Arduino-based slider setup for gas–liquid mass transfer investigations: Experiments and CFD simulations

The implementation of traditional sensors is a drawback when investigating mass transfer phenomena within microstructured devices, since they disturb the flow and reactor characteristics. An Arduino based slider setup is developed, which is equipped with a computer-vision system to track gas–liquid slug flow. This setup is combined with an optical analytical method allowing to compare experimental results against CFD simulations and investigate the entire lifetime of a single liquid slug with high spatial and temporal resolution. Volumetric mass transfer coefficients are measured and compared with data from literature and the mass transfer contribution of the liquid film is discussed.     

Content of amino acids and the quality of protein in Brussels sprouts,both raw and prepared for consumption

The aim of the investigation was to evaluate the content of amino acids and the quality of protein in Brussels sprouts. The investigation included the raw material, cooked sample and two types of frozen product stored at ?20 °C for 12 months and then prepared for consumption. The frozen products investigated were obtained using the traditional method (blanching before freezing) and the modified method (cooking before freezing, then defrosting and heating in microwave oven after refrigerated storage) of the ready-to-eat type. Brussels sprouts, both fresh and prepared for consumption, were a good source of protein and amino acids. Proline and glutamic acid were dominating; leucine and tyrosine with phenylalanine were limiting amino acids. The product obtained by modified method contained 16% less amino acids in 16 g N than the raw material and 14% less than the raw material after cooking, and also 10% lower than that of the traditionally obtained product.     

Effect of preliminary processing and method of preservation on the content of selected antioxidative compounds in kale (Brassica oleracea L. var. acephala) leaves

Vitamin C and polyphenol content as well as total antioxidative activity were investigated in fresh leaves of kale; in leaves after blanching or cooking; and in frozen and canned leaves. In 100 g fresh matter, kale leaves contained 384.9 mg polyphenols and 112.1 mg vitamin C, with a Trolox equivalent antioxidant capacity (TEAC) level of 1175 μM Trolox. Of the polyphenols identified in kale leaves, ferulic acid occurred in the highest amount (240.44 mg/100 g, constituting 62% of total polyphenols). Freezing was a better method of preserving kale leaves since the loss of nutritive constituents was lower than in the case of canning. Depending on preliminary processing and storage temperature, after one-year storage frozen leaves contained 82.9–171.3 mg polyphenols and 39.3–65.4 mg vitamin C, with TEAC at the level of 501–681 μM Trolox in 100 g. In canned leaves these values were: 91.3–94.1 mg polyphenols, 16.1–19.3 mg vitamin C and 268–293 μM Trolox.     

Adaptive dynamic cohesive fracture simulation using nodal perturbation and edge‐swap operators

Dependence on mesh orientation impacts adversely the quality of computational solutions generated by cohesive zone models. For instance, when considering crack propagation along interfaces between finite elements of 4k structured meshes, both extension of crack length and crack angle are biased according to the mesh configuration. To address mesh orientation dependence in 4k structured meshes and to avoid undesirable crack patterns, we propose the use of nodal perturbation (NP) and edge‐swap (ES) topological operation. To this effect, the topological data structure TopS (Int. J. Numer. Meth. Engng 2005; 64 : 1529–1556), based on topological entities (node, element, vertex, edge and facet), is utilized so that it is possible to access adjacency information and to manage a consistent data structure in time proportional to the number of retrieved entities. In particular, the data structure allows the ES operation to be done in constant time. Three representative dynamic fracture examples using ES and NP operators are provided: crack propagation in the compact compression specimen, local branching instability, and fragmentation. These examples illustrate the features of the present computational framework in simulating a range of physical phenomena associated with cracking. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Symvatology: The science of an artifact-human compatibility

According to the premise of ergonomics, system-human compatibility should be considered at all levels, including physical, perceptual, cognitive, emotional, social, organizational, and environmental considerations. This requires quantification of the inputs and outputs that characterize a set of system-human interactions. However, at the present time, no universal matrix for measurement of such compatibility exists. This paper proposes a new science of teleonomic artifact-human system compatibility. Symvatology, coined from two Greek words: 'symvatotis' (compatibility) and 'logos', will aim to discover and understand the various laws governing compatibility relations between people and the natural and artificial systems that surround them. Symvatology, which will observe, identify, describe, perform empirical investigations, and produce theoretical explanations about the natural phenomena of an artifact-human compatibility, should help to advance the progress of the ergonomics discipline by providing a methodology for design for compatibility, as well as design of compatibility between the artificial systems (technology) and humans. The paper also discusses some of the critical concepts of symvatology, including system design complexity, compatibility, entropy, system regulation, non-linear system behaviour, and chaos.     

Fast forward problem solver for image reconstruction by nonlinear optimization in electrical capacitance tomography

Electrical capacitance tomography can be used for industrial process imaging, for example multiphase flow. Image reconstruction complexity is one of the limiting factors of this technique. A custom-built method of calculating the forward problem is presented. A fast algorithm for solving the linear system with a band diagonal matrix was used. An application of the elaborated forward problem solver for nonlinear iterative image reconstruction is presented. The results of image reconstruction are presented for simulated and real objects.     

Determination of mass density, dielectric, elastic, and piezoelectric constants of bulk GaN crystal

Mass density, dielectric, elastic, and piezoelectric constants of bulk GaN crystal were determined. Mass density was obtained from the measured ratio of mass to volume of a cuboid. The dielectric constants were determined from the measured capacitances of an interdigital transducer (IDT) deposited on a Z-cut plate and from a parallel plate capacitor fabricated from this plate. The elastic and piezoelectric constants were determined by comparing the measured and calculated SAW velocities and electromechanical coupling coefficients on the Z- and X-cut plates. The following new constants were obtained: mass density p = 5986 kg/m(3); relative dielectric constants (at constant strain S) ε(S)(11)/ε(0) = 8.6 and ε(S)(11)/ε(0) = 10.5, where ε(0) is a dielectric constant of free space; elastic constants (at constant electric field E) C(E)(11) = 349.7, C(E)(12) = 128.1, C(E)(13) = 129.4, C(E)(33) = 430.3, and C(E)(44) = 96.5 GPa; and piezoelectric constants e(33) = 0.84, e(31) = -0.47, and e(15) = -0.41 C/m(2).     

SARS-CoV-2 Altered Hemorheological and Hematological Parameters during One-Month Observation Period in Critically Ill COVID-19 Patients

Hematological and hemorheological parameters are known to be altered in COVID-19; however, the value of combined monitoring in order to deduce disease severity is only scarcely examined. A total of 44 acute SARS-CoV-2-infected patients (aCOV) and 44 age-matched healthy controls (Con) were included. Blood of aCOV was sampled at admission (T0), and at day 2 (T2), day 5 (T5), day 10 (T10), and day 30 (T30) while blood of Con was only sampled once. Inter- and intra-group differences were calculated for hematological and hemorheological parameters. Except for mean cellular volume and mean cellular hemoglobin, all blood cell parameters were significantly different between aCOV and Con. During the acute disease state (T0–T5), hematological and hemorheological parameters were highly altered in aCOV; in particular, anemic conditions and increased immune cell response/inflammation, oxidative/nitrosative stress, decreased deformability, as well as increased aggregation, were observed. During treatment and convalescence until T30, almost all abnormal values of aCOV improved towards Con values. During the acute state of the COVID-19 disease, the hematological, as well as the hemorheological system, show fast and potentially pathological changes that might contribute to the progression of the disease, but changes appear to be largely reversible after four weeks. Measuring RBC deformability and aggregation, as well as oxidative stress induction, may be helpful in monitoring critically ill COVID-19 patients.     

Spectroscopic Characterization and Biological Activity of Hesperetin Schiff Bases and Their Cu(II) Complexes

The three Schiff base ligands, derivatives of hesperetin, HHSB (N-[2,3-dihydro-5,7-dihydroxy-2-(3-hydroxy-4-methoxyphenyl)chromen-4-ylidene]isonicotinohydrazide), HIN (N-[2,3-dihydro-5,7-dihydroxy-2-(3-hydroxy-4-methoxyphenyl)chromen-4-ylidene]benzhydrazide) and HTSC (N-[2,3-dihydro-5,7-dihydroxy-2-(3-hydroxy-4-methoxyphenyl)chromen-4-ylidene]thiosemicarbazide) and their copper complexes, CuHHSB, CuHIN, and CuHTSC were designed, synthesized and analyzed in terms of their spectral characterization and the genotoxic activity. Their structures were established using several methods: elemental analysis, FT-IR, UV-Vis, EPR, and ESI-MS. Spectral data showed that in the acetate complexes the tested Schiff bases act as neutral tridentate ligand coordinating to the copper ion through two oxygen (or oxygen and sulphur) donor atoms and a nitrogen donor atom. EPR measurements indicate that in solution the complexes keep their structures with the ligands remaining bound to copper(II) in a tridentate fashion with (O^–, N, O_ket) or (O^–, N, S) donor set. The genotoxic activity of the compounds was tested against model tumour (HeLa and Caco-2) and normal (LLC-PK1) cell lines. In HeLa cells the genotoxicity for all tested compounds was noticed, for HHSB and CuHHSB was the highest, for HTSC and CuHTSC–the lowest. Generally, Cu complexes displayed lower genotoxicity to HeLa cells than ligands. In the case of Caco-2 cell line HHSB and HTSC induced the strongest breaks to DNA. On the other side, CuHHSB and CuHTSC induced the highest DNA damage against LLC-PK1.