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The effect of splitter plates (SP) on current interruption at medium voltage (MV) level is theoretically investigated in the framework of Mayr's arc model, which is generalized to take into account the electrode fall voltage, V0, of the SP. The model is analytically solved in the current zero (CZ) region where the current (before CZ) and the voltage (after CZ) can be linearized with respect to time. The current turns out to be successfully interrupted if the total electrode fall voltage, NV0, for N − 1 SP plus contact electrodes, is larger than twice the transient recovery voltage, ${\boldsymbol{U}} \approx {\dot{\boldsymbol{U}t}}$ , at the characteristic arc decay time, t = τ, after CZ: ${\boldsymbol{N}}{{\boldsymbol{V}}_0} > 2{\dot{\boldsymbol{U}\tau }}$. For ${\boldsymbol{N}}{{\boldsymbol{V}}_0} < 2{\dot{\boldsymbol{U}\tau }}$ , an additional thermal condition must be satisfied, where also the current rate, ${\dot{\boldsymbol{I}}} = {\boldsymbol{\ dI}}/{\boldsymbol{dt}}$ before CZ, and the arc cooling power, K, are involved. The intuitive results lead to a simple understanding of the electrical effect of SP on current interruption at MV and serve as an initial design rule for the number of SP in different gases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pure water is a weak electrolyte that dissociates into hydronium ions and hydroxide ions. In contact with a charged electrode a double layer forms for which neither experimental nor theoretical studies exist, in contrast to electrolytes containing extrinsic ions like acids, bases, and solute salts. Starting from a self-consistent solution of the one-dimensional modified Poisson–Boltzmann equation, which takes into account activity coefficients of point-like ions, we explore the properties of the electric double layer by successive incorporation of various correction terms like finite ion size, polarization, image charge, and field dissociation. We also discuss the effect of the usual approximation of an average potential as required for the one-dimensional Poisson–Boltzmann equation, and conclude that the one-dimensional approximation underestimates the ion density. We calculate the electric potential, the ion distributions, the pH-values, the ion-size corrected activity coefficients, and the dissociation constants close to the electric double layer and compare the results for the various model corrections. © 2004 American Institute of Physics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper reports on a strongly physics-based minimal circuit model for polycrystalline cores, such as ferrites, including dimensional resonance (DR). The models and main properties of DR and hysteresis are recalled, a circuit model is described that incorporates the various phenomena, and it is mentioned how its parameters are extracted by broadband linear response and low-frequency nonlinear measurements. Finally, the simulations are validated with measurements for a specific example. The model turns out to predict accurately the magnetic behavior in the high-frequency nonlinear region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A model for the axially blown cylindrical arc is derived. In contrast to earlier theories, the model is gauge invariant with respect to energy, which is crucial for investigating current interruption. We determine from our model the dependence of the maximum interruptible current rate, (dI / dt)L, on the pressure, on the parallel capacitance, and on the line impedance for an SF6 arc. (dI / dt)L scales, approximately independent of the gas type, with the square root of the pressure. The arc resistance, at current zero with current rate equal to (dI / dt)L, is pressure independent. As a consequence, the arc resistance at current zero can serve as a figure of merit for the interruption performance of gas circuit breakers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Measurement of the ability of blood vessels to dilate and constrict, known as vascular reactivity, is often performed with breath-holding tasks that transiently raise arterial blood carbon dioxide (PaCO2) levels. However, following the proper commands for a breath-holding experiment may be difficult or impossible for many patients. In this study, we evaluated two approaches for obtaining vascular reactivity information using blood oxygenation level-dependent signal fluctuations obtained from resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging data: physiological fluctuation regression and coefficient of variation of the resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging signal. We studied a cohort of 28 older adults (69±7 years) and found that six of them (21%) could not perform the breath-holding protocol, based on an objective comparison with an idealized respiratory waveform. In the subjects that could comply, we found a strong linear correlation between data extracted from spontaneous resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging signal fluctuations and the blood oxygenation level-dependent percentage signal change during breath-holding challenge (R²=0.57 and 0.61 for resting-state physiological fluctuation regression and resting-state coefficient of variation methods, respectively). This technique may eliminate the need for subject cooperation, thus allowing the evaluation of vascular reactivity in a wider range of clinical and research conditions in which it may otherwise be impractical. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This work summarizes the results of a number of DC conductivity measurement studies on polypropylene (PP), low density polyethylene (LDPE), and cross linked polyethylene (XLPE). The main observation is that under apparently time-constant external conditions (voltage, temperature, etc.) no steady-state direct current (DC) was established even after very long measurement times. Nevertheless, this behavior seems to exhibit some common systematic features, and since the experiments were performed with different equipment at different R&D labs in different years by different teams, simple measurement artefacts can be excluded. One observation is that there are two electric field regimes with slightly different behavior, separated by crossover field of about 10–15 kV/mm. In this work we focus on the high-field region, where the main observation is that the conductance slowly decays sub-linearly with time, I∼ t−n, with 0.3 < n < 1, n mostly around 0.5. We provide experimental indications that this behavior is rather independent of the presence of 1) the voltage and 2) the peroxide decomposition products (in PE). The observations are in favor of an underlying thermally driven relaxation process related to structural changes (morphology, free volume) of the polymer. A main implication of the results is that the use of steady-state conductivity values for the characterization of certain polymer insulation is not appropriate and instead the decaying behavior of the conduction current must be considered. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

This study aimed to determine whether measurements of cerebrovascular reserve and oxygenation, assessed with spin relaxation rate R2', yield similar information about pathology in pre-operative Moyamoya disease patients, and to assess whether R2' is a better measure of oxygenation than other proposed markers, such as R2* and R2. Twenty-five preoperative Moyamoya disease patients were scanned at 3.0T with acetazolamide challenge. Cerebral blood flow mapping with multi-delay arterial spin labeling, and R2*, R2, and R2' mapping with Gradient-Echo Sampling of Free Induction Decay and Echo were performed. No baseline cerebral blood flow difference was found between angiographically abnormal and normal regions (49±12 vs. 48±11 mL/100 g/min, p=0.44). However, baseline R2' differed between these regions (3.2±0.7 vs. 2.9±0.6 s-1, p<0.001), indicating reduced oxygenation in abnormal regions. Cerebrovascular reserve was lower in angiographically abnormal regions (21±38 vs. 41±26%, p=0.001). All regions showed trend toward significantly improved oxygenation post-acetazolamide. Regions with poorer cerebrovascular reserve had lower baseline oxygenation (Kendall's s=-0.24, p=0.003). A number of angiographically abnormal regions demonstrated preserved cerebrovascular reserve, likely due to the presence of collaterals. Finally, of the concurrently measured relaxation rates, R2' was superior for oxygenation assessment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The influence of the carrier injection properties of electrode contacts on unipolar space-charge limited currents (SCLC) in perfect insulators is theoretically studied. The usual electric transport model consisting of the charge continuity equation and the Poisson equation is supplemented by boundary conditions describing carrier injection. The dependence of the electric behavior on the saturation current density, which is the most important parameter of the boundary condition, is investigated, mainly with FEM simulations. The scenarios in the focus are transient DC current when a constant voltage is switched on, and dielectric (or impedance) spectroscopy (AC). For the latter, higher harmonics up to the 5th order are relevant due to the intrinsic nonlinearity of SCLC. A simplified ordinary differential equation model for transient contact charging is derived, in an analogous way as it is usually done for the early SCLC transient with ideal ohmic contacts. Finally, a specific case with traps that may quench the transit-time peak is briefly discussed to illustrate trapping effects. It turns out that the SCLC dynamics can be separated in three time (or frequency) regimes. Two of them are separated as usual by the time of flight, τtoƒ, of carriers through the sample. A third region at shorter times t<τc≪τtoƒ (or higher frequencies) exists, where τc characterizes the time for space charge formation at the injecting contact. The contact injection properties thus mainly influence the short-time and high-frequency behavior, where the characteristic time decreases with increasing saturation current. This behavior is reflected by the appearance of specific structures in the absorption current and the impedance spectrum. For instance, an additional current maximum associated with the fast diffusive expansion of the locally injected space charge may appear at early times. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Insulator boundaries like electrode contacts, interfaces, and surfaces play decisive roles for the electric field distributions in high-voltage direct-current (HVDC) insulation. Well-known examples are charging effects at injecting and blocking electrode contacts, and at interfaces or surfaces. Reliable modeling of boundaries and interfaces poses a challenge and can be crucial for the quality of the resulting field distributions in HVDC equipment, but is in practice often put in second place of priority in simulation models. This paper emphasizes the macroscopic boundary conditions and related issues for electrical transport and illustrates their relevance with simple examples. Importance is attached to an appropriate compromise between physical generality and practical usability for simulations in the development process of HVDC insulation systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We determine the electron and hole mobility edges in amorphous polyethylene (PE) by calculating the boundary between localized and delocalized states in energy space. First, the molecular structure is simulated with molecular dynamics simulations. Then, the electronic structure is calculated with density functional theory. For the calculation of the mobility edge, we use two approaches, the Inverse Participation Ratio, and a new method based on percolation theory. They turn out to provide the same results; the electron and hole mobility edges are <0.05 eV and 0.25 eV away from the respective band edge, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A quantitative estimate of cerebral blood oxygen saturation is of critical importance in the investigation of cerebrovascular disease. While positron emission tomography can map in vivo the oxygen level in blood, it has limited availability and requires ionizing radiation. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) offers an alternative through the blood oxygen level-dependent contrast. Here, we describe an in vivo and non-invasive approach to map brain tissue oxygen saturation (StO2) with high spatial resolution. StO2 obtained with MRI correlated well with results from blood gas analyses for various oxygen and hematocrit challenges. In a stroke model, the hypoxic areas delineated in vivo by MRI spatially matched those observed ex vivo by pimonidazole staining. In a model of diffuse traumatic brain injury, MRI was able to detect even a reduction in StO2 that was too small to be detected by histology. In a F98 glioma model, MRI was able to map oxygenation heterogeneity. Thus, the MRI technique may improve our understanding of the pathophysiology of several brain diseases involving impaired oxygenation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Under which circumstances are variational principles based on entropy production rate useful tools for modeling steady states of electric (gas) discharge systems far from equilibrium? It is first shown how various different approaches, as Steenbeck's minimum voltage and Prigogine's minimum entropy production rate principles are related to the maximum entropy production rate principle (MEPP). Secondly, three typical examples are discussed, which provide a certain insight in the structure of the models that are candidates for MEPP application. It is then thirdly argued that MEPP, although not being an exact physical law, may provide reasonable model parameter estimates, provided the constraints contain the relevant (nonlinear) physical effects and the parameters to be determined are related to disregarded weak constraints that affect mainly global entropy production. Finally, it is additionally conjectured that a further reason for the success of MEPP in certain far from equilibrium systems might be based on a hidden linearity of the underlying kinetic equation(s). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: In the framework of a two-moment photo-hydrodynamic modelling of radiation transport, we introduce a concept for the determination of effective radiation transport coefficients based on the minimization of the local entropy production rate of radiation and (generally nongrey) matter. The method provides the nonequilibrium photon distribution from which the effective (variable) absorption coefficients and the variable Eddington factor (VEF) can be calculated. For a single band model, the photon distribution depends explicitly on the frequency dependence of the absorption coefficient. Without introducing artificial fit parameters, multi-group or multi-band concepts, our approach reproduces the exact results in both limits of optically thick (Rosseland mean) and optically thin (Planck mean) media, in contrast to the maximum entropy method. Also the results for general nonequilibrium radiation between the limits of diffusive and ballistic photons are reasonable. We conjecture that the reason for the success of our approach lies in the linearity of the underlying Boltzmann equation of the photon gas. The method is illustrated and discussed for grey matter and for a simple example of nongrey matter with a two-band absorption spectrum. The method is also briefly compared with the maximum entropy concept. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: A C1019T polymorphism in the human connexin37 (hCx37) gene has been associated with cardiovascular risk, but it remains debatable whether the 1019C or the 1019T allele carries this risk. Here, we investigated whether these allelic variants are differentially predictive of increased risk for coronary artery disease (CAD) and myocardial infarction (MI). A total of 781 Swiss participants, including 597 patients diagnosed with CAD, 50% who reported previous MI, and 184 control subjects were genotyped. Patients in the +CAD group had a higher frequency of the Cx37-1019C allele (70.3% versus 65.0%, p =0.004). Multivariate analysis showed that the hCx37-C1019T polymorphism is an independent predictor of CAD (odds ratio=2.13, confidence interval=1.31–3.46 and p <0.01). Moreover, this polymorphism is not associated with any of the other characteristics examined, including gender, age, body-mass-index, diabetes, total/HDL/LDL-cholesterol, triglycerides, apoA-I, apoB, hypertension and cigarette smoking. In comparison with the −CAD group, we observed an increase of the Cx37-1019C allele in the +MI +CAD subgroup (71.2% versus 65.0%, p =0.002) but not in the −MI +CAD subgroup. Allelic frequency comparisons of these three subgroups predicted that this polymorphism is also an independent risk factor for MI. In conclusion, our results reveal the importance of screening the Cx37-1019C allele for both CAD and MI risk assessments. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: A model is discussed, which allows in an easy way to perform electric field simulations in unipolar space charge controlled dielectric media with the finite element method. The approach is appropriate for a variety of different devices in electrical engineering, containing solid, liquid, or gaseous insulators. The main issue concerns the boundary condition at the charge injecting contacts, including ohmic contacts (leading to space charge limited currents) as well as contacts with a finite threshold field for injection (e.g., by Corona onset in gas). The model naturally contains the high-current limit, where the current is injection dominated, i.e., given by the saturation current of the contact, and the capacitive field is restored. Results for a few examples are presented, in order to validate the method by comparison with analytical results, and in order to illustrate its usefulness for applications. In particular, for gaseous insulation various steady state and transient field distributions are calculated. With this approach it is easily possible to investigate the effect of convective currents as well as the charging of dielectrics surfaces. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

A genetic polymorphism in the human gene encoding connexin37 (CX37, encoded by GJA4, also known as CX37) has been reported as a potential prognostic marker for atherosclerosis. The expression of this gap-junction protein is altered in mouse and human atherosclerotic lesions: it disappears from the endothelium of advanced plaques but is detected in macrophages recruited to the lesions. The role of CX37 in atherogenesis, however, remains unknown. Here we have investigated the effect of deleting the mouse connexin37 (Cx37) gene (Gja4, also known as Cx37) on atherosclerosis in apolipoprotein E–deficient (Apoe−/−) mice, an animal model of this disease. We find that Gja4−/−Apoe−/− mice develop more aortic lesions than Gja4+/+Apoe−/− mice that express Cx37. Using in vivo adoptive transfer, we show that monocyte and macrophage recruitment is enhanced by eliminating expression of Cx37 in these leukocytes but not by eliminating its expression in the endothelium. We further show that Cx37 hemichannel activity in primary monocytes, macrophages and a macrophage cell line (H36.12j) inhibits leukocyte adhesion. This antiadhesive effect is mediated by release of ATP into the extracellular space. Thus, Cx37 hemichannels may control initiation of the development of atherosclerotic plaques by regulating monocyte adhesion. H36.12j macrophages expressing either of the two CX37 proteins encoded by a polymorphism in the human GJA4 gene show differential ATP-dependent adhesion. These results provide a potential mechanism by which a polymorphism in CX37 protects against atherosclerosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gap junctions, formed by the connexin (Cx) protein family, are intercellular channels that permit the cytoplasmic exchange of ions and small metabolites between neighboring cells, a process called gap junction intercellular communication (GJIC). These channels possess unique properties, including distinctive permeabilities for various signaling molecules, which depend on the connexin member(s) that form them. Importantly, GJIC must be properly controlled as its misregulation might contribute to diseases. Morphological and functional studies have revealed ‘gap junction-like’ structures and cell-to-cell communication involving cells of the immune system. The connexins involved in such contacts have been partially identified in recent years. This review focuses on the potential physiological roles of gap junctions in the development and recruitment of leukocytes as well as in the regulation of the immune response. Furthermore, the importance of GJIC in immuno-inflammatory pathologies is illustrated in atherosclerosis. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

This paper describes how to optimize energy storage devices (ESDs) by maximizing their net present value (NPV). This requires both technical and economic information. The relevant technical information is specified in concise form by the energy–power relation (Ragone-plot) of the ESD and its lifetime. The economic information is given in terms of operation costs (energy costs), investment costs, and the economic benefit created by operating the ESD. The NPV is expressed as a function of variables such as the size of the ESD. An appropriate choice of these variables maximizes the NPV. If the benefit is given in terms of the energy supplied by the ESD and the lifetime is operation independent, the optimization reduces to a minimization of the total lifecycle costs. In this case a knowledge of the economic benefit, which is often the quantity that is most difficult to model, is not required. In more general cases, e.g. if the lifetime depends on optimization variables, a quantification of the benefit is necessary in order to maximize the NPV. We illustrate the approach with various stationary and mobile applications, and for batteries and capacitors. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Magnetic resonance fingerprinting (MRF) is a quantitative MRI (qMRI) framework that provides simultaneous estimates of multiple relaxation parameters as well as metrics of field inhomogeneity in a single acquisition. However, current challenges exist in the forms of (1) scan time; (2) need for custom image reconstruction; (3) large dictionary sizes; (4) long dictionary-matching time. This study aims to introduce a novel streamlined magnetic-resonance fingerprinting (sMRF) framework based on a single-shot echo-planar imaging (EPI) sequence to simultaneously estimate tissue T1, T2, and T2* with integrated B1+ correction. Encouraged by recent work on EPI-based MRF, we developed a method that combines spin-echo EPI with gradient-echo EPI to achieve T2 in addition to T1 and T2* quantification. To this design, we add simultaneous multi-slice (SMS) acceleration to enable full-brain coverage in a few minutes. Moreover, in the parameter-estimation step, we use deep learning to train a deep neural network (DNN) to accelerate the estimation process by orders of magnitude. Notably, due to the high image quality of the EPI scans, the training process can rely simply on Bloch-simulated data. The DNN also removes the need for storing large dictionaries. Phantom scans along with in-vivo multi-slice scans from seven healthy volunteers were acquired with resolutions of 1.1×1.1×3 mm3 and 1.7×1.7×3 mm3, and the results were validated against ground truth measurements. Excellent correspondence was found between our T1, T2, and T2* estimates and results obtained from standard approaches. In the phantom scan, a strong linear relationship (R = 1–1.04, R2>0.96) was found for all parameter estimates, with a particularly high agreement for T2 estimation (R2>0.99). Similar findings are reported for the in-vivo human data for all of our parameter estimates. Incorporation of DNN results in a reduction of parameter estimation time on the order of 1000 x and a reduction in storage requirements on the order of 2500 x while achieving highly similar results as conventional dictionary matching (%differences of 7.4 ± 0.4%, 3.6 ± 0.3% and 6.0 ± 0.4% error in T1, T2, and T2* estimation). Thus, sMRF has the potential to be the method of choice for future MRF studies by providing ease of implementation, fast whole-brain coverage, and ultra-fast T1/T2/T2* estimation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The prevalence of and outcomes associated with different antithrombotic strategies after left atrial appendage occlusion (LAAO) are not well described. This study sought to evaluate patterns of antithrombotic medication strategies at discharge following LAAO with the Watchman FLX device in real-world practice and to compare the risk of adverse events among the different antithrombotic regimens. The authors evaluated patients in the NCDR (National Cardiovascular Data Registry) LAAO Registry who underwent LAAO with the second-generation LAA closure device between 2020 and 2022. They grouped patients by mutually exclusive discharge antithrombotic strategies and compared the rates of adverse events at 45 days and 6 months using multivariable Cox proportional hazards regression. Among 53,878 patients undergoing successful LAAO with the second-generation LAA closure device, the most common antithrombotic discharge regimens were direct oral anticoagulant (DOAC) plus aspirin (48.3%), DOAC alone (22.6%), dual antiplatelet therapy (8.1%), warfarin plus aspirin (7.7%), and DOAC plus P2Y 12 inhibitor (4.9%). In multivariate analysis, DOAC alone had a lower rate of major adverse events and major bleeding at 45 days of follow-up compared with DOAC plus aspirin (major adverse events: HR: 0.78; 95% CI: 0.68-0.91; major bleeding: HR: 0.69; 95% CI: 0.60-0.80). These differences persisted at 6 months. Warfarin without aspirin also showed lower rates of major bleeding at both time points. No differences were seen in stroke/transient ischemic attack or device-related thrombus. In real-world U.S. practice, discharge on DOAC alone or warfarin alone was associated with a lower rate of adverse events compared with DOAC plus aspirin. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Inhomogeneous electric fields in mixtures of liquid dielectrics are investigated theoretically in the framework of thermodynamics of binary mixtures. Due to dielectrophoretic forces, the local dielectric constant is increased in high-field regions, which in turn leads to a decrease of field enhancements. This effect could be extremely useful for field-grading applications in insulation devices. Although the effect is usually weak due to dominant entropic forces, it can be strongly enhanced close to the critical point where the effective (mutual) diffusion constant becomes small. © 2000 American Institute of Physics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ionic wind devices or electrostatic fluid accelerators are becoming of increasing interest as tools for thermal management, in particular for semiconductor devices. In this work, we present a numerical model for predicting the performance of such devices; its main benefit is the ability to accurately predict the amount of charge injected from the corona electrode. Our multiphysics numerical model consists of a highly nonlinear, strongly coupled set of partial differential equations including the Navier-Stokes equations for fluid flow, Poisson's equation for electrostatic potential, charge continuity, and heat transfer equations. To solve this system we employ a staggered solution algorithm that generalizes Gummel's algorithm for charge transport in semiconductors. Predictions of our simulations are verified and validated by comparison with experimental measurements of integral physical quantities, which are shown to closely match. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights • rs-fMRI benefits enormously from sampling above the cardiac cycle Nyquist frequency. • Broadening the spectral width significantly improves SNS and TRT for rs-fMRI data. • Filtering the cardiac and respiratory bands significantly improves the ICA analysis. • 3 min SMS-EPI scan provides comparable levels of SNS and TRT as that of a 10 min EPI. Abstract Background Recent advancements in simultaneous multi-slice (SMS) imaging techniques have enabled whole-brain resting-state fMRI (rs-fMRI) scanning at sub-second temporal resolution, providing spectral ranges much wider than the typically used range of 0.01–0.1 Hz. However, the advantages of this accelerated acquisition for rs-fMRI have not been evaluated. New method In this study, we used SMS Echo Planar Imaging (EPI) to probe whole-brain functional connectivity with a short repetition time (TR = 350 ms) and compared it with standard EPI with a longer TR of 2000 ms. We determined the effect of scan length and investigated the temporal filtration strategies that optimize results based on metrics of signal-noise separation and test-retest reliability using both seed-based and independent component analysis (ICA). Results We found that use of either the entire frequency range of 0.01–1.4 Hz or the entire frequency range with the exclusion of typical cardiac and respiratory frequency values tended to provide the best functional connectivity maps. Comparison with existing methods We found that the SMS-acquired rs-fMRI scans had improved the signal-noise separation, while preserving the same level of test-retest reliability compared to conventional EPI, and enabled the detection of reliable functional connectivity networks with scan times as short as 3 min. Conclusions Our findings suggest that whole-brain rs-fMRI studies may benefit from the increased temporal resolution enabled by the SMS-EPI acquisition, leading to drastic scan time reductions, which in turn should enable the more widespread use of rs-fMRI in clinical research protocols. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

If transport of a given (classical, fermionic, or bosonic) particle species in media is described by a Boltzmann transport equation (BTE), it is often expedient to solve this BTE in the framework of a moment expansion of the particle distribution function, while an exact solution or simulation of the problem with real material properties and complex geometries is unpractical or even unfeasible. Whereas for local thermal equilibrium (LTE) the well-known hydrodynamic equations for the densities of the conserved quantities are derived from the BTE, for non-LTE it is not obvious how to define moments and to close the truncated hierarchy of partial differential equations for these moments. This paper reviews a closure based on entropy production rate minimization, which is applicable to incoherent transport of independent particles in non-LTE interacting with an LTE-medium. The BTE is then linear, includes emission-absorption and elastic scattering processes, and is equivalent to radiative transfer equations. In a large range from diffusive (opaque media) to ballistic (transparent media) transport behaviour, the closure provides useful mean transport coefficients that are exact in the LTE limit, in contrast to the often used maximum entropy moment closure. After an introduction into the underlying theory for massive and wave-like particles, two illustrative examples are discussed. First, the two-moment approximation of radiative heat transfer is reviewed and effective absorption coefficients and the Eddington factor are calculated for a real absorption spectrum. Secondly, the approach is applied to semi-classical electric transport in mesoscopic systems and is shown to provide the correct conductance of a quasi-one-dimensional ballistic conductor with elastic scattering. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The performance of alternating current (ac) electric arcing devices is related to arc extinction or its re-ignition at zero crossings of the current (so-called ‘current zero’, CZ). Theoretical investigations thus usually focus on the transient behaviour of arcs near CZ, e.g. by solving the modelling differential equations in the vicinity of CZ. This paper proposes as an alternative approach to investigate global mathematical properties of the underlying periodically driven dynamic system describing the electric circuit containing the arcing device. For instance, the uniqueness of the trivial solution associated with the insulating state indicates the extinction of any arc. The existence of non-trivial attractors (typically a time-periodic state) points to a re-ignition of certain arcs. The performance regions of arcing devices, such as circuit breakers and arc torches, can thus be identified with the regions of absence and existence, respectively, of non-trivial attractors. Most important for applications, the boundary of a performance region in the model parameter space is then associated with the bifurcation of the non-trivial attractors. The concept is illustrated for simple black-box arc models, such as the Mayr and the Cassie model, by calculating for various cases the performance boundaries associated with the bifurcation of ac arcs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This contribution discusses thermally stimulated current (TSC) measurements on low density polyethylene (LDPE) in the form of thin films and virtually without additives. The TSC responses are divided into different parts attributed to capacitive currents, currents due to release of trapped carriers, and normal conduction currents. The three contributions dominate at low, intermediate, and high temperatures, respectively. Dielectric spectroscopy measurements at different temperatures indicate the relevance of the capacitive currents for the measurement of thermally stimulated polarization currents (TSPC). The separation of the conduction current, by subtracting reference curves from the total current, allowed the investigation of trap and conduction properties for different experimental parameters (e.g., excitation levels, fields, heating rates). [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Axially blown electric arcs in a model circuit breaker are investigated by electrical measurements and fast imaging with a high-speed camera for visualizing the arc structure. Parameters for a dynamic conductance model (known as the “black-box model” in the arc literature) are extracted from the electrical measurements for currents between a few tens of amperes and a few kiloamperes. The model is used for the prediction of the conductance-dependent cooling power and arc relaxation time, as well as the voltage-current characteristics of the arcs in our system. In order to work out the relevance of the different cooling mechanisms, an alternative and more physically based dynamic model for axially blown arcs is incorporated. It turns out that convective cooling predominates turbulent heat conduction and radiation cooling in the region of validity of the model. The result is consistent with the observed strong dependence of the cooling power on the flow conditions that are controlled by the blow-gas pressure and the geometry. Furthermore, the comparison between air and SF6 arcs indicates a considerable dependence of the conductance-cooling relation on the gas type. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Objectives: The PROGRESS PVL registry evaluated transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) in patients treated with ACURATE neo, a supra-annular self-expanding bioprosthetic aortic valve.Background: While clinical outcomes with TAVI are comparable with those achieved with surgery, residual aortic regurgitation (AR) and paravalvular leak (PVL) are common complications. The ACURATE neo valve has a pericardial sealing skirt designed to minimize PVL.Methods: The primary endpoint was the rate of total AR over time, as assessed by a core echocardiographic laboratory. The study enrolled 500 patients (mean age: 81.8 ± 5.1 years; 61% female; mean baseline STS score: 6.0 ± 4.5%) from 22 centers in Europe and Canada; 498 patients were treated with ACURATE neo.Results: The rate of ≥ moderate AR was 4.6% at discharge and 3.1% at 12 months; the rate of ≥ moderate PVL was 4.6% at discharge and 2.6% at 12 months. Paired analyses showed significant improvement in overall PVL between discharge and 12 months (P < 0.001); 64.6% of patients had no change in PVL grade, 24.9% improved, and 10.5% worsened. Patients also exhibited significant improvement in transvalvular gradient (P < 0.001) and effective orifice area (P=0.01). The mortality rate was 2.2% at 30 days and 11.3% at 12 months. The permanent pacemaker implantation (PPI) rate was 10.2% at 30 days and 12.2% at 12 months.Conclusions: Results from PROGRESS PVL support the sustained safety and performance of TAVI with the ACURATE neo valve, showing excellent valve hemodynamics, good clinical outcomes, and significant interindividual improvement in PVL from discharge to 12-month follow-up. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Spontaneous fluctuations in blood oxygenation level-dependent (BOLD) images are the basis of resting-state fMRI and frequently used for functional connectivity studies. However, there may be intrinsic information in the amplitudes of these fluctuations. We investigated the possibility of using the amplitude of spontaneous BOLD signal fluctuations as a biomarker for cerebral vasomotor reactivity. We compared the coefficient of variation (CV) of the time series (defined as the temporal standard deviation of the time series divided by the mean signal intensity) in two populations: 1) Ten young healthy adults and 2) Ten hypertensive elderly subjects with chronic kidney disease (CKD). We found a statistically significant increase (P<0.01) in the CV values for the CKD patients compared with the young healthy adults in both gray matter (GM) and white matter (WM). The difference was independent of the exact segmentation method, became more significant after correcting for physiological signals using RETROICOR, and mainly arose from very low frequency components of the BOLD signal fluctuation (f<0.025 Hz). Furthermore, there was a strong relationship between WM and GM signal fluctuation CV's (R2 = 0.87) in individuals, with a ratio of about 1∶3. These results suggest that amplitude of the spontaneous BOLD signal fluctuations may be used to assess the cerebrovascular reactivity mechanisms and provide valuable information about variations with age and different disease states. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Synchrotron microbeam radiation therapy (MRT) is an innovative irradiation modality based on spatial fractionation of a high-dose X-ray beam into lattices of microbeams. The increase in lifespan of brain tumor-bearing rats is associated with vascular damage but the physiological consequences of MRT on blood vessels have not been described. In this manuscript, we evaluate the oxygenation changes induced by MRT in an intracerebral 9L gliosarcoma model. Methods: Tissue responses to MRT (two orthogonal arrays (2×400Gy)) were studied using magnetic resonance-based measurements of local blood oxygen saturation (MR_SO2) and quantitative immunohistology of RECA-1, Type-IV collagen and GLUT-1, marker of hypoxia. Results: In tumors, MR_SO2 decreased by a factor of 2 in tumor between day 8 and day 45 after MRT. This correlated with tumor vascular remodeling, i.e. decrease in vessel density, increases in half-vessel distances (×5) and GLUT-1 immunoreactivity. Conversely, MRT did not change normal brain MR_SO2, although vessel inter-distances increased slightly. Conclusion: We provide new evidence for the differential effect of MRT on tumor vasculature, an effect that leads to tumor hypoxia. As hypothesized formerly, the vasculature of the normal brain exposed to MRT remains sufficiently perfused to prevent any hypoxia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Functional MRI (fMRI) brain studies performed in the presence of a steady-state or “blood pool” contrast agent yields activation maps that are weighted for cerebral blood volume (CBV). Previous animal experiments suggest significant contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR) improvements, but these studies have not yet been performed in humans due to the lack of availability of a suitable agent. Here we report the use of the USPIO ferumoxytol (AMAG Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Cambridge, MA) for functional brain activation in humans, termed contrast enhanced functional blood volume imaging (CE-fBVI). Four subjects were scanned during a unilateral finger tapping task with standard blood–oxygen level dependent (BOLD) imaging before contrast and CE-fBVI after contrast injection. The CE-fBVI response showed both a fast (5.8±1.3s) and a slow (75.3±27.5s) component of CBV response to stimuli. A significant CNR gain of approximately 2–3 was found for CE-fBVI compared to BOLD fMRI. Interestingly, less susceptibility-related signal dropouts were observed in the inferior frontal and temporal lobes with CE-fBVI. The combination of higher CNR and better spatial specificity, enabled by CE-fBVI using blood pool USPIO contrast agent opens the door to higher resolution brain mapping. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Aim Prostaglandin E2, by ligation of its receptor EP4, suppresses the production of inflammatory cytokines and chemokines in macrophages in vitro. Thus, activation of EP4 may constitute an endogenous anti-inflammatory pathway. This study investigated the role of EP4 in atherosclerosis in vivo, and particularly its impact on inflammation. Methods and results Ldlr−/− mice transplanted with EP4+/+ or EP4−/− bone marrow consumed a high-fat diet for 5 or 10 weeks. Allogenic bone marrow transplantation promoted exacerbation of atherosclerosis irrespective of EP4 genotype, compatible with prior observations of exacerbated atherogenesis by allogenicity. EP4 deficiency had little effect on plaque size or morphology in early atherosclerosis, but at the later time point, mice deficient in EP4 displayed enhanced inflammation in their atherosclerotic plaques. Expression of monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 and interferon-γ inducible protein 10 increased, and there was a corresponding increase in macrophage and T-cell infiltration. These plaques also contained fewer smooth muscle cells. Despite these changes, mice deficient in EP4 in bone marrow-derived cells at an advanced stage had similar lesion size (in both aorta and aortic root) as mice with EP4. Conclusion This study shows that in advanced atherosclerosis, EP4 deficiency did not alter atherosclerotic lesion size, but yielded plaques with exacerbated inflammation and altered lesion composition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents the modeling, design, fabrication and testing of monolithic electrostatic curved-electrode zipping actuators fabricated by deep reactive ion etching (DRIE). In contrast to traditional curved-electrode zipping actuators, the design of the actuators presented here utilizes a compliant starting cantilever to significantly reduce the initial pull-in voltage by closing the gap (kerf) generated by DRIE. Thus, the actuators achieve high actuation force at a relatively low voltage. For example, two actuators each with dimensions of 4.5 mm * 100 µm * 300 µm are used to drive a bistable MEMS relay. Together, the two actuators provide up to 10 mN of force over their 80 µm stroke at 140 V. Measurements of the force-displacement relation of these actuators confirm theoretical expectations based both on numerical and analytical methods. Finite element analysis is employed to predict the behavior of the complete bistable relay system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A model of magnetic components is presented which includes saturation and static hysteresis and covers a wide frequency range. A dedicated setup measures the B–H curves for extraction of the model parameters and for model validation. The magnetic model is then represented as a spice circuit and is used in transient system simulations of power converters. Simulations and measurements of core losses and the filter performance of common mode chokes are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ImUnity is an original 2.5D deep-learning model designed for efficient and flexible MR image harmonization. A VAE-GAN network, coupled with a confusion module and an optional biological preservation module, uses multiple 2D slices taken from different anatomical locations in each subject of the training database, as well as image contrast transformations for its training. It eventually generates 'corrected' MR images that can be used for various multi-center population studies. Using 3 open source databases (ABIDE, OASIS and SRPBS), which contain MR images from multiple acquisition scanner types or vendors and a large range of subjects ages, we show that ImUnity: (1) outperforms state-of-the-art methods in terms of quality of images generated using traveling subjects; (2) removes sites or scanner biases while improving patients classification; (3) harmonizes data coming from new sites or scanners without the need for an additional fine-tuning and (4) allows the selection of multiple MR reconstructed images according to the desired applications. Tested here on T1-weighted images, ImUnity could be used to harmonize other types of medical images. [Display omitted] • We propose a modified VAE-GAN model for versatile T1-MRI domain adaptation. • ImUnity harmonizes multi-site data without the need for traveling subjects. • ImUnity removes site and scanner bias while preserving clinical information. • ImUnity reaches state of the art when harmonizing images from traveling subjects. • ImUnity improves clinical classification of Autism Spectrum Disorders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The PROMUS Element Plus US Post-Approval Study (PE-Plus PAS) was a prospective, open-label, multicenter, observational study designed to examine outcomes in everyday clinical practice in patients treated with everolimus-eluting, platinum-chromium PROMUS Element Plus stents at 52 centers in the United States. This is the first report of results from this large study. The primary end point of the PE-Plus PAS was 12-month cardiac death or myocardial infarction in the more restricted population of "PLATINUM-like" patients pooled from the PE-Plus PAS, PE-PROVE (PROMUS Element European post-approval study), and PLATINUM Workhorse/Small Vessel trials. Additional clinical end points were tested in the overall PE-Plus PAS patient population. Of the 2,683 patients enrolled in PE-Plus PAS, 70% were men, mean age was 64 years, 33% had diabetes, and 29% were "PLATINUM-like." Among the PLATINUM-like patients, 12-month cardiac death or myocardial infarction was 1.8% (33 of 1,855) with an upper 1-sided 95% confidence interval of 2.3%, which was significantly less than the prespecified performance goal of 3.2% (pnoninferiority <0.001). In the overall PE-Plus population, 12-month target vessel failure (defined as death, MI, or revascularization related to the target vessel) was 6.7% (170 of 2,554), cardiac death was 1.4% (37 of 2,554), MI was 1.1% (28 of 2,554), and ARC-definite/probable stent thrombosis was 0.7% (19 of 2,554). A prespecified secondary end point of 12-month target vessel failure in diabetic patients demonstrated a rate of 4.2% (14 of 332) with an upper 1-sided 95% confidence interval of 6.03%, which was significantly less than the performance goal of 12.6% (pnoninferiority <0.001). In conclusion, in this large registry of unselected patients, coronary artery revascularization with the PROMUS Element Plus everolimus-eluting stent demonstrates favorable results with low 1-year clinical event rates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background--The Dual Antiplatelet Therapy Study (DAPT) compared 12 and 30 months thienopyridine plus aspirin therapy after drug-eluting stents. The TAXUS Libertē Post Approval Study (TL-PAS) contributed TAXUS Liberté paclitaxel-eluting stent (PES) patients treated with prasugrel. Methods and Results--Outcomes for 2191 TL-PAS patients enrolled into DAPT were assessed. The DAPT co-primary composite endpoint (death, myocardial infarction [MI] or stroke) was lower with 30 compared with 12 months therapy (3.7% vs 8.8%, HR=0.407, P<0.001). Rates of death and stroke were similar between groups, but MI was significantly reduced with prolonged prasugrel (1.9% vs 7.1%, HR=0.255, P<0.001). The DAPT co-primary endpoint, stent thrombosis (ST), was also lower with longer therapy (0.2% vs 2.9%, HR=0.063, P<0.001). MI related to ST (0% vs 2.6%, P<0.001) and occurring spontaneously (1.9% vs 4.5%, HR=0.407, P=0.007) were both reduced with prolonged prasugrel. Increased MI rates were observed within 90 days of prasugrel cessation after both 12 and 30 months. Composite GUSTO moderate or severe bleeds were modestly increased (2.4% vs 1.7%, HR=1.438, P=0.234) but severe bleeds were not more frequent (0.3% vs 0.5%, HR=0.549, p=0.471) in the prolonged treatment group. Conclusions--Prasugrel and aspirin continued for 30 months reduced ischemic events for the TAXUS Liberté PES patient subset from DAPT through reductions in MI and ST. Withdrawal of prasugrel was followed by an increase in MI after both 12 and 30 months therapy. The optimal duration of dual antiplatelet therapy with prasugrel following TAXUS Liberté PES remains unknown, but appears to be >30 months. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this study was to estimate magnetic resonance imaging-based brain perfusion parameters from combined multiecho spin-echo and gradient-echo acquisitions, to correct them for T1-, T2-, and -related contrast agent (CA) extravasation effects, and to simultaneously determine vascular permeability. Perfusion data were acquired using a combined multiecho spin- and gradient-echo (SAGE) echo-planar imaging sequence, which was corrected for CA extravasation effects using pharmacokinetic modeling. The presented method was validated in simulations and brain tumor patients, and compared with uncorrected single-echo and multiecho data. In the presence of CA extravasation, uncorrected single-echo data resulted in underestimated CA concentrations, leading to underestimated single-echo cerebral blood volume (CBV) and mean transit time (MTT). In contrast, uncorrected multiecho data resulted in overestimations of CA concentrations, CBV, and MTT. The correction of CA extravasation effects resulted in CBV and MTT estimates that were more consistent with the underlying tissue characteristics. Spin-echo perfusion data showed reduced large-vessel blooming effects, facilitating better distinction between increased CBV due to active tumor progression and elevated CBV due to the presence of cortical vessels in tumor proximity. Furthermore, extracted permeability parameters were in good agreement with elevated T1-weighted postcontrast signal values. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The quantification of bolus-tracking MRI techniques remains challenging. The acquisition usually relies on one contrast and the analysis on a simplified model of the various phenomena that arise within a voxel, leading to inaccurate perfusion estimates. To evaluate how simplifications in the interstitial model impact perfusion estimates, we propose a numerical tool to simulate the MR signal provided by a dynamic contrast enhanced (DCE) MRI experiment. Our model encompasses the intrinsic and relaxations, the magnetic field perturbations induced by susceptibility interfaces (vessels and cells), the diffusion of the water protons, the blood flow, the permeability of the vessel wall to the the contrast agent (CA) and the constrained diffusion of the CA within the voxel. The blood compartment is modeled as a uniform compartment. The different blocks of the simulation are validated and compared to classical models. The impact of the CA diffusivity on the permeability and blood volume estimates is evaluated. Simulations demonstrate that the CA diffusivity slightly impacts the permeability estimates ( for classical blood flow and CA diffusion). The effect of long echo times is investigated. Simulations show that DCE-MRI performed with an echo time may already lead to significant underestimation of the blood volume (up to 30% lower for brain tumor permeability values). The potential and the versatility of the proposed implementation are evaluated by running the simulation with realistic vascular geometry obtained from two photons microscopy and with impermeable cells in the extravascular environment. In conclusion, the proposed simulation tool describes DCE-MRI experiments and may be used to evaluate and optimize acquisition and processing strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: This study investigated the regulation of glucose uptake in cells that participate in atherogenesis by stimuli relevant to this process, to gain mechanistic insight into the origin of the (18)fluorine-labeled 2-deoxy-D-glucose (FdG) uptake signals observed clinically. Background: Patient studies suggest that positron emission tomography (PET) using FdG can detect "active" atherosclerotic plaques, yet the mechanism giving rise to FdG signals remains unknown. Methods: We exposed cells to conditions thought to operate in atheroma and determined rates of glucose uptake. Results: Hypoxia, but not pro-inflammatory cytokines, potently stimulated glucose uptake in human macrophages and foam cells. Statins attenuated this process in vitro, suggesting that these agents have a direct effect on human macrophages. Immunohistochemical study of human plaques revealed abundant expression of proteins regulating glucose utilization, predominantly in macrophage-rich regions of the plaques-regions previously proved hypoxic. Smooth-muscle cells and endothelial cells markedly increased rates of glucose uptake when exposed to pro-inflammatory cytokines. Conclusions: Glucose uptake and, probably, FdG uptake signals in atheroma may reflect hypoxia-stimulated macrophages rather than mere inflammatory burden. Cytokine-activated smooth-muscle cells also may contribute to the FdG signal. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: This study investigated the regulation of glucose uptake in cells that participate in atherogenesis by stimuli relevant to this process, to gain mechanistic insight into the origin of the 18fluorine-labeled 2-deoxy-D-glucose (FdG) uptake signals observed clinically. Background: Patient studies suggest that positron emission tomography (PET) using FdG can detect “active” atherosclerotic plaques, yet the mechanism giving rise to FdG signals remains unknown. Methods: We exposed cells to conditions thought to operate in atheroma and determined rates of glucose uptake. Results: Hypoxia, but not pro-inflammatory cytokines, potently stimulated glucose uptake in human macrophages and foam cells. Statins attenuated this process in vitro, suggesting that these agents have a direct effect on human macrophages. Immunohistochemical study of human plaques revealed abundant expression of proteins regulating glucose utilization, predominantly in macrophage-rich regions of the plaques—regions previously proved hypoxic. Smooth-muscle cells and endothelial cells markedly increased rates of glucose uptake when exposed to pro-inflammatory cytokines. Conclusions: Glucose uptake and, probably, FdG uptake signals in atheroma may reflect hypoxia-stimulated macrophages rather than mere inflammatory burden. Cytokine-activated smooth-muscle cells also may contribute to the FdG signal. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• High coercivity is required only at the magnet's edges in wind turbine generators. • Several NdFeB materials with distinct properties can be arranged in a single magnet. • Conventional and SPS sintering are viable for preparation of multicomponent magnets. • Nonuniform distribution of magnetization is favorable for the target applications. Magnetic remanence (B r) and coercivity (H c) of hard magnets play a crucial role in electro-mechanical devices like electrical motors or generators. Elevated remanence ensures high efficiency of the device, and large coercivity protects the magnet from demagnetization. Usually, the increase of one comes at the cost of the other, such that the material optimization has a trade-off character. In this work, we demonstrate that in many electrical machines which use permanent magnets, high coercivity is required mainly at the edges of the magnet. This enables us to design a novel form of a permanent magnet, called a multicomponent magnet, where the sides of the magnet have high coercivity, while the central part is characterized by high remanence. Such multicomponent magnets are realized by two independent methods, namely, conventional high-temperature sintering and Spark Plasma Sintering (SPS). The magnetic and mechanical performances are suitable for applications, and simulation results using the magnetic characteristics of the multicomponent geometry predict its benefit on the device functionality. Further tuning of the geometry of the multicomponent permanent magnets opens avenues for promising applications, particularly in electrical motors for electrical vehicles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]