Using Automatic Differentiation for Adjoint CFD Code Development

This paper addresses the concerns of CFD code developers who are facing the task of creating a discrete adjoint CFD code for design optimisation. It discusses how the development of such a code can be greatly eased through the selective use of Automatic Differentiation, and how the software development can be subjected to a sequence of checks to ensure the correctness of the final software

MESOPOROUS SILICA PARTICLES FOR DERMAL DRUG DELIVERY: A REVIEW

Mesoporous silica particles (MSP) have been reported to be applicable in diverse situations pertaining to the delivery of several drug molecules. MSP have established themselves in treating diseases with oral, dermal and parenteral modes of administration. Recently, dermal delivery using MSP have gained a considerable amount of interest owing to the increase in drug stability, permeation and ease of functionalization. MSP, in general, have a very high capability of delivering actives ranging from small molecules like drugs and amino acids to larger peptides, vaccines and antibodies. The applicability of MSP in achieving desired cosmetic and health-related outcomes depends on the careful tuning of their pore size, surface area, shape and overall physicochemical properties. This review provides comprehensive details of the recent developments in the fabrication of MSP, their characteristic features and, applications in dermal drug delivery. Studies on establishing the safety profile of MSP have also been summarized in the review

Molecular phylogeny of the Notostraca

We used a combined analysis of one nuclear (28S rDNA) and three mitochondrial markers (COI, 12S rDNA, 16S rDNA) to infer the molecular phylogeny of the Notostraca, represented by samples from the six continents that are inhabited by this group of branchiopod crustaceans. Our results confirm the monophyly of both extant notostracan genera Triops and Lepidurus with good support in model based and maximum parsimony analyses. We used branchiopod fossils as a calibration to infer divergence times among notostracan lineages and accounted for rate heterogeneity among lineages by applying relaxed-clock models. Our divergence date estimates indicate an initial diversification into the genera Triops and Lepidurus in the Mesozoic, most likely at a minimum age of 152.3–233.5 Ma, i.e., in the Triassic or Jurassic. Implications for the interpretation of fossils and the evolution of notostracan morphology are discussed. We further use the divergence date estimates to formulate a biogeographic hypothesis that explains distributions of extant lineages predominantly by overland dispersal routes. We identified an additional hitherto unrecognised highly diverged lineage within Lepidurus apus lubbocki and three additional previously unknown major lineages within Triops. Within T. granarius we found deep differentiation, with representatives distributed among three major phylogenetic lineages. One of these major lineages comprises T. cancriformis, the T. mauritanicus species group and two hitherto unrecognised T. granarius lineages. Samples that were morphologically identified as T. granarius diverged from the most basal nodes within this major lineage, and divergence dates suggested an approximate age of 23.7– 49.6 Ma for T. cancriformis, indicating the need for a taxonomic revision of Triassic and Permian fossils that are currently attributed to the extant T. cancriformis.We thus elevate T. cancriformis minor to full species status as Triops minor Trusheim, 1938 and include in this species the additional Upper Triassic samples that were attributed to T. cancriformis. We further elevate T. cancriformis permiensis to full species status as Triops permiensis Gand et al., 1997

The Impact of Leachate From Clean Coal Technology Waste on the Stability of Clay and Synthetic Liners

This project was developed to provide design criteria for landfill disposal sites used for sludges such as those generated using the Clean Coal Technologies (CCT) tested at the Public Service Company of Colorado`s Arapahoe Power Plant. The CCT wastes used were produced at the Arapahoe Plant Unit No. 4 that was equipped with the integrated dry NO{sub x}/S{sub 2} emissions control system installed under the Clean Coal Technology (CCT) Program. The investigation emphasized the potential impact of clean coal technology materials (sodium and calcium injection systems, and urea injection) on the permeability and stability characteristics of clay liner materials and the stability of synthetic liner materials. Flexible-wall permeameters were used to determine the hydraulic conductivities (HC) of the clay liner materials impacted by various compactive conditions. Tests were conducted using the waste materials overlying the clay liner materials under wet/dry cycles, freeze/thaw cycles, and over 120-day periods. The impact of CCT materials on the characteristics of the clay liner materials studied in this project was minimal The HC measurements of the waste/clay liner systems were similar to the water/clay liner systems. HC decreased for clay liners compacted at moisture levels slightly higher than optimum (standard Procter) and increased for liners compacted at moisture levels lower than optimum (standard Procter). Although some swelling was evident in the sodium materials, the sludge materials did not have a negative impact on the integrity of the liners over 120-day tests. Wet/dry cycles tended to result in lower HC, while freeze/thaw cycles substantially increased HC for the liners tested

Experimentation of Electrospray Methodology with Carbon Nanotubes

The focus of the research was design, economically building, and testing of an electrospray platform which will be employed to deposit uniform coatings of carbon nanomaterials to large surfaces. Electrospray, also known as electrohydrodynamic spray or e-spray, is a liquid atomization technique that can generate fine droplets to produce coatings with a high degree of uniformity. The carbon nanotubes (CNTs) and graphene dispersions in water are particularly attractive due to their bulk processing, ease of storage, freedom for tuning the concentration, and for their potential applications in biology and aerospace. This Electrospray platform will be used to apply CNT films, with varying quantities of graphene, that will carry a charge across non-conductive surfaces to act as a de-icing element for aircraft and spacecraft structures. This platform will be utilized for coating large area of non-conductive surfaces which will carry a charge across the structure to act as a de-icing element for aircraft and spacecraft structures

An Observational Study of Sthaulya Inconcern with Obesity

Obesity, as considered, is the most common nutritional based disorder in all affluent societies. WHO 2010 report, considering the same, worldwide obesity seem too had doubled since 1980. 65% of the world's population lives in countries where overweight & obesity both does kill more people although being underweight. So obesity is gaining absolutely more attention at the global zone. That seems to be the reason for which many countries are absolutely making an effort to find perfect remedy for this ascending problem. The incidence of Diabetes mellitus, hypertension, angina pectoris and myocardial infarction. Etc. is with the raising source among obese individuals. Commonly, it seems that the obesity is due to excessive eating and lack of adequate exercise. Hence this topic is selected for research. Objectives: This study is conducted with the objectives to evaluate that, how the lifestyle modification does affect overweight and obesity both. Material and Methods: An attempt has been made in the present study that the 30 patients of Sthaulya have been selected between the age group 18 years to 50 years. Observations were well noted. Data collected from the patients was tabulated under following two sections, General observations like age, sex, marital status, diet and lifestyle etc. Results: Statistical analysis was thorough resulting the illustrations alike; if people do habituate with the following type of lifestyle, but obviously, they may obese themselves, in case of Mind related causative factors. There are majority of the patients alike 80% were habituated with Happiness and only 20% were carrying lack of stress. Hence, we had mentioned that if in case the people are habituated with the same i.e., happiness, but obviously they will turn up obese. Conclusion: Sthaulya is the main over nutritive disorder which further causes other complications if not cured properly

On the patterns of tree diversity in the Western Ghats of India

We have explored in the Western Ghats the patterns of tree diversity in relation to vegetation types which have been primarily defined on the basis of structure and phenology, A total of 20,785 individuals, belonging to 398 species, were enumerated along 108 belt transects covering a total area of 75 ha, from localities that spanned the entire length of the hill chain of the Western Ghats (8°N to 21°N latitude and 73°E to 75°E longitude) in peninsular India. These transects were assigned to 7 vegetation types and were shown to be distinctive in species composition. These types include closed canopy evergreen, semi-closed canopy evergreen, stunted evergreen, semievergreen, moist deciduous, dry deciduous forests, and scrub/savanna vegetation. Dry deciduous forests with low levels of density and diversity harbour a rather exclusive set of species. The most diverse tree assemblages belong to the semievergreen forest type, which harbours widespread species extensively shared with other vegetation types. The semiclosed evergreen forests resemble semievergreen forests in many ways. In contrast, the stunted evergreen forests and scrub/savanna exhibit low values of tree density and diversity; their component species have very weak tendencies to co-occur with each other. The evergreen and moist deciduous forests exhibit moderate to high density and diversity and moderate levels of distinctiveness of species composition. The evergreen forests however resemble dry deciduous forests in harbouring species with a strong tendency to co-occur and many species with restricted distributions. More moist vegetation types shelter a higher proportion of evergreen and endemic trees and a lower proportion of medicinally-useful species. These results have significant implications for devising a sampling strategy

Physical science research needed to evaluate the viability and risks of marine cloud brightening

Marine cloud brightening (MCB) is the deliberate injection of aerosol particles into shallow marine clouds to increase their reflection of solar radiation and reduce the amount of energy absorbed by the climate system. From the physical science perspective, the consensus of a broad international group of scientists is that the viability of MCB will ultimately depend on whether observations and models can robustly assess the scale-up of local-to-global brightening in today\u27s climate and identify strategies that will ensure an equitable geographical distribution of the benefits and risks associated with projected regional changes in temperature and precipitation. To address the physical science knowledge gaps required to assess the societal implications of MCB, we propose a substantial and targeted program of research-field and laboratory experiments, monitoring, and numerical modeling across a range of scales

Results of a Qualitative Study to Develop a Patient Reported Outcome Measure for Patients with 4 Subtypes of Soft Tissue Sarcoma

Objective. The objective of this research was to develop a disease-specific symptom inventory for soft tissue sarcoma. Methods. Literature review and clinical expert and patient interviews were conducted to determine disease-specific symptoms important to patients with one of the four STS subtypes. Clinical experts identified the most relevant STS symptom items from the item pool developed from literature review. Concept elicitation interviews were conducted with patients to elicit their STS symptom experiences followed by a completion of the draft symptom list via web survey. A cognitive interview was conducted on the comprehension and importance of the symptom items. Results. Eighty-three symptom items were compiled and discussed with three clinical experts who identified 26 symptoms specific to the four STS subtypes. A total sample of 27 STS participants with self-reported leiomyosarcoma (74%), undifferentiated sarcoma (15%), synovial sarcoma (7%), or liposarcoma (4%) diagnosis completed the web survey and 10 were interviewed. The draft 12-item STS-specific symptom inventory includes abdominal pain, pressure in abdomen, early satiety, bloating, gastrointestinal pain, muscle pain, bone pain, heavy menstrual flow, shortness of breath, chest pain, cough, and painful menstruation. Conclusion. A number of symptoms are common across STS subtypes and may form a single STS symptom inventory