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This work provides novel insights into the uncertainty quantification and reliability sensitivity analysis of a direct-operated relief valve undergoing vibration. A reliability model for pressure tolerance failure of the relief valve is developed based on the criterion that the pressure tolerance exceeded the allowable value, incorporating the vibration and multiparameter uncertainty. The Simulink simulation is employed to analyze the nonlinear behaviors of the valve. To avoid excessive nonlinear calculations, a Kriging-based strategy is adopted for reliability sensitivity analysis, allowing for rapid estimation of nonlinear responses. The results are compared with those obtained by MCS to verify the performance of the proposed method. The sensitivity results indicate that the proposed method saves 98 % of computational time without much loss of accuracy. Furthermore, more attention should be paid to the spring stiffness, valve element mass, and controlled chamber volume in the structural reliability design of relief valves. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The association of localized pain sensitivity in the residual limb and prosthesis use has clinical implications, however, rarely been assessed. This study aimed to investigate pain sensitivity and explore its range, variability, and association with prosthesis use alongside other demographic and clinical characteristics of veterans with transtibial amputation. Pain sensitivity was determined as pressure pain threshold (PPT) and pressure tolerance (PT) in 19 male veterans with a mean age of 49.5 years using pressure algometry at 12 anatomical locations on the residual limb. A comparison of pain sensitivity at each location, and among anatomical locations and participants was explored using independent t-test, analysis of variance, and Kruskal--Wallis tests, respectively. Pain sensitivity range (PSR), the difference between PT and PPT, was significantly different (p < 0.05) at mid-patellar tendon, medial tibial flare, and the distal end of the tibia. The lowest PPT and PT (20.5 and 33 Ncm-2, p = 0.13) were recorded at the distal end of the residual limb, and the highest PPT and PT (73.4 and 94.3 Ncm-2, p = 0.03) were recorded at the mid-patellar tendon. Pain sensitivity was significantly different among anatomical locations and participants. The correlation tests (Pearson and partial eta squared) showed non-significant associations of pain sensitivity with participants' demographic and clinical characteristics except for daily prosthesis use. The mid-patellar tendon, medial tibial flare, and distal end of the tibia revealed the lowest pain hypersensitivity due to higher PSR. Longer daily prosthesis use was associated with increased pain sensitivity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we verify the feasibility of our proposed design scheme for customizable optical pressure sensor based on the photo-elastic effect of SiO2 waveguide in asymmetric Mach-Zehnder interferometer (a-MZI) structure. The curve lengths and minimum radii of curvature of several common types of a-MZI arm curves are calculated theoretically. By analyzing the relationship between the radius of curvature of the long arm curve, the length of the long arm curve and the arm length difference of the a-MZI sensor under different types of arm curves, the design scheme for an a-MZI pressure sensor with a specific arm length difference is obtained. By selecting a rationalized arm design scheme, customization of the sensing range can be achieved. No special processing (such as etching) is required for the waveguide, which improves the pressure tolerance of the sensor. When using the SiO2 waveguide with a refractive index difference of 2%, the a-MZI pressure sensor based on sine type arm with arm length difference of 5 mm has a sensing range of 4.83 MPa and a sensitivity of 1.24 mW/MPa. The a-MZI pressure sensor with the ease of fabrication can be used to monitor various scenarios, such as marine and building monitoring. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

High hydrostatic pressure (HHP) exerts severe effects on cellular processes including impaired cell division, abolished motility and affected enzymatic activities. Transcriptomic and proteomic analyses showed that bacteria switch the expression of genes involved in multiple energy metabolism pathways to cope with HHP. We sought evidence of a changing bacterial metabolism by supplying appropriate substrates that might have beneficial effects on the bacterial lifestyle at elevated pressure. We isolated a piezosensitive marine bacterium Vibrio fluvialis strain QY27 from the South China Sea. When trimethylamine N-oxide (TMAO) was used as an electron acceptor for energy metabolism, QY27 exhibited a piezophilic-like phenotype with an optimal growth at 30 MPa. Raman spectrometry and biochemistry analyses revealed that both the efficiency of the TMAO metabolism and the activity of the TMAO reductase increased under high pressure conditions. Among the two genes coding for TMAO reductase catalytic subunits, the expression level and enzymatic activity of TorA was up-regulated by elevated pressure. Furthermore, a genetic interference assay with the CRISPR-dCas9 system demonstrated that TorA is essential for underpinning the improved pressure tolerance of QY27. We extended the study to Vibrio fluvialis type strain ATCC33809 and observed the same phenotype of TMAO-metabolism improved the pressure tolerance. These results provide compelling evidence for the determinant role of metabolism in the adaption of bacteria to the deep-sea ecosystems with HHP.

High hydrostatic pressure (HHP) exerts severe effects on cellular processes including impaired cell division, abolished motility and affected enzymatic activities. Transcriptomic and proteomic analyses showed that bacteria switch the expression of genes involved in multiple energy metabolism pathways to cope with HHP. We sought evidence of a changing bacterial metabolism by supplying appropriate substrates that might have beneficial effects on the bacterial lifestyle at elevated pressure. We isolated a piezosensitive marine bacterium Vibrio fluvialis strain QY27 from the South China Sea. When trimethylamine N-oxide (TMAO) was used as an electron acceptor for energy metabolism, QY27 exhibited a piezophilic-like phenotype with an optimal growth at 30 MPa. Raman spectrometry and biochemistry analyses revealed that both the efficiency of the TMAO metabolism and the activity of the TMAO reductase increased under high pressure conditions. Among the two genes coding for TMAO reductase catalytic subunits, the expression level and enzymatic activity of TorA was up-regulated by elevated pressure. Furthermore, a genetic interference assay with the CRISPR-dCas9 system demonstrated that TorA is essential for underpinning the improved pressure tolerance of QY27. We extended the study to Vibrio fluvialis type strain ATCC33809 and observed the same phenotype of TMAO-metabolism improved the pressure tolerance. These results provide compelling evidence for the determinant role of metabolism in the adaption of bacteria to the deep-sea ecosystems with HHP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The anatomy and volume of the penguin respiratory system contribute significantly to pulmonary baroprotection, the body O2 store, buoyancy and hence the overall diving physiology of penguins. Therefore, three-dimensional reconstructions from computerized tomographic (CT) scans of live penguins were utilized to measure lung volumes, air sac volumes, tracheobronchial volumes and total body volumes at different inflation pressures in three species with different dive capacities [Adelie (Pygoscelis adeliae), king (Aptenodytes patagonicus) and emperor (A. forsteri) penguins]. Lung volumes scaled to body mass according to published avian allometrics. Air sac volumes at 30 cm H2O (2.94 kPa) inflation pressure, the assumed maximum volume possible prior to deep dives, were two to three times allometric air sac predictions and also two to three times previously determined end-of-dive total air volumes. Although it is unknown whether penguins inhale to such high volumes prior to dives, these values were supported by (a) body density/buoyancy calculations, (b) prior air volume measurements in free-diving ducks and (c) previous suggestions that penguins may exhale air prior to the final portions of deep dives. Based upon air capillary volumes, parabronchial volumes and tracheobronchial volumes estimated from the measured lung/airway volumes and the only available morphometry study of a penguin lung, the presumed maximum air sac volumes resulted in air sac volume to air capillary/ parabronchial/tracheobronchial volume ratios that were not large enough to prevent barotrauma to the non-collapsing, rigid air capillaries during the deepest dives of all three species, and during many routine dives of king and emperor penguins. We conclude that volume reduction of airways and lung air spaces, via compression, constriction or blood engorgement, must occur to provide pulmonary baroprotection at depth. It is also possible that relative air capillary and parabronchial volumes are smaller in these deeper-diving species than in the spheniscid penguin of the morphometry study. If penguins do inhale to this maximum air sac volume prior to their deepest dives, the magnitude and distribution of the body O2 store would change considerably. In emperor penguins, total body O2 would increase by 75%, and the respiratory fraction would increase from 33% to 61%. We emphasize that the maximum pre-dive respiratory air volume is still unknown in penguins. However, even lesser increases in air sac volume prior to a dive would still significantly increase the O2 store. More refined evaluations of the respiratory O2 store and baroprotective mechanisms in penguins await further investigation of species-specific lung morphometry, start-of-dive air volumes and body buoyancy, and the possibility of air exhalation during dives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

When various protease solutions in dynamic ranges of activity-enzyme concentration profiles were treated at the medium high pressure of 100 and 300 MPa for 60, 120, and 300 min, characteristic changes in enzyme activity were found. The most conspicuous facts observed were the increase in the activity of trypsin with increasing pressurizing time and nearly complete inactivation of thermolysin at 300 MPa, which seemed to suggest that serine proteases hold better pressure tolerance compared with metallo-proteases. Electrophoretic analysis on wheat gluten hydrolyzates that were prepared by trypsin and thermolysin at ambient pressure and 300 MPa supported time-dependent changes in protease activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Energy-efficient, miniaturized electronic ocean sensors for monitoring and recording various environmental parameters remain a challenge because conventional ocean sensors require high-pressure chambers and seals to survive the large hydrostatic pressure and harsh ocean environment, which usually entail a high-power supply and large size of the sensor system. Herein, we introduce soft, pressure-tolerant, flexible electronic sensors that can operate under large hydrostatic pressure and salinity environments, thereby eliminating the need for pressure chambers and reducing the power consumption and sensor size. Using resistive temperature and conductivity (salinity) sensors as an example for demonstration, the soft sensors are made of lithographically patterned metal thin films (100 nm) encapsulated with soft oil-infused elastomers and tested in a customized pressure vessel with well-controlled pressure and temperature conditions. The resistance of the temperature and pressure sensors increases linearly with a temperature range of 5-38 °C and salinity levels of 30-40 Practical Salinity Unit (PSU), respectively, relevant for this application. Pressure (up to 15 MPa) has shown a negligible effect on the performance of the temperature and salinity sensors, demonstrating their large pressure-tolerance capability. In addition, both temperature and salinity sensors have exhibited excellent cyclic loading behaviors with negligible hysteresis. Encapsulated with our developed soft oil-infused elastomer (PDMS, poly(dimethylsiloxane)), the sensor has shown excellent performance under a 35 PSU salinity water environment for more than 7 months. The soft, pressure-tolerant and noninvasive electronic sensors reported here are suitable for integration with many platforms including animal tags, profiling floats, diving equipment, and physiological monitoring.

Abstract: Thirty strains of Listeria monocytogenes were screened for their pressure tolerance phenotype at 400MPa for 2min at 21°C. The strains exhibited reductions ranging from 1.9 to 7.1log10 CFU/ml in tryptic soy broth with 6% yeast extract (TSBYE). The 3 most and the 3 least pressure-tolerant strains were further tested for their thermal resistance (based on their ability to survive at 55°C), acid tolerance (based on their ability to survive in acidified TSBYE; pH 2.0) and for their nisin sensitivity. No correlation between pressure tolerance and heat, acid or nisin resistances was found. Nucleotide sequence analysis of the ctsR region in these 6 strains demonstrated that this gene codes for a CtsR protein with identical predicted amino acid sequences. The sequences of the 200-bp region located immediately upstream of the ctsR start codon of the different strains were virtually identical and it is therefore likely that differences in pressure tolerance are based on factors other than the stress gene regulator CtsR. The pressure sensitivity of a cocktail of the 2 most pressure-resistant strains and a cocktail of the 2 most-sensitive strains was investigated when the cocktails were inoculated into a real food system consisting of ground chicken meat. We demonstrated that the nature of the suspending substrate or the temperature did not change the expected pressure tolerance of the cocktails. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: This study illustrates the use of computational analysis to predict prosthetic socket fit. A simple indentation test is performed by applying force to the residual limb of a trans-tibial amputee through an indenter until the subject perceives the onset of pain. Computational finite element (FE) analysis is then applied to evaluate the magnitude of pressure underlying the indenter that initiates pain (pain threshold pressure), and the pressure at the prosthetic socket–residual limb interface. The assessment of socket fit is examined by studying whether or not the socket–limb interface pressure exceeds the pain threshold pressure of the limb. Based on the computer-aided assessment, a new prosthetic socket is then fabricated and fitted to the amputee subject. Successful socket fit is achieved at the end of this process. The approach of using computational analysis to aid in assessing socket fit allows a more efficient evaluation and re-design of the socket even before the actual fabrication and fitting of the prosthetic socket. However, more thorough investigations are required before this approach can be widely used. A subsequent part of this paper discusses the limitations and suggests future research directions in this area. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

To analyze the drug-resistant phenotype and genetic characteristics of Carbapenem resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae (CRKP) in this region, and to study its different expression profiles in RNA level under the pressure of low levels of antibiotics. Trace dilution method and PCR method were used to detect the antibiotic resistance phenotype and antibiotic resistance gene carrying of CRKP strain, simulate the antibiotic stress process, and RNAseq was used to analyze the transcriptomic changes of CRKP strain. 37 CRKP strains, 27 Carbapenem sensitive Klebsiella pneumoniae (CSKP) CSKP strains and 42 sensitive strains were detected. The antibiotic resistance rate of CRKP strain was significantly higher than that of other drug-resistant strains, and there were many kinds of antibiotic resistance genes. Transcriptomic analysis showed that CRKP strain showed compensatory rise under meropenem stress at low concentration, and the expression of genes related to biofilm formation, pressure induction, pressure tolerance and transcriptional regulation was significantly changed. It was speculated that mrkAB , fimDH , phoHP and pspABCD clusters significantly altered their expression under the antibiotics stress response in CRKP strain. The detection rate of CRKP strain is high in this area. Under low levels of antibiotic stress, CRKP strain can not only survive by synthesizing antibiotic modified enzyme, but also respond by transcriptional regulation and biofilm changes, resulting in stress compensation. The discovery of this phenomenon explains the failure of treatment due to improper use of higher-order antibiotics from the perspective of genetic interaction. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study questions the ability of marine fauna to modulate the molecular composition of their membrane lipids, as a function of environmental hydrostatic pressure conditions. Specific variations in the cell lipidome composition are presented for the deep-sea hydrothermal vent shrimp Mirocaris fortunata , acclimated at the laboratory for several months at both natural (18 MPa) and atmospheric pressures, but fed with the same diet. These animals display physiological capabilities of acclimation to pressure variations, possibly driven by a particular composition of their lipid species. In particular, it is shown that shrimps exposed to atmospheric pressure exhibit a significantly lower level of the mono-unsaturated fatty acid, vaccenic acid (C18:1n-7), compared to those maintained at natural pressure. The observed fatty acid variations are consistent with a homeoviscous response, i.e. a modulation of the lipidome composition, in response to physical constraints, in order to balance the effects of pressure on membrane order. Additionally, supervised multivariate data analysis was performed for complex lipids and revealed an increase in levels of sterols, sphingomyelin, and ether-phosphatidylethanolamine lipids for animals exposed to atmospheric pressure, with respect to natural pressure. These observations strongly suggest that lipidic domains are involved in the shrimp's response to experimental conditions, and their consistency with a homeoviscous response to pressure is discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Fe2+ and sulphidic ore oxidation by acidophiles was studied at elevated pressures. • Pressure increase with air from +1 to +3 bar enhances biological iron oxidation. • Pressure induced by air at ≥ +7 bar inhibits biological iron oxidation. • Partial biooxidation of sulphidic ore occurs at up to +20 bar air-induced pressure. • Acidophiles tolerate up to +40 bar pressure at low oxygen partial pressure. This study reports effects of elevated pressures on the oxidation of a soluble ferrous iron and low-grade sulphidic ore as little is known about biological iron and sulphur oxidation under these conditions. Pressure effects were studied in a pressurised batch-operated stirred tank reactor using acidophilic enrichment cultures. The oxidation of soluble Fe2+ by enrichment culture dominated by Leptospirillum ferriphilum , Sulfobacillus sp. and Ferrimicrobium acidiphilum increased with increasing pressure induced by technical air to up to +3 bar (0.63 bar P O2) and was inhibited at +7 bar (1.47 bar P O2). Elevated pressures induced by nitrogen (low oxygen partial pressure) were tolerated up to +40 bar. Another enrichment culture dominated by Acidithiobacillus ferrivorans , Sulfobacillus sp. and F. acidiphilum partially oxidised the ore at pressures up to +20 bar induced with air (4.2 bar P O2). This is the first study reporting activity of acidophiles under pressurised conditions in a stirred tank reactor. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research shows that small animals, tardigrades (Milnesium tardigradum) in tun (dehydrated) state andArtemia salinacists (dried eggs) can tolerate the very high hydrostatic pressure of 7.5 GPa. It was really surprising that living organisms can survive after exposure to such a high pressure. We extended these studies to the extremely high pressure of 20 GPa by using a Kawai-type octahedral anvil press. After exposure to this pressure for 30 min, the tardigrades were soaked in pure water and investigated under a microscope. Their bodies regained metabolic state and no serious injury could be seen. But they were not alive. A few ofArtemiaeggs went part of the way to hatching after soaked in sea water, but they never grew any further. Comparing with the case of blue-green alga, these animals are weaker under ultra-high pressure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Langenbecks Archiv fuer Chirurgie is the property of Springer Nature and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Langenbecks Archiv fuer Chirurgie is the property of Springer Nature and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)