PARAMETRIC IDENTIFICATION OF THE DIFFERENTIAL MODEL OF HEAT EXCHANGE IN A GASIFIER

На основе одномерной дифференциальной модели теплообмена в газификаторе закрытого типа сформулирована задача параметрической идентификации модели на основе измерений на штатном оборудовании промышленной газификационной установки. Модель включает в себя дополнительное интегральное условие и самосогласованно определяемую подвижную границу, отделяющую зону обледенения трубки испарителя. С применением метода сглаживания особенности разработан алгоритм итерационного решения уравнений модели, использующий метод сквозного счета для решения уравнения переноса на одной итерации. Для параметрической идентификации модели использована смешанная стратегия. Часть идентифицируемых параметров (теплоемкость испарителя, мощность нагревателя, массовая производительность насоса, коэффициент теплоотдачи в окружающую среду) определялась на основе специально организованных измерений: нагрева испарителя без прокачки сверхкритического флюида, газификации в условиях теплоизолированности корпуса испарителя, газификации в стационарном режиме работы. Остальные параметры (коэффициенты теплоотдачи в теплоноситель и сверхкритический флюид) идентифицировались в пассивных измерениях с различными производительностями насоса. Отмечено, что ввиду плохой обусловленности задачи и ограниченности вариаций коэффициентов применение регрессионных методов в данной модели неэффективно. На основе метода стрельбы разработан способ идентификации, заключающийся в определении параметров по измерениям с предельными производительностями с построением функциональной связи между идентифицируемыми параметрами, с последующей верификацией на промежуточных измерениях. Метод апробирован на примере штатной газификационной установки СГУ-7КМ-У We formulated the problem of parametric identification of the model based on measurements on the standard equipment of an industrial gasification plant on the basis of a one-dimensional differential model of heat transfer in a closed-type gasifier. The model includes an additional integral condition and a self-consistently defined movable boundary separating the icing zone of the evaporator tube. Using the method of smoothing the singularity, we developed an algorithm for iterative solution of the model equations, using the end-to-end counting method to solve the transfer equation in one iteration. We used a mixed strategy for parametric identification of the model. We determined some of the identified parameters (evaporator heat capacity, heater power, mass pump capacity, heat transfer coefficient to the environment) on the basis of specially organized measurements: heating of the evaporator without pumping supercritical fluid, gasification under conditions of thermal insulation of the evaporator body, gasification in stationary operation. We identified the remaining parameters (heat transfer coefficients to the coolant and supercritical fluid) in passive measurements with different pump capacities. We noted that due to the poor conditionality of the problem and the limited variation of coefficients, the use of regression methods in this model is ineffective. Based on the ballistic method, we developed an identification method, which consists in determining parameters by measurements with marginal performance with the construction of a functional relationship between the identified parameters, followed by verification on intermediate measurements. We tested the method on the example of a standard gasification plant SGU-7KM-U

Prevalence of Overweight and Obesity among Secondary Schools Adolescents in Onitsha, Anambra State Nigeria

Background: The prevalence of obesity is increasing worldwide, both in developed and developing countries. In Nigeria, obesity is emerging as an important public health problem. Childhood and adolescent obesity results in adult obesity with the resultant morbidities. Objectives: This study determines the prevalence of overweight and obesity in apparently healthy secondary school adolescents. Methods: This study was a cross-sectional study of secondary school adolescents aged 10-19 years randomly selected from two public schools and three private schools. The weights and heights of the study subjects were measured using standard equipment. BMI was computed using the standard formula weight (kg) / height2 (m). Using the WHO; 2007 age and sex-specific BMI percentile cut-offs, the subjects were classified as underweight (3rd to <15th percentile), normal (15th to <85th percentile), overweight (85th to <97th percentile) or obese ≥97th percentile. Results: Data were initially collected from 1250 participants, but 52 were excluded from improperly completed questionnaires. Thus, 1198 students were ultimately included in the study, giving a response rate of 95.8%. These included 621 females (51.8%) and 577 males (48.2%) aged 10-19 years, giving an F: M ratio of approximately 1: 0.9. The mean age of the students was 15.07 ±1.96 years overall, 15.13 ± 2.08 years for males and 15.03 ± 1.83 years for females. There was no statistically significant difference between males and females in the distribution of age groups (p=0.12). The mean BMI was 21.51±3.57kg/m2 for females and 20.22±3.16kg/m2 for males. The BMI was significantly higher in females in all age groups (p<0.001) except for those aged 10-<12 years (p=0.13). The prevalence rates of overweight and obesity were 14.4% and 5.1%, respectively. The prevalence rates of overweight and obesity were significantly higher in females than males (17.7% vs 10.7%, 5.6% vs 4.5% respectively (p<0.001) and most prevalent among the early adolescence (10<12yrs; p= 0.04). Conclusion: Prevalence of overweight and obesity is high among secondary school adolescents in Onitsha, Anambra state. There is a need for regular monitoring of weight and height as an early measure to prevent and control overweight and obesity.

Development of a low-cost electromechanical penetrometer to verify resistance to soil penetration

Soil compaction is one of the great obstacles in modern agriculture. With the increase in size, weight and intensity of use of machines in crops in recent decades, the soil has suffered damage to its structure, compromising the productivity of vegetable crops. One of the ways to indirectly obtain the compaction state of the soil is through the resistance to penetration imposed by it on a standardized metal rod. Invariably, commercial equipment for this purpose is expensive. The objective of this study was to develop a low-cost system for evaluating the resistance to soil penetration, using a prototyping platform and specific sensors. The developed equipment, when compared with a calibrated standard equipment, presented a high correlation in the results of resistance to penetration in two soil conditions. The development cost of the proposed equipment was 800% lower than the average value of commercial equipment available on the market, so the measurements met the purpose of the project, showing the possibility of developing low-cost solutions through prototyping platforms, for the assessment of resistance to soil penetration.

Lower Extremity Splinting: A Head-to-Head Comparison of A Novel One-Step Spray-on Splint Versus Standard Splinting

ABSTRACT Introduction Splinting is an essential component of treating many lower extremity musculoskeletal injuries; however, little development has been made in splinting technology. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the efficacy of current immobilization equipment for lower extremity fractures by testing a novel one-step spray-on foam splint (Fast Cast) against structural aluminum malleable (SAM) lower extremity musculoskeletal injuries and 6-inch ACE (3M Corp., Minneapolis, MN, USA) bandage splints. Materials and Methods Six orthopedic surgical residents and two medical students participated in a prospective analysis of austere splinting techniques and equipment that utilized a cadaveric model with a distal third tibia-fibula shaft fracture. Each participant was observed and scored by three fellowship trained attending orthopedic surgeons. All scoring was independent using a 5-point Likert scale based on 10 splinting criteria (50 total points possible), including quality of radiographic reduction, time to completion, safety, and sustain longitudinal traction. The Likert scale is a set of questions that reflects the respondent’s degree of agreement or disagreement with a statement. Each of the 10 questions has a range of 1-5. A score of 50 means the splint performed perfectly. The lowest possible score is a 10. The participants utilized standard equipment that included SAM splints and 6-inch ACE wraps (3M Corp., Minneapolis, MN, USA) in their first attempt. A second immobilization attempt was done with a one-step spray-on foam splint (Fast Cast). After each splinting attempt, the reduction was verified with radiographic imaging. Data analysis was performed using standard descriptive statistics, Student’s t-tests, and inter-rater reliability was calculated using Cronbach’s alpha scores. This project is Institutional Review Board (IRB) exempt. Results The one-step spray-on foam splinting technique was superior (P &lt; .05) in all parameters of the Likert scale, yielding a mean overall score of 45.1 points (±3.8), safety 4.7 points, longitudinal traction 4.5 points, and time 136 seconds (±23). The SAM resulted in a mean overall score of 33.8 points (±7.3), safety 2.8 points, longitudinal traction 4.1 points, and time 170 seconds (±52). Radiographic rating was 4.1 points (±0.7) for the SAM splint and 4.5 (±0.6) for Fast Cast. The differences in time to completion and radiograph rating did not reach statistical significance (P = .12 and P = .07, respectively). Conclusion A one-step spray-on foam splinting technique demonstrated consistent superiority in reducing fracture motion, potential soft-tissue damage, and sustained longitudinal traction as compared to the standard technique.

MONITORING OF THE FERMENTATION PROCESS IN VARIOUS TYPES OF WINE

A classical approach to monitoring the fer-mentation of grape must based on the use of the areometric method is considered. Based on the processing of the data of measuring the refractive index and density of grape must, as well as data on the physicochemical composi-tion of grape must during fermentation, meth-odological approaches have been developed to create methods for monitoring the composi-tion of the fermenting must using refractomet-ric and refractodensimetric methods of analy-sis. The results of the work can become the basis for the development of a non-destructive express method for determining the volume fraction of ethyl alcohol and the mass concentration of sugars in fermenting must based on the standard equipment of the laboratory of wine-making enterprises, and for the improvement of technical specifications for the manufacture of a portable device for determining the concentration of alcohol and sugar content, based on the simultaneous measuring the refractive index and density of liquid media.

ENERGY SAVING BY REPLACING UNLOADED ENGINES OF NON-STANDARD EQUIPMENT FOR ROLLING STOCK REPAIR

It is established that at various technological processes at repair of a rolling stock of railways electric drives of the universal non-standard equipment can constantly work in essentially underloaded mode that leads to deterioration of their power indicators. The aim of the work is to quantify the reduction of active power losses when replacing constantly underloaded asynchronous motors of unregulated electric drives of universal non-standard technological equipment used in the repair of railway rolling stock with less powerful ones. In this work, the subject of research are the motors of electric drives of this equipment. The analysis of technological processes at repair of a rolling stock, technical characteristics of the specified equipment is carried out and the conclusion is accepted that first of all it is expedient to investigate efficiency of replacement on the equipment of the established engine on less powerful at carrying out at the specialized enterprises of such technological processes warehouse (wheel pairs, traction motors, auxiliary electric machines, frames of rolling stock carts, etc.). The load of the electric motors of transport trolleys of equipment is proposed to be defined as the ratio of the weight of a large unit of electric locomotive, diesel locomotive, electric train and other types of rolling stock to the carrying capacity of universal non-standard equipment of transport trolley. The term "universal" equipment is introduced in the work, which means equipment for performing a certain technological process in the repair of various large units of different types of rolling stock, as well as "specialized enterprise" specializing in the repair of rolling stock, large units which weigh significantly less, than the load-lifting capacity of the transport cart of the equipment. Therefore, the motors of electric drives of universal equipment at these enterprises are constantly operating underloaded. Also actions for quantitative assessment and reduction of active power losses in the electric drive motor are offered.

Percutaneous Angiographically Assisted Cryoablation of Renal Cell Carcinoma under the Control of Flat-Detector Computed Tomography: Capabilities and Potential Advantages of the Technique

Purpose: Percutaneous cryoablation (PCA) of renal cell carcinoma (RCC) stage T1a (≤4 cm) generally performed using MDCT with intravenous contrast material administration. Most interventional radiology departments are not equipped MDCT scanners and this is holding back widespread adoption of this technique into practical medicine. Flat-detector computed tomography (FDCT) is included in the standard equipment of modern angiographic systems, which makes it possible to combine the technologies of computed tomography with various technologies of intra-arterial contrasting and endovascular treatment. The purpose of the study was to assess the possibilities and potential advantages of using intraarterial contrasting during FDCT-controlled PCA of RCC T1a.Material and methods: Since 2017 angiographically assisted PCA under the FDCT control performed in 14 patients with RCC T1a. The procedure was performed in the X-ray operating room on an Artis Zee Floor angiographic unit with FDCT function and iGuide Needle Guidance and 3D/3D Fusion technologies (Siemens, Germany) using the SeedNet Gold system and IceEDGE 13 G, IceRod 17 G or IceSphere 17 G cryoprobes (Galil Medical, USA). At all stages of the procedure, FDCT-arteriography of the kidney (FDCT-A) performed according to the original technique: injection into the renal artery 12 ml of non-ionic contrast materials at a rate of 1 ml/s and performing scanning 5 s after the start of contrast materials injection.Results: The primary technical efficiency of FDCT-controlled PCA of RCC T1a was 92.9 %, the secondary — 100 %. Complications of grade 3 according to the CIRSE classification were identified in three patients (21.4 %), complications of grade 4, 5 and 6 not observed. The use of arterial access and the FDCT-A execution at different stages of PCA had the following advantages: 1) high-quality visualization of the tumor with minimal consumption of contrast materials; 2) simple and accurate positioning of cryoprobes using the iGuide Needle Guidance program; 3) estimation of the future ablative margin by fusion FDCT data about tumor with FDCT data about ice ball; 4) reliable diagnosis of bleeding after removal of cryoprobes with the possibility of immediate performing of endovascular hemostasis.Conclusion: Percutaneous angiographically assisted cryoablation under the FDCT control is an affordable, safe and effective technology for the treatment of RCC T1a, which has a number of potential advantages compared to performing procedures using MDCT control. Further research is advisable to study of this PCA technique with its subsequent possible introduction into the routine practice in Interventional Radiology departments of multidisciplinary oncological hospitals.

Cantilever signature of tip detachment during contact resonance AFM

Contact resonance atomic force microscopy, piezoresponse force microscopy, and electrochemical strain microscopy are atomic force microscopy modes in which the cantilever is held in contact with the sample at a constant average force while monitoring the cantilever motion under the influence of a small, superimposed vibrational signal. Though these modes depend on permanent contact, there is a lack of detailed analysis on how the cantilever motion evolves when this essential condition is violated. This is not an uncommon occurrence since higher operating amplitudes tend to yield better signal-to-noise ratio, so users may inadvertently reduce their experimental accuracy by inducing tip–sample detachment in an effort to improve their measurements. We shed light on this issue by deliberately pushing both our experimental equipment and numerical simulations to the point of tip–sample detachment to explore cantilever dynamics during a useful and observable threshold feature in the measured response. Numerical simulations of the analytical model allow for extended insight into cantilever dynamics such as full-length deflection and slope behavior, which can be challenging or unobtainable in a standard equipment configuration. With such tools, we are able to determine the cantilever motion during detachment and connect the qualitative and quantitative behavior to experimental features.

Studies on the Development and Osteology of Some New Zealand Inshore Fishes

<p>This study deals principally with the problems involved in the identification of the early stages of tripterygiid, clinid and gobiesocid fish in the Cook Strait region, New Zealand. The nomenclature of 7 tripterygiid and 4 clinid species is reviewed to assist in the identification of the developmental stages. Those species reviewed are preceded by an asterisk in the list included later in this abstract. The adult osteology of Forsterygion varium (Forster in Bloch and Schneider, 1801) is described and illustrated in detail, together with the osteology of the larvae and prejuveniles at different stages of development. The adult osteology is compared with that of other blennioid fishes. In F. varium the skeletal elements begin to form over a wide range of larval sizes and full adult osteological characters are acquired at a variable time after prejuvenile development is reached. Functionally related elements tend to attain their adult form at about the same size. There is no correlation between the size at initial ossification and the endochondral or dermal origin of a bone. Elements of the vertebral column and median fins develop sequentially and therefore provide (in tripterygiids) an index of development which is useful in comparing the larval stages of different species. The embryological stages of 5 tripterygiid and 3 gobiesocid fish are described and illustrated in detail. Species studied are: Forsterygion capito (Tripterygion capito) (Jenyns, 1842), Forsterygion nigripenne (Tripterygion robustum) (Valenciennes in Cuvier and Valenciennes, 1836), Forsterygion varium (Forster in Bloch and Schneider, 180I), Gilloblennius decemdigitatus (Clarke, 1879), G. tripennis (Forster in Bloch and Schneider, 1801), Trachelochisnus melobesia Phillipps, 1927, T. pinnulatus (Forster in Bloch and Schneider, 1801), Diplocrepis puniceus (Richardson, 1846). The eggs of all species are laid on submerged objects in clusters of 20-3000 eggs in shallow coastal water. Eggs are attended by an adult fish until hatching occurs. Prolarvae are well developed with fully pigmented eyes, functional jaws and reduced yolk-sacs, and are therefore useful in linking later larval stages with adults. An assessment of the general problems encountered in the identification of larvae and prejuveniles is presented with attention given to the fish in this study. The larval and prejuvenile stages of 1O tripterygiid, 4 clinid and 9 gobiesocid species are described and illustrated in detail. Those described are -Tripterygiidae:*Forsterygion variun (Forster in Bloch and Schneider, 1801), *F. nigripenne (Valenciennes in Cuvier and Valenciennes, 1836), *F. capito (Jenyns, 1842), *Tripterygion segmentatum McCulloch and Phillipps, 1923, *Gilloblennius decemdigitatus (Clarke, 1879), *G. tripennis (Forster in Bloch and Schneider, 1801), *Helcogramma medium (in part Gunther, 1861), two Helcogramma species, new tripterygiid species (genus not certain); Clinidae: *Notoclinus compressus (Hutton, 1872), *N. fenestratus (Forster in Bloch and Schneider, 1801), *Ericentrusrubrus (Hutton, 1872), *Cologrammus flavescens (Hutton, 1872); Gobiesocidae: Trachelochismus melobesia Phillipps, 1927, T. pinnulatus (Forster in Bloch and Schneider, 1801), Diplocrepis puniceus (Richardson, 1846), Diplocrepis puniceus (South Island form), Gastroscyphus hectoris (Gunther, 1876), Gastroscyphus species, Gastrocyathus gracilis Briggs, 1955, Dellichthys morelandi Briggs, 1955, Haplocylix littoreus (Forster in Bloch and Schneider, 1801). A key to the larvae and prejuveniles of the above species is included. Closely related tripterygiid species with very similar larval stages were identified mainly, by considering myomere counts and by consistent differences in size (standard length) at given stages of development. In contrast clinid and gobiesocid larvae from unrelated adults were readily distinguished by a wide range of characteristics. Larvae and prejuveniles were collected using standard equipment such as nylon mesh plankton nets and light-traps. A light-trap designed specifically for collecting larvae is described in detail in the appendix. An annotated bibliography of New Zealand teleost eggs and larvae is presented in the appendix with reference to 70 marine and freshwater species.</p>

Studies on the Development and Osteology of Some New Zealand Inshore Fishes

<p>This study deals principally with the problems involved in the identification of the early stages of tripterygiid, clinid and gobiesocid fish in the Cook Strait region, New Zealand. The nomenclature of 7 tripterygiid and 4 clinid species is reviewed to assist in the identification of the developmental stages. Those species reviewed are preceded by an asterisk in the list included later in this abstract. The adult osteology of Forsterygion varium (Forster in Bloch and Schneider, 1801) is described and illustrated in detail, together with the osteology of the larvae and prejuveniles at different stages of development. The adult osteology is compared with that of other blennioid fishes. In F. varium the skeletal elements begin to form over a wide range of larval sizes and full adult osteological characters are acquired at a variable time after prejuvenile development is reached. Functionally related elements tend to attain their adult form at about the same size. There is no correlation between the size at initial ossification and the endochondral or dermal origin of a bone. Elements of the vertebral column and median fins develop sequentially and therefore provide (in tripterygiids) an index of development which is useful in comparing the larval stages of different species. The embryological stages of 5 tripterygiid and 3 gobiesocid fish are described and illustrated in detail. Species studied are: Forsterygion capito (Tripterygion capito) (Jenyns, 1842), Forsterygion nigripenne (Tripterygion robustum) (Valenciennes in Cuvier and Valenciennes, 1836), Forsterygion varium (Forster in Bloch and Schneider, 180I), Gilloblennius decemdigitatus (Clarke, 1879), G. tripennis (Forster in Bloch and Schneider, 1801), Trachelochisnus melobesia Phillipps, 1927, T. pinnulatus (Forster in Bloch and Schneider, 1801), Diplocrepis puniceus (Richardson, 1846). The eggs of all species are laid on submerged objects in clusters of 20-3000 eggs in shallow coastal water. Eggs are attended by an adult fish until hatching occurs. Prolarvae are well developed with fully pigmented eyes, functional jaws and reduced yolk-sacs, and are therefore useful in linking later larval stages with adults. An assessment of the general problems encountered in the identification of larvae and prejuveniles is presented with attention given to the fish in this study. The larval and prejuvenile stages of 1O tripterygiid, 4 clinid and 9 gobiesocid species are described and illustrated in detail. Those described are -Tripterygiidae:*Forsterygion variun (Forster in Bloch and Schneider, 1801), *F. nigripenne (Valenciennes in Cuvier and Valenciennes, 1836), *F. capito (Jenyns, 1842), *Tripterygion segmentatum McCulloch and Phillipps, 1923, *Gilloblennius decemdigitatus (Clarke, 1879), *G. tripennis (Forster in Bloch and Schneider, 1801), *Helcogramma medium (in part Gunther, 1861), two Helcogramma species, new tripterygiid species (genus not certain); Clinidae: *Notoclinus compressus (Hutton, 1872), *N. fenestratus (Forster in Bloch and Schneider, 1801), *Ericentrusrubrus (Hutton, 1872), *Cologrammus flavescens (Hutton, 1872); Gobiesocidae: Trachelochismus melobesia Phillipps, 1927, T. pinnulatus (Forster in Bloch and Schneider, 1801), Diplocrepis puniceus (Richardson, 1846), Diplocrepis puniceus (South Island form), Gastroscyphus hectoris (Gunther, 1876), Gastroscyphus species, Gastrocyathus gracilis Briggs, 1955, Dellichthys morelandi Briggs, 1955, Haplocylix littoreus (Forster in Bloch and Schneider, 1801). A key to the larvae and prejuveniles of the above species is included. Closely related tripterygiid species with very similar larval stages were identified mainly, by considering myomere counts and by consistent differences in size (standard length) at given stages of development. In contrast clinid and gobiesocid larvae from unrelated adults were readily distinguished by a wide range of characteristics. Larvae and prejuveniles were collected using standard equipment such as nylon mesh plankton nets and light-traps. A light-trap designed specifically for collecting larvae is described in detail in the appendix. An annotated bibliography of New Zealand teleost eggs and larvae is presented in the appendix with reference to 70 marine and freshwater species.</p>