ExoMars is a two-launch mission undertaken by Roscosmos and European Space Agency. Trace Gas Orbiter, a satellite part of the 2016 launch carries the Fine Resolution Neutron Detector instrument as ...part of its payload. The instrument aims at mapping hydrogen content in the upper meter of Martian soil with spatial resolution between 60 and 200 km diameter spot. This resolution is achieved by a collimation module that limits the field of view of the instruments detectors. A dosimetry module that surveys the radiation environment in cruise to Mars and on orbit around it is another part of the instrument.
This paper describes the mission and the instrument, its measurement principles and technical characteristics. We perform an initial assessment of our sensitivity and time required to achieve the mission goal. The Martian atmosphere is a parameter that needs to be considered in data analysis of a collimated neutron instrument. This factor is described in a section of this paper. Finally, the first data accumulated during cruise to Mars is presented.
The introduction of new emissions tests in real driving conditions (Real Driving Emissions—RDE) as well as of improved harmonized laboratory tests (World Harmonised Light Vehicle Test Procedure—WLTP) ...is going to dramatically cut down NOx and particulate matter emissions for new car models that are intended to be fully Euro 6d compliant from 2020 onwards. Due to the technical challenges related to exhaust gases’ aftertreatment in small-size diesel engines, the current powertrain development trend for light passenger cars is shifted towards the application of different degrees of electrification to highly optimized gasoline direct injection (GDI) engines. As such, the importance of reliable multidimensional computational tools for GDI engine optimization is rapidly increasing. In the present paper, we assess a hybrid scale-resolving turbulence modeling technique for GDI fuel spray simulation, based on the Engine Combustion Network “Spray G” standard test case. Aspects such as the comparison with Reynolds-averaged methods and the sensitivity to the spray model parameters are discussed, and strengths and uncertainties of the analyzed hybrid approach are pointed out. The outcomes of this study serve as a basis for the evaluation of scale-resolving turbulence modeling options for the development of next-generation directly injected thermal engines.
Since its discovery
, the deep-sea glass sponge Euplectella aspergillum has attracted interest in its mechanical properties and beauty. Its skeletal system is composed of amorphous hydrated silica ...and is arranged in a highly regular and hierarchical cylindrical lattice that begets exceptional flexibility and resilience to damage
. Structural analyses dominate the literature, but hydrodynamic fields that surround and penetrate the sponge have remained largely unexplored. Here we address an unanswered question: whether, besides improving its mechanical properties, the skeletal motifs of E. aspergillum underlie the optimization of the flow physics within and beyond its body cavity. We use extreme flow simulations based on the 'lattice Boltzmann' method
, featuring over fifty billion grid points and spanning four spatial decades. These in silico experiments reproduce the hydrodynamic conditions on the deep-sea floor where E. aspergillum lives
. Our results indicate that the skeletal motifs reduce the overall hydrodynamic stress and support coherent internal recirculation patterns at low flow velocity. These patterns are arguably beneficial to the organism for selective filter feeding and sexual reproduction
. The present study reveals mechanisms of extraordinary adaptation to live in the abyss, paving the way towards further studies of this type at the intersection between fluid mechanics, organism biology and functional ecology.
Autologous fat transfer (AFT), also known as fat grafting or lipofilling, has already become a part of clinical practice for treating contour deformities of the breast, even though evidence regarding ...its efficacy is still lacking. This is the first meta-analysis on this subject, aimed to facilitate intuitive interpretation of the available data by clinicians, guideline committees and policy makers.
A literature search was performed on 1 September 2017 in PubMed, EMBASE and the Cochrane Library to identify all relevant studies. A rigorous data extraction and standardisation process allowed pooling of clinical outcome data into a meta-analysis.
Eighty-nine studies consisting of 5350 unique patients were included. The mean follow-up was 1.9 years. Meta-analysis revealed a very high overall patient and surgeon satisfaction rate of 94.3% and 95.7%, respectively, which was also confirmed by high satisfaction scores and Breast-Q scores. Overall, only 1.5 sessions were needed to achieve the desired result. Though evidence on the long-term volume retention is lacking, based on the current data it was calculated to be 52.4% at one year. Only 5.0% of procedures resulted in clinical complications and 8.6% of breasts required biopsy due to abnormal clinical or radiological findings.
AFT seems to be an effective procedure in breast reconstruction, reflected by the high patient and surgeon satisfaction and low incidence of clinical and radiological complications. Future research should focus on evaluating the technical and patient factors influencing the rate of fat resorption as well as its oncological safety.
The CALICE Collaboration is studying several designs of calorimeters for the International Linear Collider project. The reference option for electromagnetic calorimeter is a high granularity sampling ...calorimeter with tungsten as radiator and silicon diodes as sensitive material. It is optimised for the Particle Flow Approach. A small but full depth “physics prototype” has been already constructed and tested in test beam conditions. Results from the calibration and resolution measurements are shown here. A technological prototype (the EUDET module) is under construction.
•Transition from NG to electricity is evaluated for residential HVAC applications.•Local photovoltaic production and thermal energy storage (TES) are considered.•The synergy between heat pumps, ...photovoltaics and TES is assessed.•Remarkable cut-downs in the CO2 and local pollutant emissions are shown.•The sustainability of the investment in renewable energy sources is demonstrated.
The optimal design of distributed generation systems is of foremost importance to reduce fossil fuel consumption and mitigate the environmental impact of human activities in urban areas. Moreover, an efficient and integrated control strategy is needed for each of the components of a distributed generation plant, in order to reach the expected economic and environmental performances.
In this paper, the transition from natural gas to electricity-based heating is evaluated for residential applications, considering the interplay between photovoltaic electricity produced on site and the thermal energy storage, to grant the optimal management of heating devices. The energy demand of an apartment building, under different climatic conditions, is taken as a reference and four power plant solutions are assessed in terms of energy cost and pollution reduction potential, compared to a baseline plant configuration. The performance of each power plant is analyzed assuming an optimized control strategy, which is determined through a graph-based methodology that was previously developed and validated by the authors. Outcomes from our study show that, if heat pumps are used instead of natural gas boilers, energy costs are reduced up to 41%, while CO2 emissions are reduced up to 73%, depending on the climatic conditions.
Our results provide a sound basis for considering the larger penetration of photovoltaic plants as an effective solution towards cleaner and more efficient heating technologies for civil applications. The simultaneous utilization of heat pumps (as substitutes of boilers) and photovoltaic panels yields a positive synergy that nullifies the local pollution, drastically cuts the CO2 emission, and guarantees the economical sustainability of the investment in renewable energy sources without subsidiary mechanisms.
Tourism suffered more than many other sectors amid Covid-19 travel restrictions. This article looks at the impact of the pandemic on the territorial redistribution of tourist flows in the Baltic ...region. The study draws on regional annual and monthly data on international and domestic tourist arrivals between 2019 and 2021, available on the websites of the statistical offices of the Baltic Region countries. The regions earlier dependent on tourist arrivals from Russia experienced the largest drop in inbound tourism during the Covid-19 pandemic. Yet, domestic tourism burgeoned in most of the region’s countries. In 2021, the most dramatic increase in domestic arrivals occurred, year on year, in the border regions of Russia’s Northwest Federal District; the growth was also notable in Finland and the Baltic States. Domestic tourist flow compensated, partially or even fully, for the decrease in inbound tourist flow in most regions. The structure of inbound tourism changed markedly during the pandemic, with the share of tourists from the Baltic States growing. The strongest rise was in some regions of southern Finland and more modest in Latvia and Lithuania.
The aim of current work was a part of study for animal husbandry effects on
emissions of greenhouse gases and some mitigation strategies between the end
of XX and the beginning of XXI century. It?s ...emphasized on nitrogen (N)
balance and its fluctuated values, as well as brings forward attendant
factors. As a result, we deducted strong correlation models (R2> 0.89, 0.85,
0.99), as an estimator of the N2O emissions (Gg.CO2-eq), generated by manure
management in relation to animal population (monogastric, ruminant, total)
among the investigated middle-term periods throughout 1989 - 2011 y for the
Bulgarian realities.
nema
IntroductionPioneers have shown that it is possible to reconstruct a full breast using just autologous fat harvested by liposuction or autologous fat transfer (AFT). This study describes the first ...multicentre randomised study protocol to thoroughly investigate the effectiveness of AFT to reconstruct full breasts following mastectomy procedures (primarily and delayed).Methods and analysisThis study is designed as a multicentre, randomised controlled clinical superiority trial with a 1:1 allocation ratio. A total of 196 patients (98 patients per treatment arm) are aimed to be included. Patients who wish to undergo breast reconstruction with either one of the two techniques are randomly allocated into the AFT group (intervention) or the tissue-expander/prosthesis group (control). The primary outcome measure for the quality of life is measured by the validated BREAST-Q questionnaire.Ethics and disseminationApproval for this study was obtained from the medical ethics committee of Maastricht University Medical Centre/Maastricht University; the trial has been registered at ClinicalTrials.gov. The results of this randomised controlled trial will be presented at scientific meetings as abstracts for poster or oral presentations and published in peer-reviewed journals.Trial statusEnrolment into the trial has started in October 2015. Data collection and data analysis are expected to be completed in December 2021.Trial registration numberNCT02339779.
In this paper, a numerical model for the prediction of Microbial Fuel Cells (MFC) performance is proposed. The model is based on the Lattice Boltzmann Method, a numerical approach based on an ...optimized formulation of Boltzmann's kinetic equation. The model is able to account for the evolution in time of the main parameters related to MFC operation: namely, pH, bacteria activity, current density and it is able to predict the trends of polarization and power curves. The results of the model are compared to experimental data, highlighting the accuracy and flexibility of the proposed model.
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•Lattice Boltzmann Modeling of Microbial Fuel Cells (MFCs) performance•The model proves capable of predicting the transport and electrochemical phenomena inside MFC reactors•The comparison to experimental measurements confirms the reliability and versatility of the proposed approach
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