Using Parametric Simulation to Optimize Suspension Design

2003 ◽  
Author(s):  
G. Walter Rosenberger ◽  
Peter E. Klauser ◽  
George P. Binns ◽  
Gary P. Wolf
Keyword(s):  
Control Unit ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
Parameter Analysis ◽  
Ride Quality ◽  
Worst Case ◽  
Suspension Parameters ◽  
History Of ◽  
Vehicle Response ◽  
Stiffness And Damping ◽  
Test Result

A project to design and implement suspension improvements to Amtrak’s F-40 Non-Powered Control Unit (NPCU) cars is described. The cars, built from former F-40 locomotives, had a history of poor ride quality. Rail Sciences Inc. (RSI) inspected one of the cab cars and measured its ride quality. Peter Klauser modeled the vehicle in NUCARS™ and validated the model against the test data. The vehicle response was primarily in pitch and bounce modes. To optimize the suspension, Klauser simulated vehicle response for a range of four suspension parameters: primary stiffness and damping, and secondary stiffness and damping. Nearly 2600 suspension combinations were considered. Simulation file setup and data analysis were performed automatically using parameter analysis software interacting with NUCARS™. The result was a five-dimensional response contour for each output variable, such as the engineer’s seat vertical and lateral accelerations, and car body acceleration. The most cost effective stiffness and damping parameters were selected from the response contour and translated into component specifications. RSI then provided Amtrak with new axle box springs and dampers, and re-tested the vehicle. The test result closely followed the predicted results from the simulation. Engineer’s seat vertical and cab lateral accelerations improved by 42% and 32% respectively for the worst-case conditions in the test territory.

scholarly journals Genetic Analysis of a Cohort of 275 Patients with Hyper-IgE Syndromes and/or Chronic Mucocutaneous Candidiasis

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Natalie Frede ◽  
Jessica Rojas-Restrepo ◽  
Andrés Caballero Garcia de Oteyza ◽  
Mary Buchta ◽  
Katrin Hübscher ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Screening Method ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
Illumina Miseq ◽  
Clinical Findings ◽  
Genetic Defects ◽  
Chronic Mucocutaneous Candidiasis ◽  
Mucocutaneous Candidiasis ◽  
Serious Infections ◽  
History Of ◽  
Panel Sequencing

AbstractHyper-IgE syndromes and chronic mucocutaneous candidiasis constitute rare primary immunodeficiency syndromes with an overlapping clinical phenotype. In recent years, a growing number of underlying genetic defects have been identified. To characterize the underlying genetic defects in a large international cohort of 275 patients, of whom 211 had been clinically diagnosed with hyper-IgE syndrome and 64 with chronic mucocutaneous candidiasis, targeted panel sequencing was performed, relying on Agilent HaloPlex and Illumina MiSeq technologies. The targeted panel sequencing approach allowed us to identify 87 (32 novel and 55 previously described) mutations in 78 patients, which generated a diagnostic success rate of 28.4%. Specifically, mutations in DOCK8 (26 patients), STAT3 (21), STAT1 (15), CARD9 (6), AIRE (3), IL17RA (2), SPINK5 (3), ZNF341 (2), CARMIL2/RLTPR (1), IL12RB1 (1), and WAS (1) have been detected. The most common clinical findings in this cohort were elevated IgE (81.5%), eczema (71.7%), and eosinophilia (62.9%). Regarding infections, 54.7% of patients had a history of radiologically proven pneumonia, and 28.3% have had other serious infections. History of fungal infection was noted in 53% of cases and skin abscesses in 52.9%. Skeletal or dental abnormalities were observed in 46.2% of patients with a characteristic face being the most commonly reported feature (23.1%), followed by retained primary teeth in 18.9% of patients. Targeted panel sequencing provides a cost-effective first-line genetic screening method which allows for the identification of mutations also in patients with atypical clinical presentations and should be routinely implemented in referral centers.

scholarly journals Coronary risk of patients with valvular heart disease: prospective validation of CT-Valve Score

Open Heart ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 7 (2) ◽  
pp. e001380
Author(s):  
Rasmus Bo Hasselbalch ◽  
Mia Marie Pries-Heje ◽  
Sarah Louise Kjølhede Holle ◽  
Thomas Engstrøm ◽  
Merete Heitmann ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Heart Disease ◽  
Valvular Heart Disease ◽  
Primary Outcome ◽  
Multislice Ct ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
University Hospital ◽  
Before And After ◽  
History Of ◽  
Artery Disease

ObjectiveTo prospectively validate the CT-Valve score, a new risk score designed to identify patients with valvular heart disease at a low risk of coronary artery disease (CAD) who could benefit from multislice CT (MSCT) first instead of coronary angiography (CAG).MethodsThis was a prospective cohort study of patients referred for valve surgery in the Capital Region of Denmark and Odense University Hospital from the 1 February 2015 to the 1 February 2017. MSCT was implemented for patients with a CT-Valve score ≤7 at the referring physician’s discretion. Patients with a history of CAD or chronic kidney disease were excluded. The primary outcome was the proportion of patients needing reevaluation with CAG after MSCT and risk of CAD among the patients determined to be low to intermediate risk.ResultsIn total, 1149 patients were included. The median score was 9 (IQR 3) and 339 (30%) had a score ≤7. MSCT was used for 117 patients. Of these 29 (25%) were reevaluated and 9 (7.7%) had CAD. Of the 222 patients with a score ≤7 that did not receive an MSCT, 14 (6%) had significant CAD. The estimated total cost of evaluation among patients with a score ≤7 before implementation was €132 093 compared with €79 073 after, a 40% reduction. Similarly, estimated total radiation before and after was 608 mSv and 362 mSv, a 41% reduction. Follow-up at a median of 32 months (18–48) showed no ischaemic events for patients receiving only MSCT.ConclusionThe CT-Valve score is a valid method for determining risk of CAD among patients with valvular heart disease. Using a score ≤7 as a cut-off for the use of MSCT is safe and cost-effective.

The Mae on Project: Using Acupuncture for Symptom Relief and Improved Quality of Life for People Living with Hiv and Aids in Rural Thailand

2010 ◽  
Vol 28 (1) ◽  
pp. 37-41 ◽  
Author(s):  
Laura Louie ◽  
Nopporn Pathanapornpandh ◽  
Unchalee Pultajuk ◽  
Robert Kaplan ◽  
Ian Hodgson ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Symptom Relief ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
Integrated Approach ◽  
Hiv And Aids ◽  
People Living With Hiv ◽  
Preliminary Evaluation ◽  
Related Symptom ◽  
History Of ◽  
Living With Hiv

Acupuncture in combination with antiretroviral therapies is a potentially useful treatment for HIV-related symptom relief in resource-poor settings. Traditional Chinese medicine has a long history of being used to enhance immune function. In the setting of HIV, Chinese traditional medicine allows for symptom treatment without adding extra medications to a complex drug regime. This paper provides details of a project at Mae On Hospital in rural northern Thailand where allopathic/conventional treatments are used in tandem with acupuncture. A preliminary evaluation of the project suggests that an integrated approach to symptom relief is viewed positively by respondents receiving acupuncture, though further studies are required to confirm the association between acupuncture and symptom relief. The project also demonstrates the feasibility of developing a cost-effective acupuncture programme using local healthcare staff.

Truck Suspension Design to Minimize Road Damage

1996 ◽  
Vol 210 (2) ◽  
pp. 95-107 ◽  
Author(s):  
D J Cole ◽  
D Cebon
Keyword(s):  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Fourth Power ◽  
Vehicle Model ◽  
Efficient Procedure ◽  
Suspension Parameters ◽  
Articulated Vehicle ◽  
Suspension Stiffness ◽  
Optimal Values ◽  
Dynamic Components ◽  
Stiffness And Damping

The objective of the work described in this paper is to establish guidelines for the design of passive suspensions that cause minimum road damage. An efficient procedure for calculating a realistic measure of road damage (the 95th percentile aggregate fourth power force) in the frequency domain is derived. Simple models of truck vibration are then used to examine the influence of suspension parameters on this road damage criterion and to select optimal values. It is found that to minimize road damage a suspension should have stiffness about one fifth of current air suspensions and damping up to twice that typically provided. The use of an anti-roll bar allows a high roll-over threshold without increasing road damage. It is thought that optimization in the pitch-plane should exclude correlation between the axles, to ensure that the optimized suspension parameters are robust to payload and speed changes. A three-dimensional ‘whole-vehicle’ model of an air suspended articulated vehicle is validated against measured tyre force histories. Optimizing the suspension stiffness and damping results in a 5.8 per cent reduction in road damage by the whole vehicle (averaged over three speeds). This compares with a 40 per cent reduction if the dynamic components of the tyre forces are eliminated completely.

scholarly journals Routine screening for hepatitis C viral infection in patients undergoing elective cranial neurosurgery

2019 ◽  
Vol 131 (3) ◽  
pp. 941-948
Author(s):  
Eric S. Nussbaum ◽  
Kevin Kallmes ◽  
Jodi Lowary ◽  
Leslie A. Nussbaum
Keyword(s):  
Risk Factors ◽  
Risk Factor ◽  
Drug Abuse ◽  
Positive Result ◽  
Rapid Test ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
Viral Loads ◽  
Iv Drug Abuse ◽  
History Of ◽  
The Cost

OBJECTIVEUndiagnosed hepatitis C virus (HCV) and HIV in patients present risks of transmission of bloodborne infections to surgeons intraoperatively. Presurgical screening has been suggested as a protocol to protect surgical staff from these pathogens. The authors sought to determine the incidence of HCV and HIV infection in elective craniotomy patients and analyze the cost-effectiveness of universal and risk factor–specific screening for protection of the surgical staff.METHODSAll patients undergoing elective craniotomy between July 2009 and July 2016 at the National Brain Aneurysm Center who did not refuse screening were included in this study. The authors utilized rapid HCV and HIV tests to screen patients prior to elective surgery, and for each patient who tested positive using the rapid HCV or HIV test, qualitative nucleic acid testing was used to confirm active viral load, and risk factor information was collected. Patients scheduled for nonurgent surgery who were found to be HCV positive were referred to a hepatologist for preoperative treatment. The authors compared risk factors between patients who tested positive on rapid tests, patients with active viral loads, and a random sample of patients who tested negative. The authors also tracked the clinical and material costs of HCV and HIV rapid test screening per patient for cost-effectiveness analysis and calculated the cost per positive result of screening all patients and of screening based on all patient risk factors that differed significantly between patients with and those without positive HCV test results.RESULTSThe study population of patients scheduled for elective craniotomy included 1461 patients, of whom 22 (1.5%) refused the screening. Of the 1439 patients screened, 15 (1.0%) tested positive for HCV using rapid HCV screening; 9 (60%) of these patients had active viral loads. No patient (0%) tested positive for HIV. Seven (77.8%) of the 9 patients with active viral loads underwent treatment with a hepatologist and were referred back for surgery 3–6 months after sustained virologic response to treatment, but the remaining 2 patients (22.2%) required urgent surgery. Of the 9 patients with active viral loads, 1 patient (11%) had a history of both intravenous drug abuse and tattoos. Two of the 9 patients (22%) had tattoos, and 3 (33%) were born within the age-screening bracket (born 1945–1965) recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Rates of smoking differed significantly (p < 0.001) between patients who had active viral loads of HCV and patients who were HCV negative, and rates of smoking (p < 0.001) and IV drug abuse (p < 0.01) differed significantly between patients who were HCV rapid-test positive and those who were HCV negative. Total screening costs (95% CI) per positive result were $3,877.33 ($2,348.05–$11,119.28) for all patients undergoing HCV rapid screening, $226.29 ($93.54–$312.68) for patients with a history of smoking, and $72.00 ($29.15–$619.39) for patients with a history of IV drug abuse.CONCLUSIONSThe rate of undiagnosed HCV infection in this patient population was commensurate with national levels. While the cost of universal screening was considerable, screening patients based on a history of smoking or IV drug abuse would likely reduce costs per positive result greatly and potentially provide cost-effective identification and treatment of HCV patients and surgical staff protection. HIV screening found no infected patients and was not cost-effective.

scholarly journals RETRIEVING BROKEN INSTRUMENT IN HALF OF THE APIKAL ON CANINES TEETH WITH H-FILE BRAIDING TECHNIQUE

2021 ◽  
Vol 8 (2) ◽  
pp. 146
Author(s):  
Yunita Styaningrum ◽  
Yoanita Dwi Andina ◽  
Yulita Kristanti
Keyword(s):  
Case Report ◽  
Female Patient ◽  
Root Canal ◽  
Composite Resin ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
Class I ◽  
Root Section ◽  
History Of ◽  
Composite Resin Restorations ◽  
Initial Root

ABSTRACTBackground: Broken instruments affect the outcome and prognosis. A broken instrument will prevent the procedure of cleaning and shaping, irrigation and obturation of the root canal on the obstructed root section causing failure in endodontic treatment. There are some treatments for broken instrument including retrieving a broken fragment file and bypassing it on the root canal. the aim of the case report aims to provide an alternative for retrieving broken instruments using the H-file braiding technique. Method: A 38-year-old female patient came to the Dental Conservation Clinic RSGM Prof. Soedomo FKG UGM. A patient got a history of initial root canal treatment in a clinic, which ended with a separated file on canine teeth left upper. No complain pain, from the investigation radiographic there is an instrument broken in half apical. The teeth 23 seen temporary restoration cavity class I is still in good. Retrieving broken instruments using the H-file braiding technique, preparation with step back techniques, obturation with warm vertical condensation technique and class I composite resin restorations with fiber-reinforced retention. Result: No complain pain after 2 weeks retrieving broken instrument.Conclusion: The technique of the H-file braiding technique is one technique to retrieve a broken instrument, this procedure is simple, cost-effective, harmless to the teeth and gives root canal sealing.

scholarly journals A practical guide to buildde-novoassemblies for single tissues of non-model organisms: the example of a Neotropical frog

PeerJ ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 5 ◽  
pp. e3702 ◽  
Author(s):  
Santiago Montero-Mendieta ◽  
Manfred Grabherr ◽  
Henrik Lantz ◽  
Ignacio De la Riva ◽  
Jennifer A. Leonard ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Defense Mechanisms ◽  
De Novo ◽  
Transcriptome Assembly ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
Model Organisms ◽  
Rna Seq ◽  
Assembly Pipeline ◽  
Wide Variability ◽  
History Of ◽  
Inexperienced User

Whole genome sequencing (WGS) is a very valuable resource to understand the evolutionary history of poorly known species. However, in organisms with large genomes, as most amphibians, WGS is still excessively challenging and transcriptome sequencing (RNA-seq) represents a cost-effective tool to explore genome-wide variability. Non-model organisms do not usually have a reference genome and the transcriptome must be assembledde-novo. We used RNA-seq to obtain the transcriptomic profile forOreobates cruralis, a poorly known South American direct-developing frog. In total, 550,871 transcripts were assembled, corresponding to 422,999 putative genes. Of those, we identified 23,500, 37,349, 38,120 and 45,885 genes present in the Pfam, EggNOG, KEGG and GO databases, respectively. Interestingly, our results suggested that genes related to immune system and defense mechanisms are abundant in the transcriptome ofO. cruralis. We also present a pipeline to assist with pre-processing, assembling, evaluating and functionally annotating ade-novotranscriptome from RNA-seq data of non-model organisms. Our pipeline guides the inexperienced user in an intuitive way through all the necessary steps to buildde-novotranscriptome assemblies using readily available software and is freely available at:https://github.com/biomendi/TRANSCRIPTOME-ASSEMBLY-PIPELINE/wiki.

scholarly journals Relative and quantitative rhizosphere microbiome profiling result in distinct abundance patterns

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hamed Azarbad ◽  
Julien Tremblay ◽  
Luke D. Bainard ◽  
Etienne Yergeau
Keyword(s):  
Water Stress ◽  
Relative Abundance ◽  
Its Region ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
Amplicon Sequencing ◽  
Rrna Gene ◽  
Real Time Quantitative Pcr ◽  
Rhizosphere Microbiome ◽  
History Of ◽  
Almost All

AbstractNext-generation sequencing is recognized as one of the most popular and cost-effective way of characterizing microbiome in multiple samples. However, most of the currently available amplicon sequencing approaches are inherently limited, as they are often presented based on the relative abundance of microbial taxa, which may not fully represent actual microbiome profiles. Here, we combined amplicon sequencing (16S rRNA gene for bacteria and ITS region for fungi) with real-time quantitative PCR (qPCR) to characterize the rhizosphere microbiome of wheat. We show that the increase in relative abundance of major microbial phyla does not necessarily result in an increase in abundance. One striking observation when comparing relative and quantitative abundances was a substantial increase in the abundance of almost all phyla associated with the rhizosphere of plants grown in soil with no history of water stress as compared with the rhizosphere of plants growing in soil with a history of water stress, which was in contradiction with the trends observed in the relative abundance data. Our results suggest that the estimated absolute abundance approach gives a different perspective than the relative abundance approach, providing complementary information that helps to better understand the rhizosphere microbiome.

scholarly journals N-Acetylcysteine Overdose: A Case Report

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 32409.1-32409.6
Author(s):  
Karim Naraki ◽  
◽  
Seyed Hadi Mousavi ◽  
Leila Etemad ◽  
Seyed Mohsen Rezazadeh-Shojaie ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Renal Failure ◽  
Metabolic Acidosis ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
Coagulation Factors ◽  
Loading Dose ◽  
Aluminum Phosphide ◽  
Complete Evaluation ◽  
Short Period ◽  
History Of ◽  
Lung Hemorrhage

Background: N-Acetylcysteine (NAC) is a cost-effective antioxidant and very useful treatment for several diseases. Methods: Here we report a rare case of iatrogenic NAC overdose following the mistake in calculation of the loading dose. Results: The patient was 14 years old girl referred to a local hospital due to history of intentional ingesting about 7grams acetaminophen. The physician prescribed her 6 grams NAC as a loading dose but 42grams NAC were infused by mistake. After infusion, the patient showed signs of anaphylactic shock and then transferred to Imam Reza toxicology-unite with weakness, lethargy, extreme fatigue, nausea, and dizziness. NAC overdosing, in a short period of time, led to coagulopathy, reduced platelet count, acute renal failure and metabolic acidosis. After 24 h, the patient died. The Medical forensic examination showed minor lung hemorrhage and presence of little amount of Aluminum phosphide in tissues they did not find no vital organ hemorrhage. It is unclear related to NAC overdose, phosphine intoxication or synergic effects. Conclusion: Massive transfusion of NAC was associated with impairment of coagulation factors, intracranial hypertension, renal failure and metabolic acidosis. Thus, NAC administration should be with caution. The medical history of patients committed suicide are not always accurate and complete evaluation are recommended.

scholarly journals Cost-Effectiveness of Universal Prophylaxis in Pregnancy with Prior Group B Streptococci Colonization

2009 ◽  
Vol 2009 ◽  
pp. 1-11 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mark A. Turrentine ◽  
Mildred M. Ramirez ◽  
Joan M. Mastrobattista
Keyword(s):  
Early Onset ◽  
Positive Culture ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
Decision Analysis Model ◽  
Analysis Model ◽  
Group B Streptococci ◽  
Neonatal Deaths ◽  
History Of ◽  
Group B ◽  
Universal Treatment

Objective. To estimate the costs and outcomes of rescreening for group B streptococci (GBS) compared to universal treatment of term women with history of GBS colonization in a previous pregnancy.Study Design. A decision analysis model was used to compare costs and outcomes. Total cost included the costs of screening, intrapartum antibiotic prophylaxis (IAP), treatment for maternal anaphylaxis and death, evaluation of well infants whose mothers received IAP, and total costs for treatment of term neonatal early onset GBS sepsis.Results. When compared to screening and treating, universal treatment results in more women treated per GBS case prevented (155 versus 67) and prevents more cases of early onset GBS (1732 versus 1700) and neonatal deaths (52 versus 51) at a lower cost per case prevented ($8 805 versus $12 710).Conclusion. Universal treatment of term pregnancies with a history of previous GBS colonization is more cost-effective than the strategy of screening and treating based on positive culture results.

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