Accurate and efficient surface reconstruction from volume fraction data on general meshes

Simulations involving free surfaces and fluid interfaces are important in many areas of engineering. There is, however, still a need for improved simulation methods. Recently, a new efficient geometric VOF method called isoAdvector for general polyhedral meshes was published. We investigate the interface reconstruction step of isoAdvector, and demonstrate that especially for unstructured meshes the applied isosurface based approach can lead to noisy interface orientations. We then introduce a novel computational interface reconstruction scheme based on calculation of a reconstructed distance function (RDF). By iterating over the RDF calculation and interface reconstruction, we obtain second order convergence of both the interface normal and position within cells even with a strict $L_{\infty}$ error norm. In 2D this is verified with reconstruction of a circle on Cartesian meshes and on unstructured triangular and polygonal prism meshes. In 3D the second order convergence is verified with reconstruction of a sphere on Cartesian meshes and on unstructured tetrahedral and polyhedral meshes. The new scheme is combined with the interface advection step of the isoAdvector algorithm. Significantly reduced absolute advection errors are obtained, and for CFL number 0.2 and below we demonstrate second order convergence on all the mentioned mesh types in 2D and 3D. The implementation of the proposed interface reconstruction schemes is straightforward and the computational cost is significantly reduced compared to contemporary methods. The schemes are implemented as an extension to the Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) Open Source software package, OpenFOAM. The extension module and all test cases presented in this paper are released as open source

Habilidades sociais e sintomas depressivos em idosos

The social skills in elderly have been considered as a relevant aspect to the achievement of a good life quality in old age. However, the ausence or deficit of social skills can make the interpersonal relations become hard and restrict. The deficits in social skills can lead to psicological disturbs like timidity, social isolation, suicide and depression. The main objective of this study was to investigate the relation between the social skills and the depression symptoms in elderly. Besides that, it tried to identify if the variety of age, scholarity, income, gender and civil state were predictors of social skills in elderly. Considering the objectives of this study, two empiric studies were developed. The first one had exploratory and crosssection design and the second had an almost experimental comparative design. In both studies, the amount encompassed 134 old aged, with 60 years or more, drafted 17 acquaintanceship groups of Porto Alegre and metropolitan area. In the second study, the amount was divided in Case Group, composed by individuals with depressive symptoms, and Control Group, without depressive symptoms. Socialdemographic Data Sheet, the Brazil Economic Classification Criterion, Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS-15) and the Social Skill Inventory (SSI). In the first study, we verified that the depressive symptoms, followed by the years of studying and socioeconomical level were the variables that most contributed to the Conversation and Social Nimbleness of the SSI. The years of study and the socioeconomical level were positively associated to a better score in Conversation and Social Nimbleness of the SSI. However, the depressive symptoms were negatively associated to the same factor. In the Sexual/Affective Approach of the SSI, the gender, scholarity, socioeconomical level, civil state and the depressive symptoms, respectively, also contributed to explain this factor. In the second study, the elderly with depressive symptoms showed significantly lower scores than the ones without the depressive symptoms in the Conversation and Nimbleness and Sexual/Affective Approach of the SSI factors. About the general score of the SSI, the elderly with depressive symptoms also had a worse result compared to the group of elderly without the symptoms. So, we can infer that the depressive symptoms, the years of study and the socioeconomical level contribute to the social skill of Conversation and Social Nimbleness, that is defined as the capability to approach, initiate, conduct and put an end to a conversation. The bigger the scores in this factor, more years of study and higher will be the socioeconomical level of the individual. On the other hand, lower the scores in this factor, more depressive symptoms are presented by the elderly. The capability of showing feelings and to approach a partner to initiate a sexual relationship, in other words, Sexual/Affective Approach, seems to be influenced by the gender, years of study, socioeconomical level, civil state and depressive symptoms. Generally, the results sugests that elderly with depressive symptoms show lower social skills in the Conversation and Nimbleness, Sexual/Affective Approach and general score of social skills.As habilidades sociais em idosos têm sido consideradas como um aspecto relevante para a conquista de uma boa qualidade de vida na velhice. Em contrapartida, a ausência ou déficit em habilidades sociais pode tornar as relações interpessoais restritas e difíceis. Os déficits em habilidades sociais podem levar a transtornos psicológicos como timidez, isolamento social, suicídio e depressão. Desta forma, o objetivo principal dessa dissertação foi investigar a relação entre habilidades sociais e sintomas depressivos em idosos. Além disso, buscou identificar se as variáveis idade, escolaridade, renda, sexo e estado civil eram preditoras de habilidades sociais em idosos. Considerando os objetivos desta dissertação, foram desenvolvidos dois estudos empíricos.O primeiro estudo teve um delineamento transversal e exploratório e o segundo um delineamento quase experimental e comparativo. Em ambos os estudos, a amostra englobou 134 idosos, com 60 anos ou mais, recrutados em 17 grupos de convivência de idosos de Porto Alegre e região metropolitana. No segundo estudo, a amostra foi dividida em Grupo Caso, composto por indivíduos com sintomas depressivos, e Grupo Controle, sem sintomas depressivos. Os instrumentos aplicados foram: Miniexame do Estado Mental (MEEM), Ficha de Dados Sociodemográficos, o Critério de Classificação Econômica Brasil, Escala de Depressão Geriátrica (GDS-15) e o Inventário de Habilidades Sociais para Idosos (IHSI). No primeiro estudo, verificou-se que os sintomas depressivos, seguidos pelos anos de estudo e nível socioeconômico foram as variáveis que mais contribuíram para Conversação e Desenvoltura Social do IHSI. Os anos de estudo e o nível socioeconômico associaram-se positivamente a um maior escore em Conversação e Desenvoltura Social do IHSI. Já os sintomas depressivos se associaram negativamente com esse mesmo fator. Na Abordagem Afetivo/Sexual do IHSI, o sexo, a escolaridade, o nível socioeconômico, o estado civil e os sintomas depressivos respectivamente, também contribuíram conjuntamente para explicar esse fator. No segundo estudo, os idosos com presença de sintomas depressivos apresentaram escores significativamente mais baixos do que os sem sintomas depressivos nos fatores de Conversão e Desenvoltura e de Abordagem Afetiva/Sexual do IHSI. Com relação ao escore geral do IHSI, os idosos com sintomas depressivos também obtiveram menor desempenho quando comparados ao grupo de idosos sem sintomas depressivos. Assim, podese inferir que os sintomas depressivos, os anos de estudo e o nível socioeconômico contribuem para a habilidade social de Conversação e Desenvoltura Social, que é definida como a capacidade para abordar, iniciar, conduzir, e encerrar conversação. Quanto maiores os escores nesse fator, mais anos de estudo e mais alto o nível socioeconômico do indivíduo. Por outro lado, quanto menores os escores nesse fator mais sintomas depressivos são apresentados pelos idosos. A capacidade de expressar sentimentos e abordar parceiro para iniciar relacionamento sexual, ou seja, Abordagem Afetivo/Sexual parece ser influenciada pelo sexo, anos de estudo, nível socioeconômico, estado civil e sintomas depressivos. De maneira geral, os resultados sugerem que idosos com sintomas depressivos apresentam menores habilidades sociais nos fatores de Conversão e Desenvoltura, Abordagem Afetiva/Sexual e escore geral de habilidades sociais

Inner metric properties of 2-dimensional semi-algebraic sets

Sin resume

Plastische Chirurgie nach forcierter Gewichtsreduktion "Kosmetik" oder Rekonstruktion?

Zusammenfassung: Die epidemieartige Zunahme der Übergewichtigkeit in den westlichen Ländern ist auch mit einer steigenden Inzidenz der morbiden Adipositas verbunden. Effiziente und lang anhaltende Gewichtsverluste sind ist hier meist nur mit operativen Interventionen zu erzielen, die heute zuverlässig und sicher durchgeführt werden. Hierdurch können die mit der Adipositas assoziierten Komorbiditäten verbessert oder beseitigt werden. Die Behandlung der Folgezustände nach bariatrischen Operationen mit oft dramatischem Gewichtsverlust und generalisiertem Hautüberschuss ist eine Herausforderung für den Plastischen Chirurgen. Ziel ist die Wiederherstellung einer normalen Körperform als Voraussetzung für eine vollständige psychosoziale Integration der Patienten, die durch ihre äußere Erscheinung oft nicht nur vor, sondern auch nach dem Gewichtsverlust stigmatisiert sind. Die vorliegende Arbeit gibt eine Übersicht über aktuelle Verfahren und Trends der postbariatrischen plastischen Chirurgi

Structural basis for recruitment of mitochondrial fission complexes by Fis1

Mitochondrial fission controls mitochondrial shape and physiology, including mitochondrial remodeling in apoptosis. During assembly of the yeast mitochondrial fission complex, the outer membrane protein Fis1 recruits the dynamin-related GTPase Dnm1 to mitochondria. Fis1 contains a tetratricopeptide repeat (TPR) domain and interacts with Dnm1 via the molecular adaptors Mdv1 and Caf4. By using crystallographic analysis of adaptor-Fis1 complexes, we show that these adaptors use two helices to bind to both the concave and convex surfaces of the Fis1 TPR domain. Fis1 therefore contains two interaction interfaces, a binding mode that, to our knowledge, has not been observed previously for TPR domains. Genetic and biochemical studies indicate that both binding interfaces are important for binding of Mdv1 and Caf4 to Fis1 and for mitochondrial fission activity in vivo. Our results reveal how Fis1 recruits the mitochondrial fission complex and will facilitate efforts to manipulate mitochondrial fission

Изменение характеристик потока в мультициклоне при различной установке циклонных элементов

В работе представлены результаты численного моделирования потоков в корпусемультициклона, в двух моделях расположения циклонных элементов. Целью работы является возможность оптимизации расположения входов полуулиточных патрубков циклонных элементов в батарейном циклоне по первой и второй моделям. Они позволяют также более точно учесть гидравлическое сопротивление аппарата при определении наиболее эффективного расположения циклонных элементов.The paper presents the results of numerical simulation of flows in the case of multicyclone, in two models of the location of the cyclone elements. The aim of this work is the possibility of optimizing the location of entrances palowitch nozzles cyclone elements in the battery cyclone the first and second models. They also allow for a more accurate account of the hydraulic resistance of the device when determining the most effective location of cyclonic elements

Adsorption and release of BMP-2 on nanocrystalline apatite-coated and uncoated hydroxyapatite/b-tricalcium phosphate porous ceramics

The association of bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs) with calcium phosphate bioceramics is known to confer them osteoinductive properties. The aim of this study was to evaluate the surface properties, especially regarding recombinant human BMP-2 (rhBMP-2) adsorption and release, of commercial sintered biphasic calcium phosphate ceramics after coating with biomimetic nanocrystalline apatite. The raw and coated ceramics exhibited similar macroporous structures but different nanometer-sized pores contents. Both types of ceramics showed Langmuir-type adsorption isotherms of rhBMP-2. The coating noticeably increased the rate of adsorption and the total amount of growth factor taken up, but the maximum coverage per surface area unit as well as the affinity constant appeared lower for coated ceramics compared with raw ceramic surfaces. The limited advantage gained by coating the ceramics can be assigned to a lower accessibility of the surface adsorption sites compared with the raw ceramics. The quantity of rhBMP-2 spontaneously released in cell culture medium during the first weeks was lower for coated samples than for uncoated ceramics and represented a minor fraction of the total adsorbed amount. In conclusion, the nanocrystalline apatite coating was found to favor the adsorption of rhBMP-2 while providing a mean to fine tune the release of the growth factor

Pleading Securities Fraud

Hyaluronan based hydrogel coatings can mimic extracellular matrix components and incorporate growth factors that can be released during a progressive degradation while new tissue regenerates. This paper describes a structural characterization of a hydrogel coating made of modified hyaluronan polymers and how these coatings interact with bone morphogenetic protein-2 (BMP-2). Quartz crystal microbalance and neutron reflectivity measurements were used for in-situ, real-time measurements of the adsorption properties of polymers and proteins on smooth titanium oxide surfaces that mimic implant products in orthopedics. The adsorption of BMP-2 on a bare titanium oxide surface is compared to that on titanium oxide coated with different chemically modified hyaluronan, the most important being hyaluronan with bisphosphonate groups (HA-BP). The subsequent release of the BMP-2 from these hydrogel coatings could be triggered by calcium ions. The amount of adsorbed protein on the surfaces as well as the amount of released protein both depend on the type of hyaluronan coating. We conclude that HA-BP coated titanium oxide surfaces provide an excellent material for growth factor delivery in-vivo

Comparison of posterior foraminotomy and anterior foraminotomy with fusion for treating spondylotic foraminal stenosis of the cervical spine: study protocol for a randomized controlled trial (ForaC)

Background: Cervical radiculopathy caused by spondylotic foraminal stenosis may require surgical treatment. Surgical options include anterior cervical foraminotomy and fusion or posterior cervical foraminotomy. Controversy remains regarding the preferable surgical approach. Pertinent clinical evidence is limited to low-quality observational reports. Therefore, treatment decisions are predominantly based on the individual surgeon’s preference and skill. The study objective is to evaluate the efficacy and safety of posterior foraminotomy in comparison to anterior foraminotomy with fusion for the treatment of spondylotic foraminal stenosis. Methods/design: This is a multicenter randomized, controlled, parallel group superiority trial. A total of 88 adult patients are allocated in a ratio of 1:1. Sample size and power calculations were performed to detect the minimal clinically important difference of 14 points, with an expected standard deviation of 20 in the primary outcome parameter, Neck Disability Index, with a power of 80%, based on an assumed maximal dropout rate of 20%. Secondary outcome parameters include the Core Outcome Measures Index, which investigates pain, back-specific function, work disability, social disability and patient satisfaction. Changes in physical and mental health are evaluated using the Short Form-12 (SF-12) questionnaire. Moreover, radiological and health economic outcomes are evaluated. Follow-up is performed 3, 6, 12, 24, 36, 48 and 60 months after surgery. Major inclusion criteria are cervical spondylotic foraminal stenosis causing radiculopathy of C5, C6 or C7 and requiring decompression of one or two neuroforaminae. Study data generation (study sites) and data storage, processing and statistical analysis (Department of Medical Statistics, Informatics and Health Economics) are clearly separated. Data will be analyzed according to the intention-to-treat principle. Discussion: The results of the ForaC study will provide surgical treatment recommendations for spondylotic foraminal stenosis and will contribute to the understanding of its short- and long-term clinical and radiological postoperative course. This will hopefully translate into improvements in surgical treatment and thus, clinical practice for spondylotic foraminal stenosis. Trial registration Current Controlled Trials: ISRCTN8257806

A GOOD CRY

I have a history of crying at the most inappropriate of times. A GOOD CRY is inspired by, and made of tears. Through a series of preformative videos, I induce crying to regain a sense of control over my body, using, onions, menthol, a high-powered fan, and forcing myself to fake tears