Pressure-dependent EPANET extension

In water distribution systems (WDSs), the available flow at a demand node is dependent on the pressure at that node. When a network is lacking in pressure, not all consumer demands will be met in full. In this context, the assumption that all demands are fully satisfied regardless of the pressure in the system becomes unreasonable and represents the main limitation of the conventional demand driven analysis (DDA) approach to WDS modelling. A realistic depiction of the network performance can only be attained by considering demands to be pressure dependent. This paper presents an extension of the renowned DDA based hydraulic simulator EPANET 2 to incorporate pressure-dependent demands. This extension is termed “EPANET-PDX” (pressure-dependent extension) herein. The utilization of a continuous nodal pressure-flow function coupled with a line search and backtracking procedure greatly enhance the algorithm’s convergence rate and robustness. Simulations of real life networks consisting of multiple sources, pipes, valves and pumps were successfully executed and results are presented herein. Excellent modelling performance was achieved for analysing both normal and pressure deficient conditions of the WDSs. Detailed computational efficiency results of EPANET-PDX with reference to EPANET 2 are included as well

Toward osteogenic differentiation of marrow stromal cells and in vitro production of mineralized extracellular matrix onto natural scaffolds

Uncorrected proofTissue engineering has emerged as a new interdisciplinary field for the repair of various tissues, restoring their functions by using scaffolds, cells, and/or bioactive factors. A temporary scaffold acts as an extracellular matrix analog to culture cells and guide the development of new tissue. In this chapter, we discuss the preparation of naturally derived scaffolds of polysaccharide origin, the osteogenic differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells cultured on biomimetic calcium phosphate coatings, and the delivery of biomolecules associated with extracellular matrix mineralization

Galleries-to-Calories (G2C): An International Collaboration Evaluating Thermal Energy Storage in Abandoned Mines for District Heating

With the increasing focus on sustainable energy solutions and national net-zero emissions goals, repurposing of abandoned underground mines for thermal energy storage has the potential to make significant impacts. The international Geothermica consortium, Galleries to Calories (G2C), is investigating the potential for storing waste heat from a supercomputing facility in abandoned, flooded coal mines southeast of Edinburgh, Scotland. The system termed the Geobattery or GeoTES involves injecting heat into mine workings, conveying it using regional groundwater flow, and then using the stored thermal energy for district heating and cooling via heat pumps. The Edinburgh site is unique due to the connection of three individual collieries that are linked by underground roadways and hydraulically conductive coal seams, thus enabling heat to be readily stored and transported over several kilometers. The internal structure of collieries poses challenges due to their partially unknown internal structure, involving fully excavated seams, partially mined pillars, open and collapsed tunnels, and unmined rock formations. To address these uncertainties, we propose to use a multi-level stochastic modeling approach using the open-source Multiphysics Object-Oriented Simulation Environment (MOOSE). Our team has developed a preliminary and geometrically simplified numerical model that focuses on the main coal seams. These seams are further subdivided into multiple subdomains so that they can be discretized individually. Initially, a stochastic analysis involving many thermo-hydraulic simulations is conducted to identify promising bulk parameter combinations that replicate field observations. Once these parameter combinations are determined, the model is extended in a second phase to incorporate the geomechanical effects associated with various operational conditions of the Geobattery. This extension facilitates the necessary evaluation of heat plume migration and stress field changes, critical for assessing the mechanical stability of the collieries and heat losses that may occur during the operation of the Geobattery

A922 Sequential measurement of 1 hour creatinine clearance (1-CRCL) in critically ill patients at risk of acute kidney injury (AKI)

Meeting abstrac

Racism as a determinant of health: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Despite a growing body of epidemiological evidence in recent years documenting the health impacts of racism, the cumulative evidence base has yet to be synthesized in a comprehensive meta-analysis focused specifically on racism as a determinant of health. This meta-analysis reviewed the literature focusing on the relationship between reported racism and mental and physical health outcomes. Data from 293 studies reported in 333 articles published between 1983 and 2013, and conducted predominately in the U.S., were analysed using random effects models and mean weighted effect sizes. Racism was associated with poorer mental health (negative mental health: r = -.23, 95% CI [-.24,-.21], k = 227; positive mental health: r = -.13, 95% CI [-.16,-.10], k = 113), including depression, anxiety, psychological stress and various other outcomes. Racism was also associated with poorer general health (r = -.13 (95% CI [-.18,-.09], k = 30), and poorer physical health (r = -.09, 95% CI [-.12,-.06], k = 50). Moderation effects were found for some outcomes with regard to study and exposure characteristics. Effect sizes of racism on mental health were stronger in cross-sectional compared with longitudinal data and in non-representative samples compared with representative samples. Age, sex, birthplace and education level did not moderate the effects of racism on health. Ethnicity significantly moderated the effect of racism on negative mental health and physical health: the association between racism and negative mental health was significantly stronger for Asian American and Latino(a) American participants compared with African American participants, and the association between racism and physical health was significantly stronger for Latino(a) American participants compared with African American participants.<br /

Exploring new physics frontiers through numerical relativity

The demand to obtain answers to highly complex problems within strong-field gravity has been met with significant progress in the numerical solution of Einstein's equations - along with some spectacular results - in various setups. We review techniques for solving Einstein's equations in generic spacetimes, focusing on fully nonlinear evolutions but also on how to benchmark those results with perturbative approaches. The results address problems in high-energy physics, holography, mathematical physics, fundamental physics, astrophysics and cosmology

Influence of homogenization conditions on physical properties and antioxidant activity of fully biodegradable pea protein-alpha-tocopherol films

In this study, antioxidant biodegradable films based on pea protein and alpha-tocopherol were successfully developed by solution casting. The effect of both the homogenization conditions (rotor stator and microfluidizer) and the relative humidity (RH) on the microstructure and physical properties (transparency, tensile, oxygen and water vapour barrier properties) of pea protein/alpha-tocopherol-based films was evaluated. The addition of alpha-tocopherol produced minimal changes in the films transparency, while providing them with antioxidant properties and improved water vapour and oxygen barrier properties (up to 30 % in both water vapour and oxygen permeability) when films were at low and intermediate RH. The addition of alpha-tocopherol in microfluidized films gave rise to an increase in their resistance to break and extensibility (up to 27 % in E values) at intermediate and high RH. These results add a new insight into the potential of employing pea protein and alpha-tocopherol in the development of fully biodegradable antioxidant films which are of interest in food packagingThe authors acknowledge the financial support from the Spanish Ministerio de Educacion y Ciencia throughout the project AGL2010-20694, co-funded by FEDER. Author M.J.Fabra is a recipient of a Juan de la Cierva contract from the Spanish Ministerio de Economia y Competitividad.Fabra, MJ.; Jiménez, A.; Talens Oliag, P.; Chiralt, A. (2014). Influence of homogenization conditions on physical properties and antioxidant activity of fully biodegradable pea protein-alpha-tocopherol films. Food and Bioprocess Technology. 7(12):3569-3578. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11947-014-1372-0S35693578712ASTM (1995). Standard test methods for water vapor transmission of materials. Standards Desingnations: E96-95. 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H. (2001). Physical and mechanical properties of pea–protein-based edible films. Journal of Food Science, 66, 319–322.Choi, W. S., & Han, J. H. (2002). Film-forming mechanism and heat denaturation effects on the physical and chemical properties of pea-protein-isolate edible films. Journal of Food Science, 67, 1399–1406.Fabra, M. J., Talens, P., & Chiralt, A. (2009). Microstructure and optical properties of sodium caseinate films containing oleic acidebeeswax mixtures. Food Hydrocolloids, 23, 676–683.Fabra, M. J., Talens, P., & Chiralt, A. (2010). Water sorption isotherms and phase transitions of sodium caseinate–lipid films as affected by lipid interactions. Food Hydrocolloids, 24, 384–391.Fabra, M. J., Hambleton, A., Talens, P., Debeaufort, F., & Chiralt, A. (2011). Effect of ferulic acid and α-tocopherol antioxidants on properties of sodium caseinate edible films. Food Hydrocolloids, 25, 1441–1447.Fabra, M. J., Talens, P., Gavara, R., & Chiralt, A. (2012). Barrier properties of sodium caseinate films as affected by lipid composition and moisture content. Journal of Food Engineering, 109, 372–379.Frankel, E. N., Huang, S. W., Kanner, J., & German, J. B. (1994). Interfacial phenomena in the evaluation of antioxidants: bulk oils vs emulsions. Journal of Agriculture and Food Chemistry, 42(5), 1054–1059.Gómez-Estaca, J., Giménez, B., Montero, P., & Gómez-Guillén, M. C. (2009). Incorporation of antioxidant borage extract into edible films based on sole skin gelatin or a commercial fish gelatin. Journal of Food Engineering, 92, 78–85.Huang, S. W., Frankel, E. N., & German, J. B. (1994). Antioxidant activity of alpha.- and.gamma.-tocopherols in bulk oils and in oil-in-water emulsions. Journal of Agriculture and Food Chemistry, 42(10), 2108–2114.Hutchings, J. B. (1999). Food and colour appearance (2nd ed.). Gaithersburg: Chapman and Hall Food Science Book, Aspen Publication.Jiménez, A., Fabra, M. J., Talens, P., & Chiralt, A. (2010). Effect of lipid self-association on the microstructure and physical properties of hydroxypropylmethylcellulose edible films containing fatty acids. Carbohydrate Polymers, 82(3), 585–593.Jiménez, A., Fabra, M. J., Talens, P., & Chiralt, A. (2013). Physical properties and antioxidant capacity of starch-sodium caseinate films containing lipids. Journal of Food Engineering, 116(3), 695–702.Jung, M. Y., & Min, D. B. (1990). Effects of alpha-. γ-, and δ-tocopherols on oxidative stability of soybean oil. Journal of Food Science, 55(5), 1464–1465.López-de-Dicastillo, C., Alonso, J. M., Catalá, R., Gavara, R., & Hernández-Muñoz, P. (2010). Improving the antioxidant protection of packaged food by incorporating natural flavonoids into ethylene-vinyl alcohol copolymer (EVOH) films. Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, 58, 10958–10964.Ma, W., Tang, C.-H., Yin, S.-W., Yang, X. Q., Qi, J. R., & Xia, N. (2012). Effect of homogenization conditions on properties of gelatin-olive oil composite films. Journal of Food Engineering, 113(1), 136–142.Mauer, L. J., Smith, D. E., & Labuza, T. P. (2000). Water vapor permeability, mechanical, and structural properties of edible β-casein films. International Dairy Journal, 10(5–6), 353–358.Mc Hugh, T. H., Avena-Bustillos, R., & Krochta, J. M. (1993). Hydrophobic edible films:modified procedure for water vapor permeability and explanation of thickness effects. Journal of Food Science, 58(4), 899–903.McHugh, T. H., & Krochta, J. M. (1994). Dispersed phase particle size effects on water vapour permeability of whey protein–beeswax emulsion films. Journal of Food Processing and Preservation, 18, 173–188.Ozkan, G., Simsek, B., & Kuleasan, H. (2007). Antioxidant activities of Satureja cilicica essential oil in butter and in vitro. Journal of Food Engineering, 79, 1391–1396.Pereira de Abreu, D. A., Paseiro Losada, P., Maroto, J., & Cruz, J. M. (2011). 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Autolysis-assisted production of fish protein hydrolysates with antioxidant properties form Pacific hake (Merluccius productus). Food Chemistry, 107, 768–776.Souza, B. W. S., Cerqueira, A., Casariego, A., Lima, A. M. P., Teixeira, J. A., & Vicente, A. A. (2009). Effect of moderate electric fields in the permeation properties of chitosan coatings. Food Hydrocolloids, 23, 2110–2115

Economic Impact of Cystic Echinococcosis in Peru

Cystic echinococcosis (CE), caused by infection with the larval stage of the cestode Echinococcus granulosus, constitutes an important public health problem in Peru. Despite its high prevalence in endemic communities no studies have attempted to estimate the economic impact of CE in Peruvian society. We used official and published sources of epidemiological and economic information to estimate direct and indirect costs associated with livestock production losses and human disease. We also used disability adjusted life years (DALYs) which is an overall measure of disease burden, expressed as number of years lost due to ill-health, disability or early death due to CE. We found that the total estimated cost of human CE in Peru was U.S.$2,420,348 per year. Total estimated livestock-associated costs due to CE ranged from U.S.$196,681 to U.S.$3,846,754. An estimated 1,139 DALYs were also lost due to surgical cases of CE which is comparable to DALY losses from Amebiasis or Malaria in Peru. This conservative assessment found significant economic losses caused by this CE in Peruvian society. The findings of this study are important as these data can serve to prioritize those areas that may need to be targeted in a control program

Longitudinal seroepidemiologic study of the 2009 pandemic influenza A (H1N1) infection among health care workers in a children's hospital

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>To probe seroepidemiology of the 2009 pandemic influenza A (H1N1) among health care workers (HCWs) in a children's hospital.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>From August 2009 to March 2010, serum samples were drawn from 150 HCWs in a children's hospital in Taipei before the 2009 influenza A (H1N1) pandemic, before H1N1 vaccination, and after the pandemic. HCWs who had come into direct contact with 2009 influenza A (H1N1) patients or their clinical respiratory samples during their daily work were designated as a high-risk group. Antibody levels were determined by hemagglutination inhibition (HAI) assay. A four-fold or greater increase in HAI titers between any successive paired sera was defined as seroconversion, and factors associated with seroconversion were analyzed.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Among the 150 HCWs, 18 (12.0%) showed either virological or serological evidence of 2009 pandemic influenza A (H1N1) infection. Of the 90 unvaccinated HCWs, baseline and post-pandemic seroprotective rates were 5.6% and 20.0%. Seroconversion rates among unvaccinated HCWs were 14.4% (13/90), 22.5% (9/40), and 8.0% (4/50) for total, high-risk group, and low-risk group, respectively. Multivariate analysis revealed being in the high-risk group is an independent risk factor associated with seroconversion.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>The infection rate of 2009 pandemic influenza A (H1N1) in HCWs was moderate and not higher than that for the general population. The majority of unvaccinated HCWs remained susceptible. Direct contact of influenza patients and their respiratory samples increased the risk of infection.</p