Cavitation in soft matter

Cavitation is the sudden, unstable expansion of a void or bubble within a liquid or solid subjected to a negative hydrostatic stress. Cavitation rheology is a field emerging from the development of a suite of materials characterization, damage quantification, and therapeutic techniques that exploit the physical principles of cavitation. Cavitation rheology is inherently complex and broad in scope with wide-ranging applications in the biology, chemistry, materials, and mechanics communities. This perspective aims to drive collaboration among these communities and guide discussion by defining a common core of high-priority goals while highlighting emerging opportunities in the field of cavitation rheology. A brief overview of the mechanics and dynamics of cavitation in soft matter is presented. This overview is followed by a discussion of the overarching goals of cavitation rheology and an overview of common experimental techniques. The larger unmet needs and challenges of cavitation in soft matter are then presented alongside specific opportunities for researchers from different disciplines to contribute to the field

Evaluation of Effective Polymer Fiber Length on Energy Absorption Capacity of Reinforced Beams by EBR and NSM Methods

This study presents a comparison of two methods used for retrofitting Reinforced Concrete (RC) beams, namely, the Externally Bonded Reinforcement (EBR) and the Near-Surface Mounting (NSM) methods. A parametric analysis was carried out using variables such as the retrofitted, the retrofitting method (EBR and NSM), and the thickness of the Carbon Fiber-Reinforced Polymer (CFRP) sheets. To achieve this goal, the finite element method and ABAQUS software were employed. An un-retrofitted beam was also simulated as the control specimen for comparison. Beam responses were compared through load–displacement and energy absorption capacity diagrams. Results show that the higher energy absorption capacity in all CFRP-retrofitted RC beams, which was 1.69–5.54 times higher than in un-retrofitted beams. In the case where half of the beam was reinforced using CFRP sheets, the entire beam assembly and the CFRP sheet contributed to load-bearing, thus delaying crack nucleation in the beam and increasing its energy absorption capacity. As a result, the energy absorption capacity of the beam, in this case, was less than that obtained in the previous one where half the span of the beam was retrofitted

Powerful processing to three-dimensional facial recognition using triple information

Face Detection plays a crucial role in identifying individuals and criminals in Security, surveillance, and footwork control systems. Face Recognition in the human is superb, and pictures can be easily identified even after years of separation. These abilities also apply to changes in a facial expression such as age, glasses, beard, or little change in the face. This method is based on 150 three-dimensional images using the Bosphorus database of a high range laser scanner in a Bogaziçi University in Turkey. This paper presents powerful processing for face recognition based on a combination of the salient information and features of the face, such as eyes and nose, for the detection of three-dimensional figures identified through analysis of surface curvature. The Trinity of the nose and two eyes were selected for applying principal component analysis algorithm and support vector machine to revealing and classification the difference between face and non-face. The results with different facial expressions and extracted from different angles have indicated the efficiency of our powerful processing

Mortality Prediction of ICU Cardiovascular Patient: Time-Series Analysis

It is estimated that millions of deaths occur annually, which can be prevented when early diagnosis and correct treatment are provided in the intensive care unit (ICU). In addition to monitoring and treating patients, the physician of the ICU has the task of predicting the outcome of patients and identifying them. They are also responsible for the separation of patients who use special ICUs. Because not necessarily all patients hospitalized in ICU benefit from this unit, and hospitalization in a few cases will only lead to an easier death. Therefore, developing an intelligent method that can help doctors predict the condition of patients in the ICU is very useful. This paper aims to predict the mortality of cardiovascular patients hospitalized in the ICU using cardiac signals. In the proposed method, the condition of patients is predicted 30 minutes before death using various features extracted from the electrocardiogram (ECG) and heart rate variability (HRV) signals and intelligent methods. The paper's results showed that combining morphological, linear, and nonlinear features can predict the mortality of patients with accuracy and sensitivity of 96.7±6.7% and 94.1±5.8%, respectively. As a result, accurate classification of diseases and correct prediction of patients by reducing unnecessary monitoring can help optimize ICU beds' use. According to new and advanced techniques and technologies, it is possible to predict and treat many diseases in ICU, leading to longer patient survival

Thermal Radiation Measurement and Development of Tunable Plasmonic Thermal Emitter Using Strain-induced Buckling in Metallic Layers

An infrared radiometry setup has been developed based on a commercially available FTIR spectrometer for measuring mid-infrared thermal radiation. The setup was calibrated with a lab-built blackbody source. The setup was tested with a grating structure with 4-micron periodicity. Periodic microstructures using nickel and gold are fabricated on elastomeric substrates by use of strain-induced buckling of the nickel layer. The intrinsically low emissivity of gold in the mid-infrared regime is selectively enhanced by the surface plasmonic resonance at three different mid-infrared wavelengths, 4.5 µm, 6.3 µm, and 9.4 µm. As the thermal emission enhancement effect exists only for the polarization perpendicular to the orientation of the microstructures, substantially polarized thermal emission with an extinction ratio of close to 3 is demonstrated. Moreover, the elastically deformed plasmonic thermal emitters demonstrate strain-dependent emission peaks, which can be applied for future mechano-thermal sensing and dynamic thermal signature modulation

Wirksamkeit von Ibuprofen beim Ductusverschluss sehr kleiner Frühgeborener - ein Vergleich oraler und parenteraler Therapie

Ein hämodynamisch relevanter PDA wird bei einem Drittel aller Frühgeborenen <1500g im Rahmen der intensivmedizinischen Betreuung diagnostiziert. Therapeutisch stehen hierfür verschiedene Behandlungsmöglichkeiten zur Verfügung wie die medikamentöse Gabe von Indometacin oder Ibuprofen sowie eine chirurgische Ductusligatur. Gerade in jüngster Zeit sind verschiedene Veröffentlichungen mehrerer kleiner Studien zum intravenösen versus oralen Ibuprofeneinsatz bei Frühgeborenen mit hämodynamisch relevantem PDA erschienen. Bezüglich der Effektivität und klinischen Sicherheit der therapeutischen oralen Ibuprofenapplikation bei sehr unreifen Frühgeborenen sind bisher jedoch kaum Ergebnisse verfügbar. Ziel der vorliegenden Promotionsarbeit war es, Unterschiede in der Erfolgsrate beider Therapieregime mit intravenösem versus oralem Ibuprofen bei Frühgeborenen <1500g der Charité- Universitätsmedizin Berlin im Zeitraum von 2009-2013 anhand einer retrospektiven Datenerhebung aufzudecken. Dabei bildeten die Zusammenschau klinischer, echokardiographischer und schädelsonographischer Befunde konstante Diagnosekriterien, die als Grundlage zur Therapieindikation Anwendung fanden. Schlussendlich zeigte sich eine unterschiedliche PDA-Verschlussrate zugunsten der oralen Ibuprofentherapie (44% versus 34%), wobei diese Patientengruppe im Vergleich zu den intravenös behandelten Kindern reifer war (26 Schwangerschaftswochen versus 25 Schwangerschaftswochen). Unerwünschte Komplikationen allerdings traten häufiger nach intravenöser Ibuprofentherapie auf. Neben gastrointestinalen Komplikationen waren dies auch eine höhere Inzidenz der Infektion/ Sepsis sowie die Mortalitätsrate. Eine chirurgische Ductusligatur wurde bei 52% (n=84) Therapieversagern erforderlich, zu denen insbesondere extrem unreife Frühgeborene zählten. Neun Kinder sind im Untersuchungszeitraum verstorben. Zusammenfassend können die in dieser Arbeit vorgestellten Ergebnisse richtungsweisend zur Beantwortung der Fragestellung verstanden werden und zeigen, dass orales Ibuprofen auch bei sehr kleinen Frühgeborenen für den Ductusverschluss geeignet zu sein scheint. Bei Betrachtung der unterschiedlichen Aspekte einer medikamentösen Ductustherapie mit Ibuprofen bei Frühgeborenen lassen sich klinische Komplikationen mit schweren Verläufen dieser ohnehin multimorbiden Patientengruppe nicht ausschließen, sodass keine definitive Empfehlung zum bevorzugten/ vorrangigen Einsatz des oralen Ibuprofens ausgesprochen werden kann. Die Art der medikamentösen Ductustherapie sollte vielmehr weiterhin als Einzelfallentscheidung bei jedem Frühgeborenen mit hämodynamisch signifikantem PDA abgewogen werden. Zukünftig sind flächenübergreifende Vergleiche in Form von randomisiert kontrollierten Multicenter-Studien in ausreichend großer Fallzahl nötig, um PDA-Verschlussraten der intravenösen versus oralen Ibuprofentherapie noch differenzierter betrachten zu können. Wünschenswert hierfür wären gleiche Diagnose- und Behandlungskriterien bei identischem Dosisregime und gleicher Therapiedauer in beiden Interventionsgruppen. Zuverlässige Ergebnisse sollten dann zur Optimierung eines evidenzbasierten Therapieregimes bei extrem unreifen Frühgeborenen mit hämodynamisch relevantem PDA beitragen.A hemodynamic relevant PDA is diagnosed in one-third of all premature infants <1500g during their intensive care stay. There are various treatment options including drug administration of indomethacin or ibuprofen as well as a surgical ligation. Recently, several small studies on the use of intravenous versus oral ibuprofen in premature infants with hemodynamic relevant PDA have been published. They consistently showed that the oral therapy route seems to be appropriate. However, so far there have been few results available concerning the efficiacy and clinical safety of oral therapeutic ibuprofen administration in very immature infants. The aim of this retrospective study was to evaluate the differences in therapy success of both treatment routes, with intravenous versus oral ibuprofen in preterm infants <1500g hospitalized at the Charité-University Medicine Berlin between 2009-2013. During the study period, constant diagnostic criteria, such as a combination of clinical, echocardiographic and sonographic signs, were used to indicate medical intervention. This study concludes that a better ductal closure rate could be seen in favor of the oral ibuprofen (44% versus 34%), while these infants were also more mature compared to intravenously treated preterms (26 weeks versus 25 weeks gestational age). Adverse events occurred more frequently in the intravenous ibuprofen group, including a higher mortality rate as well as a higher incidence of gastrointestinal complications and infection/ sepsis. A surgical ligation was required in 52% (n=84) of preterm infants after failure of ibuprofen, especially when extremely immature. Nine children died during this study period. In conclusion, the presented results can be indicative in favor of one of the application routes with ibuprofen. However, no definitive recommendation can be made in favor of oral administration, considering the different aspects of drug-based therapy and clinical complications of a morbid population like this. The administration of drugs should remain an individualized case-based decision with regard to every preterm infant with hemodynamicly significant PDA. Further randomized and controlled multicenter studies with large numbers of included patients are necessary. To achieve this aim, the same diagnostic and treatment criteria would be essential for both ibuprofen groups. In the future, reliable results should contribute to improve evidence-based treatment in premature infants with low weight and persistent hemodynamic relevant ductus arteriosus

Towards a Unified Naming Scheme for Thermo-Active Soft Actuators: A Review of Materials, Working Principles, and Applications

Soft robotics is a rapidly growing field that spans the fields of chemistry, materials science, and engineering. Due to the diverse background of the field, there have been contrasting naming schemes such as 'intelligent', 'smart' and 'adaptive' materials which add vagueness to the broad innovation among literature. Therefore, a clear, functional and descriptive naming scheme is proposed in which a previously vague name -- Soft Material for Soft Actuators -- can remain clear and concise -- Phase-Change Elastomers for Artificial Muscles. By synthesizing the working principle, material, and application into a naming scheme, the searchability of soft robotics can be enhanced and applied to other fields. The field of thermo-active soft actuators spans multiple domains and requires added clarity. Thermo-active actuators have potential for a variety of applications spanning virtual reality haptics to assistive devices. This review offers a comprehensive guide to selecting the type of thermo-active actuator when one has an application in mind. Additionally, it discusses future directions and improvements that are necessary for implementation.Comment: 16 pages, 10 figures, accepted to Robotics Report

A 7-year retrospective study of biopsied oral lesions in 460 Iranian patients

Frequency of oral lesions is varied in different population and knowledge of diseases prevalence in a geographic location will improve preventive measures. Objective: The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence of oral biopsied lesions in a major oral pathology laboratory center of city of Tehran. Material and methods: A retrospective study was done on data obtained from the archive of oral and maxillofacial pathology department of Islamic Azad University, dental branch of Tehran, from 2005 to 2011. Following variables were analyzed: age, gender, anatomic location, and the histological results obtained. Lesions were classified to 18 different categories. Data were analyzed using the SPSS version 12.0 for windows Xp. All the data were recorded in Microsoft Office Excel for further evaluation and making a data bank to easy access.Results: Of the 460 patients studied, the mean age was 38 years. The most frequent lesions were in the group of reactive lesions (22.51%), followed by odontogenic cysts. The most frequent lesion was radicular cyst and odontogenic keratocyst (keratocystic odontogenic tumor). Malignant lesions constituted 2.38%, of which squamous cell carcinoma was the most common malignancy (1.52%). Mandible was the most common location for occurrence of lesions (32.6%) followed by gingiva (11.95%). Conclusion: Our study provides helpful information of oral lesion’s distribution in an Iranian population. The results showed high frequency of odontogenic keratocyst (keratocystic odontogenic tumor) which is not in agreement with other studies and need more evaluation of etiological factors