scholarly journals Optimizing self-rotating bristle-bots for active matter implementation with robotic swarms

2021 ◽  
Vol 2086 (1) ◽  
pp. 012202
Author(s):  
V A Porvatov ◽  
A D Rozenblit ◽  
A A Dmitriev ◽  
O I Burmistrov ◽  
D A Petrova ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Sliding Friction ◽  
Experimental Studies ◽  
Active Matter ◽  
Robotic Swarms ◽  
Wide Range

Abstract Robotic swarms have been recently explored as a versatile and scalable alternative to traditional microscale platforms for experimental studies of active matter. These robotic setups consist of either self-propelled or self-rotating particles. In the present paper, we develop and experimentally realize a swarm of self-rotating bristle-bots suitable for a wide range of active-matter experiments. We focus on optimizing the bristle-bot design and controlling the sliding friction between individual robots.

scholarly journals Image Statistics Preserving Encrypt-then-Compress Scheme Dedicated for JPEG Compression Standard

Entropy ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 23 (4) ◽  
pp. 421
Author(s):  
Dariusz Puchala ◽  
Kamil Stokfiszewski ◽  
Mykhaylo Yatsymirskyy
Keyword(s):  
Statistical Analysis ◽  
Image Encryption ◽  
Experimental Studies ◽  
Quality Measures ◽  
Input Image ◽  
Jpeg Compression ◽  
Image Statistics ◽  
Compression Stage ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
The Impact

In this paper, the authors analyze in more details an image encryption scheme, proposed by the authors in their earlier work, which preserves input image statistics and can be used in connection with the JPEG compression standard. The image encryption process takes advantage of fast linear transforms parametrized with private keys and is carried out prior to the compression stage in a way that does not alter those statistical characteristics of the input image that are crucial from the point of view of the subsequent compression. This feature makes the encryption process transparent to the compression stage and enables the JPEG algorithm to maintain its full compression capabilities even though it operates on the encrypted image data. The main advantage of the considered approach is the fact that the JPEG algorithm can be used without any modifications as a part of the encrypt-then-compress image processing framework. The paper includes a detailed mathematical model of the examined scheme allowing for theoretical analysis of the impact of the image encryption step on the effectiveness of the compression process. The combinatorial and statistical analysis of the encryption process is also included and it allows to evaluate its cryptographic strength. In addition, the paper considers several practical use-case scenarios with different characteristics of the compression and encryption stages. The final part of the paper contains the additional results of the experimental studies regarding general effectiveness of the presented scheme. The results show that for a wide range of compression ratios the considered scheme performs comparably to the JPEG algorithm alone, that is, without the encryption stage, in terms of the quality measures of reconstructed images. Moreover, the results of statistical analysis as well as those obtained with generally approved quality measures of image cryptographic systems, prove high strength and efficiency of the scheme’s encryption stage.

scholarly journals Effects of electrical stimulation on isolated rodent gastric smooth muscle cells evaluated via a joint computational simulation and experimental approach

2009 ◽  
Vol 297 (4) ◽  
pp. G672-G680 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. Du ◽  
S. Li ◽  
G. O'Grady ◽  
L. K. Cheng ◽  
A. J. Pullan ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Smooth Muscle ◽  
Electrical Stimulation ◽  
Pulse Train ◽  
Pulse Width ◽  
Computational Simulation ◽  
Minimum Energy ◽  
Experimental Studies ◽  
Single Pulse ◽  
Plateau Phase ◽  
Wide Range

Gastric electrical stimulation (GES) involves the delivery of electrical impulses to the stomach for therapeutic purposes. New GES protocols are needed that are optimized for improved motility outcomes and energy efficiency. In this study, a biophysically based smooth muscle cell (SMC) model was modified on the basis of experimental data and employed in conjunction with experimental studies to define the effects of a large range of GES protocols on individual SMCs. For the validation studies, rat gastric SMCs were isolated and subjected to patch-clamp analysis during stimulation. Experimental results were in satisfactory agreement with simulation results. The results define the effects of a wide range of GES parameters (pulse width, amplitude, and pulse-train frequency) on isolated SMCs. The minimum pulse width required to invoke a supramechanical threshold response from SMCs (defined at −30 mV) was 65 ms (at 250-pA amplitude). The minimum amplitude required to invoke this threshold was 75 pA (at 1,000-ms pulse width). The amplitude of the invoked response beyond this threshold was proportional to the stimulation amplitude. A high-frequency train of stimuli (40 Hz; 10 ms, 150 pA) could invoke and maintain the SMC plateau phase while requiring 60% less power and accruing ∼30% less intracellular Ca2+ concentration during the plateau phase than a comparable single-pulse protocol could in a demonstrated example. Validated computational simulations are an effective strategy for efficiently identifying effective minimum-energy GES protocols, and pulse-train protocols may also help to reduce the power consumption of future GES devices.

Experimental Studies on Cooling Effectiveness of the Double-Decker Air Jet Impingement With Film Outflow

2007 ◽  
Author(s):  
Junkui Mao ◽  
Wen Guo ◽  
Zhenxiong Liu ◽  
Jun Zeng
Keyword(s):  
Infrared Radiation ◽  
Experimental Studies ◽  
Jet Impingement ◽  
Experimental Results ◽  
Thermal Camera ◽  
Local Cooling ◽  
Cooling Effectiveness ◽  
Air Jet ◽  
Double Decker ◽  
Wide Range

Experiments were carried out to investigate the cooling effectiveness of a lamellar double-decker impingement/effusion structure. Infrared radiation (I.R.) thermal camera was used to measure the temperature on the outside surface of the lamellar double-decker. Experimental results were obtained for a wide range of governing parameters (blowing rate M (0.0017∼0.0066), the ratio of the jet impingement distance to the diameter of film hole H/D (0.5∼1.25), the ratio of the distance between the jet hole and film hole to the diameter of the film hole P/D (0, 3, 4), and the material of double-decker (Steel and Copper)). It was observed that the local cooling effectiveness η varies with all these parameters in a complicated way. All the results show that higher cooling effectiveness η is achieved in larger blowing rate cases. A certain range of H/D and P/D can be designed to result in the maximum cooling effectiveness η. And η is less sensitive to the material type compared with those parameters such as H/D, M and P/D.

Experimental Studies of Leading Edge Contouring Influence on Secondary Losses in Transonic Turbines

2012 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ranjan Saha ◽  
Jens Fridh ◽  
Torsten Fransson ◽  
Boris I. Mamaev ◽  
Mats Annerfeldt
Keyword(s):  
Gas Turbine ◽  
Guide Vane ◽  
Experimental Studies ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Leading Edge ◽  
Secondary Flows ◽  
Noticeable Effect ◽  
Flow Angle ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Contour Plots

An experimental study of the hub leading edge contouring using fillets is performed in an annular sector cascade to observe the influence of secondary flows and aerodynamic losses. The investigated vane is a three dimensional gas turbine guide vane (geometrically similar) with a mid-span aspect ratio of 0.46. The measurements are carried out on the leading edge fillet and baseline cases using pneumatic probes. Significant precautions have been taken to increase the accuracy of the measurements. The investigations are performed for a wide range of operating exit Mach numbers from 0.5 to 0.9 at a design inlet flow angle of 90°. Data presented include the loading, fields of total pressures, exit flow angles, radial flow angles, as well as profile and secondary losses. The vane has a small profile loss of approximately 2.5% and secondary loss of about 1.1%. Contour plots of vorticity distributions and velocity vectors indicate there is a small influence of the vortex-structure in endwall regions when the leading edge fillet is used. Compared to the baseline case the loss for the filleted case is lower up to 13% of span and higher from 13% to 20% of the span for a reference condition with Mach no. of 0.9. For the filleted case, there is a small increase of turning up to 15% of the span and then a small decrease up to 35% of the span. Hence, there are no significant influences on the losses and turning for the filleted case. Results lead to the conclusion that one cannot expect a noticeable effect of leading edge contouring on the aerodynamic efficiency for the investigated 1st stage vane of a modern gas turbine.

Abstract 120: Surpass Flow Diverter for Endovascular Treatment of Intracranial Aneurysms - A Multicenter Preliminary Clinical and Angiographic Experience in 161 Patients with 186 Aneurysms

Stroke ◽  
2014 ◽  
Vol 45 (suppl_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ajay K Wakhloo ◽  
Pedro Lylyk ◽  
Joost de Vries ◽  
Matthew J Gounis ◽  
Alexandra Biondi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Intracranial Aneurysms ◽  
Experimental Studies ◽  
Flow Diverter ◽  
Posterior Circulation ◽  
Parent Artery ◽  
Anterior Circulation ◽  
Neck Size ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
New Generation

Objective: Validated through experimental studies a new generation of flow diverters (Surpass™ FD) was evaluated for treatment of intracranial aneurysms (IA). We present our multicenter preliminary clinical and angiographic experience. METHODS: To achieve the calculated flow disruption between the parent artery and aneurysm for thrombosis, single FDs were placed endovascularly in parent arteries. Implants measured 2.5-5.3mm in diameter with a length of 10-80mm. Patients were enrolled harboring a wide range large and giant wide-neck, fusiform and multiple small and blister-type aneurysm. Clinical and angiographic follow-up were performed at 1-3, 6, and 12 months. RESULTS: A total of 186 consecutive IA in 161 patients (mean age 57.1 years) were treated at 33 centers. Fifty-three aneurysms were smaller than 5 mm, 64 were 5-9.9mm in diameter, 47 were 10-20mm in diameter, and 22 were larger than 20mm (10.4±0.7mm, neck size 6.0±0.5mm [mean±SEM]) . The aneurysms originated in 63.4% from the internal carotid artery; 22% and 14.5% of the lesions were located in the anterior circulation distal to Circle of Willis and posterior circulation respectively. Technical success was achieved in 182 aneurysms (98%); average number of devices used per aneurysm was 1.05. Permanent morbidity and mortality during the follow-up period of mean 8.4months (range 1-24 months) including periprocedural complications for patients with aneurysms of the anterior circulation were encountered in 5 (3.7%) and 2 (1.5 %) patients respectively and 1 (3.7%) and 4 (14.8%) respectively for patients with aneurysms of the posterior circulation location. One-hundred-ten patients (70.5%) harboring 127 (70.2%) were available for clinical and angiographic follow-up and showed a complete or near complete aneurysm occlusion in 63 (81.8%) of the ICA. Aneurysms of the ICA≥10mm that were completely covered by FD and not previously stent-treated with a minimum of 6 months follow-up available in 16 patients showed a complete obliteration in 81.3% (n=13) and >90% occlusion in remaining 3 patients. CONCLUSION: Preliminary data demonstrate high safety and efficacy of a new generation of FD for a wide range of IA of the anterior and posterior circulation with a single implant.

Main approaches to treatment of hypoxia in acute respiratory distress syndrome, bacterial and viral pneumonia (part III)

2021 ◽  
pp. 38-55
Author(s):  
A. V. Vlasenko ◽  
E. A. Evdokimov ◽  
E. P. Rodionov
Keyword(s):  
Respiratory Failure ◽  
Distress Syndrome ◽  
Experimental Studies ◽  
Viral Pneumonia ◽  
Medical Technologies ◽  
Clinical Observations ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Prevention And Treatment ◽  
High Degree

The paper summarizes data on modern approaches to the diagnosis, prevention and treatment of severe acute parenchymal respiratory failure of various origins, including ARDS due to bacterial viral pneumonia. The work is based on the data of modern well-organized studies, analysis of international clinical guidelines with a high degree of evidence, as well as the results of our own long-term experimental studies and clinical observations of the treatment of patients with ARDS of various origins, including viral pneumonia of 2009, 2016, 2020. Scientifically grounded algorithms for prevention, differential diagnosis and personalized therapy of severe acute respiratory failure using innovative medical technologies and a wide range of respiratory and adjuvant treatment methods have been formulated. The authors tried to adapt as much as possible the existing current recommendations for the daily clinical practice of anesthesiologists and resuscitators.

Moderate Reynolds Number Mixing in a T-Channel

2010 ◽  
Author(s):  
Susan Thomas ◽  
Tim Ameel
Keyword(s):  
Reynolds Number ◽  
Cross Section ◽  
Rectangular Cross Section ◽  
Large Body ◽  
Experimental Studies ◽  
Numerical Work ◽  
Moderate Reynolds Number ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Particle Imaging ◽  
Experimental Trials

An experimental investigation of water flow in a T-shaped channel with rectangular cross section (20 × 20 mm inlet ID and 20 × 40 mm outlet ID) has been conducted for a Reynolds number Re range of 56 to 422, based on inlet diameter. Dynamical conditions and the T-channel geometry of the current study are applicable to the microscale. This study supports a large body of numerical work, and resolution and the interrogation region are extended beyond previous experimental studies. Laser induced fluorescence (LIF) and particle imaging velocimetry (PIV) are used to characterize flow behaviors over the broad range of Re where realistic T-channels operate. Scalar structures previously unresolved in the literature are presented. Special attention is paid to the unsteady flow regimes that develop at moderate Re, which significantly impact mixing but are not yet well characterized or understood. An unsteady symmetric topology, which develops at higher Re and negatively impacts mixing, is presented, and mechanisms behind the wide range of mixing qualities predicted for this regime are explained. An optimal Re operating range is identified based on multiple experimental trials.

scholarly journals A comprehensive Monte Carlo study to design a novel multi-nanoparticle loaded nanocomposites for augmentation of attenuation coefficient in the energy range of diagnostic X-rays

2021 ◽  
Vol 27 (4) ◽  
pp. 279-289
Author(s):  
Elahe Sayyadi ◽  
Asghar Mesbahi ◽  
Reza Eghdam Zamiri ◽  
Farshad Seyyed Nejad
Keyword(s):  
Monte Carlo ◽  
Energy Range ◽  
Radiation Protection ◽  
Experimental Studies ◽  
Rubber Matrix ◽  
Photon Flux ◽  
Monte Carlo Code ◽  
X Rays ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Shielding Properties

Abstract Introduction: The present study aimed to investigate the radiation protection properties of silicon-based composites doped with nano-sized Bi2O3, PbO, Sm2O3, Gd2O3, WO3, and IrO2 particles. Radiation shielding properties of Sm2O3 and IrO2 nanoparticles were investigated for the first time in the current study. Material and methods: The MCNPX (2.7.0) Monte Carlo code was utilized to calculate the linear attenuation coefficients of single and multi-nano structured composites over the X-ray energy range of 10–140 keV. Homogenous distribution of spherical nanoparticles with a diameter of 100 nm in a silicon rubber matrix was simulated. The narrow beam geometry was used to calculate the photon flux after attenuation by designed nanocomposites. Results: Based on results obtained for single nanoparticle composites, three combinations of different nano-sized fillers Sm2O3+WO3+Bi2O3, Gd2O3+WO3+Bi2O3, and Sm2O3+WO3+PbO were selected, and their shielding properties were estimated. In the energy range of 20-60 keV Sm2O3 and Gd2O3 nanoparticles, in 70-100 keV energy range WO3 and for photons energy higher than 90 keV, PbO and Bi2O3 nanoparticles showed higher attenuation. Despite its higher density, IrO2 had lower attenuation compared to other nanocomposites. The results showed that the nanocomposite containing Sm2O3, WO3, and Bi2O3 nanoparticles provided better shielding among the studied samples. Conclusions: All studied multi-nanoparticle nanocomposites provided optimum shielding properties and almost 8% higher attenuation relative to single nano-based composites over a wide range of photon energy used in diagnostic radiology. Application of these new composites is recommended in radiation protection. Further experimental studies are suggested to validate our findings.

scholarly journals Bio-Templating: An Emerging Synthetic Technique for Catalysts. A Review

Catalysts ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (11) ◽  
pp. 1364
Author(s):  
M. Carmen Herrera-Beurnio ◽  
Jesús Hidalgo-Carrillo ◽  
Francisco J. López-Tenllado ◽  
Juan Martin-Gómez ◽  
Rafael C. Estévez ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Active Sites ◽  
Experimental Studies ◽  
Functional Materials ◽  
Inorganic Materials ◽  
Hierarchical Organization ◽  
Materials Synthesis ◽  
Energy Capture ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Mineralization Processes ◽  
And Storage

In the last few years, researchers have focused their attention on the synthesis of new catalyst structures based on or inspired by nature. Biotemplating involves the transfer of biological structures to inorganic materials through artificial mineralization processes. This approach offers the main advantage of allowing morphological control of the product, as a template with the desired morphology can be pre-determined, as long as it is found in nature. This way, natural evolution through millions of years can provide us with new synthetic pathways to develop some novel functional materials with advantageous properties, such as sophistication, miniaturization, hybridization, hierarchical organization, resistance, and adaptability to the required need. The field of application of these materials is very wide, covering nanomedicine, energy capture and storage, sensors, biocompatible materials, adsorbents, and catalysis. In the latter case, bio-inspired materials can be applied as catalysts requiring different types of active sites (i.e., redox, acidic, basic sites, or a combination of them) to a wide range of processes, including conventional thermal catalysis, photocatalysis, or electrocatalysis, among others. This review aims to cover current experimental studies in the field of biotemplating materials synthesis and their characterization, focusing on their application in heterogeneous catalysis.

scholarly journals Blastocystis ratti Contains Cysteine Proteases That Mediate Interleukin-8 Response from Human Intestinal Epithelial Cells in an NF-κB-Dependent Manner

2007 ◽  
Vol 7 (3) ◽  
pp. 435-443 ◽  
Author(s):  
Manoj K. Puthia ◽  
Jia Lu ◽  
Kevin S. W. Tan
Keyword(s):  
Gene Expression ◽  
Epithelial Cells ◽  
Intestinal Inflammation ◽  
Experimental Studies ◽  
Cysteine Proteases ◽  
Interleukin 8 ◽  
Dependent Manner ◽  
Public Health Importance ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
First Time

ABSTRACT Blastocystis is a ubiquitous enteric protozoan found in the intestinal tracts of humans and a wide range of animals. Evidence accumulated over the last decade suggests association of Blastocystis with gastrointestinal disorders involving diarrhea, abdominal pain, constipation, nausea, and fatigue. Clinical and experimental studies have associated Blastocystis with intestinal inflammation, and it has been shown that Blastocystis has potential to modulate the host immune response. Blastocystis is also reported to be an opportunistic pathogen in immunosuppressed patients, especially those suffering from AIDS. However, nothing is known about the parasitic virulence factors and early events following host-parasite interactions. In the present study, we investigated the molecular mechanism by which Blastocystis activates interleukin-8 (IL-8) gene expression in human colonic epithelial T84 cells. We demonstrate for the first time that cysteine proteases of Blastocystis ratti WR1, a zoonotic isolate, can activate IL-8 gene expression in human colonic epithelial cells. Furthermore, we show that NF-κB activation is involved in the production of IL-8. In addition, our findings show that treatment with the antiprotozoal drug metronidazole can avert IL-8 production induced by B. ratti WR1. We also show for the first time that the central vacuole of Blastocystis may function as a reservoir for cysteine proteases. Our findings will contribute to an understanding of the pathobiology of a poorly studied parasite whose public health importance is increasingly recognized.

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