COMPUTATIONAL STUDY ON THE PERFORMANCE OF A CENTRIFUGAL LVAD WITH THE IMPELLER DESIGNED BY INDUSTRIAL METHOD: PROPOSING SIMPLE-TO-MANUFACTURE LVAD’S IMPELLERS

Although the demand of donor hearts for patients with end-stage heart failure is growing, its supply has remained constant. Ventricular assist devices (VADs) provide a chance of finding donor heart by increasing waiting period. In this study, the main goal is to employ an industrial method (point-by-point method) for designing blades profile with a simplified geometry which can be produced by conventional manufacturing methods. In this study, a centrifugal continuous-flow rotary pump is designed and the effects of components’ different geometries on the left ventricular assist devices (LVADs) function are investigated. Moreover, both hydraulic performance and blood damages (hemolysis index (HI)) caused by the pump are considered as design criteria. ANSYS CFX 17 is used to analyze the performance of the designed LVAD. Additionally, the geometry of components are investigated based on fulfilling the required performance of the LVAD while reducing the blood damage level. Comparing the designed VAD with the commercial ones shows that the designed blade further improves the performance of the centrifugal LVAD. Therefore, designing the impeller’s blade profile with point-by-point method seems to be promising. Simplicity in manufacturing is considered to be a big advantage for a design which also leads to lower manufacturing costs. This study demonstrates how industrial design methods can be employed to design simple-to-manufacture impellers which are suitable for LVADs.

Introduction

The chapter gives an overview of the main discoveries of the research and a summary of the book containing brief discussions of solfeggio manuscripts, apprenticeships, eighteenth-century solmization, plainchant and score-reading, vocalization and embellishment, melodic structure and form, and the importance of practice rather than theory. The procedure of re-creating the lessons contained in the old manuscripts, and the insights into the pedagogical system they embodied, are discussed. The pre-industrial method of learning to make music—to improvise or compose—is compared to the classroom model adopted by later institutions and still in use today. It relied on informal music learning practices that developed creative skills through listening and copying. The chapter concludes by suggesting potential applications of the historical method to contemporary music pedagogy, performance, composition, and musicianship.

Influence of Different Pigment Incorporation Methods on the Sorption and Solubility of Medical Silicones

Objective The aim of this study is to verify the influence of three pigment incorporation methods (conventional, mechanical, and industrial) on the sorption and solubility of the MDX4-4210 and A-2186 silicones. Materials and Methods The groups formed were based on the silicones used (A-2186 and MDX4-4210), intrinsic pigments (pink, bronze, and black), and pigment incorporation methods (conventional, mechanical, and industrial). The dimensions of all samples were 45-mm diameter (ø) × 1-mm thickness. Readings were taken initially and after 1,008 hours of aging. Statistical Analysis Three-way analysis of variance and the Tukey’s test were performed (α = 0.05). Results For sorption and solubility, there was no difference between the incorporation methods for the A-2186 silicone, regardless of the pigment used (p > 0.05). For pink MDX4-4210, the industrial and mechanical methods showed higher values of sorption compared with the conventional method (p < 0.05). For bronze MDX4-4210, the industrial method showed a higher sorption value compared with the conventional and mechanical methods (p < 0.05). For black MDX4-4210, there was no difference between incorporation methods based on sorption (p > 0.05). For pink MDX4-4210, the mechanical method showed a higher solubility value compared with the industrial and conventional methods (p < 0.05). For black MDX4-4210 and bronze MDX4-4210, there was no statistically significant difference between incorporation methods based on solubility (p > 0.05). Conclusion Based on sorption and solubility, for the A-2186 silicone, the conventional, mechanical, and industrial methods of pigment incorporation were equivalent. For the MDX4-4210 silicone, its results of sorption and solubility were varied, and further studies are recommended.

Formation of white oxide coatings on aluminum using electrochemical method

The possibility of obtaining white oxide coatings on aluminum was investigated. Until now, an industrial method of producing white and opaque oxide coatings on aluminum by electrochemical method has not been worked out. In some industries there is a need for a white surface finish of aluminum products. Two methods of obtaining white coatings and three sealing methods have been tested during the work. The quality of coatings has been tested according to standard QUALANOD tests, decorative values were additionally evaluated. The obtained coatings have been compared with transparent oxide coatings on aluminum, which have been obtained by conventional methods.

Industrial-Scale Decontamination Procedure Effects on the Content of Acaricides, Heavy Metals and Antioxidant Capacity of Beeswax

Beeswax is useful for the beekeeping sector but also for the agro-food, pharmaceutical or cosmetics sectors. Frequently, this bee product is contaminated with pesticides reducing its utility and causing the decline in its market. This study aimed to prove the effectiveness of an industrial-scale decontamination method in removing acaricides from beeswax. Chlorfenvinphos and coumaphos decrease was higher than 90%, whereas tau fluvalinate decrease was only 30%. No changes were observed in the beeswax content of hydrocarbons and monoesters, whereas a decrease in the concentrations of Ca, Fe, Zn, Hg, Mn and P, and an increase in the concentrations of As and Si were found after the decontamination. Filtration reduced total phenolics, flavonoids and the antioxidant capacity of the lipophilic extract. These results demonstrate that the industrial method used was as effective as the method previously tested on a laboratory scale. The study also contributes to a better knowledge and characterization of beeswax, specially related to trace and ultra-trace elements and antioxidant capacity. Moreover, it offers the chance to further develop a method to effectively detect wax adulterations based on the chemical elements profile.