce this certification process time and the cost dramatically by implementing a computational model in the process, which can be replaced with some of the testings. This requires an understanding of the influence of chemical/physical properties of alternative fuels on combustion performance. The main objective of this work is to investigate the spray characteristics of alternative aviation fuels compared to that of conventional aviation fuels, which have been characterized by different physical liquid properties at different gas turbine-relevant conditions. The experimental work focuses on the spray characteristics of standard and alternative aviation fuels at three operating conditions such as near lean blowout (LBO), cold engine start, and high ambient pressure conditions. The spray generated by a hybrid pressureswirl airblast atomizer was investigated by measuring the drop size and drop velocity at a different axial distance downstream of the injector using a phase Doppler anemometry (PDA) measurement system. This provided an approximate trajectory of the largest droplet as it traveled down from the injector. At LBO conditions, the trend of decreasing drop size and increasing drop velocity with an increase in gas pressure drop was observed for both conventional (A-2) and alternative aviation fuels (C-1, C-5, C-7, and C-8), while the effect of fuel injection pressure on the mean drop size and drop velocity was observed to be limited. Moreover, the high-speed shadowgraph images were also taken to investigate the effect of the pressure drop and fuel injection pressures on the cone angles. Their effects were found to be limited on the cone angle. The spray characteristics of standard (A-2 and A-3) and alternative (C-3) fuels were investigated at engine cold-start conditions. At such a crucial condition, sufficient atomization needs to be maintained to operate the engine properly. The effect of fuel properties, especially the viscosity, was investigated on spray drop size and drop velocity using both conventional and alternative aviation fuels. The effect of fuel viscosity was found to be minimal and dominated by the effect of the surface tension, even though it showed a weak trend of increasing drop size with increasing surface tension. The higher swirler pressure drop reduced the drop size and increased drop velocity due to greater inertial force of the gas for both conventional and alternative aviation fuels at the cold start condition. However, the effect of pressure drop was observed to be reduced at cold start condition compared to the results from the LBO condition. The final aspect of experimental work focuses on the effect of ambient pressures on the spray characteristics for both conventional (A-2) and alternative (C-5) aviation fuels

Recent Advances in the Transition-Metal-Free Synthesis of Quinazolines

Quinazolines are a privileged class of nitrogen-containing heterocycles, widely present in a variety of natural products and synthetic chemicals with a broad spectrum of biological and medicinal activities. Owing to their pharmaceutical applications and promising biological value, a variety of synthetic methodologies have been reported for these scaffolds. From the perspective of green and sustainable chemistry, transition-metal-free synthesis provides an alternative method for accessing several biologically active heterocycles. In this review, we summarize the recent progress achieved in the transition-metal-free synthesis of quinazolines and we cover the literature from 2015 to 2022. This aspect is present alongside the advantages, limitations, mechanistic rationalization, and future perspectives associated with the synthetic methodologies

Small-Molecule Inhibitors and Degraders Targeting KRAS-Driven Cancers

Drug resistance continues to be a major problem associated with cancer treatment. One of the primary causes of anticancer drug resistance is the frequently mutated RAS gene. In particular, considerable efforts have been made to treat KRAS-induced cancers by directly and indirectly controlling the activity of KRAS. However, the RAS protein is still one of the most prominent targets for drugs in cancer treatment. Recently, novel targeted protein degradation (TPD) strategies, such as proteolysis-targeting chimeras, have been developed to render “undruggable” targets druggable and overcome drug resistance and mutation problems. In this study, we discuss small-molecule inhibitors, TPD-based small-molecule chemicals for targeting RAS pathway proteins, and their potential applications for treating KRAS-mutant cancers. Novel TPD strategies are expected to serve as promising therapeutic methods for treating tumor patients with KRAS mutations

Imperata cylindrica: A Review of Phytochemistry, Pharmacology, and Industrial Applications

Imperata cylindrica is a medicinal plant native to southwestern Asia and the tropical and subtropical zones. To date, 72 chemical constituents have been isolated and identified from I. cylindrica Among these compounds, saponins, flavonoids, phenols, and glycosides are the major constituents. Investigations of pharmacological activities of I. cylindrica revealed that this edible medicinal herb exhibits a wide range of therapeutic potential including immunomodulatory, antibacterial, antitumor, anti-inflammatory, and liver protection activities both in vivo and in vitro. The purpose of this review is to provide an overview of I. cylindrica studies until 2019. This article also intends to review advances in the botanical, phytochemical, and pharmacological studies and industrial applications of I. cylindrica, which will provide a useful bibliography for further investigations and applications of I. cylindrica in medicines and foods