Respiratory Mechanics, Respiratory Muscle Strength, Control of Ventilation and Gas Exchange in Patients with Autoimmune Liver Disease

Objectives: To assess respiratory elastance and resistive properties in patients with autoimmune liver disorders using the passive relaxation expiration technique and compare findings to a group of patients with non-autoimmune liver disease and control subjects. These findings were then related to control of ventilation and gas exchange. A secondary objective was to assess respiratory muscle strength and gas exchange and their relation to respiratory mechanics. Methods: Measurements included respiratory elastance and resistance using the passive relaxation method. Pulmonary function, gas exchange and control of ventilation were assessed using standard methods. Results: a) Compared to control subjects, Ers in patients with liver disease was on average 50% greater than in controls;b) mean respiratory resistance, expressed as the respiratory constants, K1 and K2 in the Rohrer relationship, Pao/V’ = K1 + K2V’, was not different from control resistance;c) mean maximal inspiratory and maximal expiratory pressures averaged 36% and 55% of their respective control values;d) inspiratory occlusion pressure in 0.1 sec (P0.1) was increased and negatively associated with FVC;and e) increases in P0.1, mean inspiratory flow (Vt/Ti) and presence of respiratory alkalosis confirmed the increase in ventilatory drive. Despite inspiratory muscle weakness in patients, P0.1/Pimax averaged 5-fold higher than in control subjects. Conclusions: Despite inspiratory muscle weakness and a V’E similar to that in normal subjects, central drive is increased in patients with chronic liver disease. The increase in ventilatory drive is related to smaller lung volumes and weakly associated with increase in respiratory elastance. Findings confirm that P0.1 is a reliable measure of central drive and is an approach that can be used in the evaluation of control of ventilation in patients with chronic liver disease.

Application of passive source surface-wave method in site engineering seismic survey

Site engineering seismic survey provides basic data for seismic effect analysis. As an important parameter of soil, shear-wave velocity is usually obtained through wave velocity testing in borehole. In this paper, the passive source surface-wave method is introduced into the site engineering seismic survey and practically applied in an engineering site of Shijingshan District. By recording the ubiquitous weak vibration on the earth surface, extract the dispersion curve from the surface-wave components using the SPAC method and obtain the shear-wave velocity structure from inversion. Over the depth of 42 m under- ground, it totally consists of five layers with interface depth of 3.31, 4.50, 7.23, 17.41, and 42.00 m; and shear-wave velocity of 144.0, 198.3, 339.4, 744.2, and 903.7 m/s, respectively. The inversion result is used to evaluate site classification, determine the maximum shear modulus of soil, provide basis for further seismic hazard analysis and site assessment or site zoning, etc. The result shows that the passive source surface-wave method is feasible in the site engineering seismic survey and can replace boreholes,shorten survey period, and reduce engineering cost to some extent.

An AMSR-E Data Unmixing Method for Monitoring Flood and Waterlogging Disaster

Spectral remote sensing technique is usually used to monitor flood and waterlogging disaster.Although spectral remote sensing data have many advantages for ground information observation,such as real time and high spatial resolution,they are often interfered by clouds,haze and rain.As a result,it is very difficult to retrieve ground information from spectral remote sensing data under those conditions.Compared with spectral remote sensing tech-nique,passive microwave remote sensing technique has obvious superiority in most weather conditions.However,the main drawback of passive microwave remote sensing is the extreme low spatial resolution.Considering the wide ap-plication of the Advanced Microwave Scanning Radiometer-Earth Observing System(AMSR-E) data,an AMSR-E data unmixing method was proposed in this paper based on Bellerby's algorithm.By utilizing the surface type classifi-cation results with high spatial resolution,the proposed unmixing method can obtain the component brightness tem-perature and corresponding spatial position distribution,which effectively improve the spatial resolution of passive microwave remote sensing data.Through researching the AMSR-E unmixed data of Yongji County,Jilin Provinc,Northeast China after the worst flood and waterlogging disaster occurred on July 28,2010,the experimental results demonstrated that the AMSR-E unmixed data could effectively evaluate the flood and waterlogging disaster.

Visual Passive Ranging Method Based on Re-entrant Coaxial Optical Path and Experimental Verification

To overcome the shortcomings of the traditional passive ranging technology based on image, such as poor ranging accuracy, low reliability and complex system, a new visual passive ranging method based on re-entrant coaxial optical path is presented. The target image is obtained using double cameras with coaxial optical path. Since there is imaging optical path difference between the cameras, the images are different. In comparison of the image differences, the target range could be reversed. The principle of the ranging method and the ranging model are described. The relationship among parameters in the ranging process is analyzed quantitatively. Meanwhile,the system composition and technical realization scheme are also presented. Also, the principle of the method is verified by the equivalent experiment. The experimental results show that the design scheme is correct and feasible with good robustness. Generally, the ranging error is less than 10% with good convergence. The optical path is designed in a re-entrant mode to reduce the volume and weight of the system. Through the coaxial design,the visual passive range of the targets with any posture can be obtained in real time. The system can be widely used in electro-optical countermeasure and concealed photoelectric detection.

3D Numerical Simulation Analysis of Passive Drag near Free Surface in Swimming

The aim of this work is to build a 3D numerical model to study the characteristics of passive drag on competitive swimmers taking into account the impact of the free surface. This model solves the 3D incompressible Navier-Stokes equations using RNG k-ε turbulence closure. The volume of fluid（VOF） method is used to locate the free surface. The 3D virtual model is created by Computer Aided Industrial Design（CAID） software, Rhinoceros. Firstly, a specific posture of swimming is studied. The simulation results are in good agreement with the data from mannequin towing experiments. The effects of a swimmer＇s arms and legs positions on swimming performance are then studied. Finally, it is demonstrated that the present method is capable of simulating gliding near the free surface.

Time exposure acoustics in seismic exploration

An analysis of a passive seismic method for subsurface imaging is presented in which ambient seismic noise is employed as the source of illumination of subsurface scatterers. The imaging algorithm can incorporate new data into the image in a recursive fashion which causes image background noise to diminish over time. Under the assumption of spatially-incoherent ambient noise, an analytical expression for the point-spread function of the imaging algorithm is derived. The point-spread function （PSF） characterizes the resolution of the image, which is a function of the receiving array length and the ambient bandwidth.

Experimental demonstration of passive decoy state quantum key distribution

Passive decoy state quantum key distribution（PDS-QKD） has advantages in high-speed scenarios.We propose a modified model to simulate the PDS-QKD with a weak coherent light source based on Curty＇s theory [Opt.Lett.34 3238（2009）].The modified model can provide better performance in a practical PDS-QKD system.Moreover,we report an experimental demonstration of the PDS-QKD of over 22.0-dB channel loss.

Experimental demonstration of passive decoy state quantum key distribution

Passive decoy state quantum key distribution(PDS-QKD) has advantages in high-speed scenarios.We propose a modified model to simulate the PDS-QKD with a weak coherent light source based on Curty’s theory [Opt.Lett.34 3238(2009)].The modified model can provide better performance in a practical PDS-QKD system.Moreover,we report an experimental demonstration of the PDS-QKD of over 22.0-dB channel loss.

A new method of passive ranging for underwater target:distance information extraction based on wave guide invariant

The study of wave guide invariant in underwater acoustics is one of attracted topics in recent 30 years. The interferences of direct wave and reflect wave from sea surface and sea bottom of underwater target radiated noise inherent the information of target distance. Extraction of these distance information will provide a possible new way in passive ranging for underwater target. The theoretical analysis and the results of at sea experiments show that the LOFAR （Low Frequency Analysis Record） figure inherently contains the range and moving information of passive acoustic sources, even in the situation that the receiver is only one single hydrophone. The theoretical analysis of extraction of target distance information by using wave guide invariant is presented in this paper. It is shown that, based on the interference striation pattern of target, the hydrophone array system is possible to extract the distance information with quite high array gain. Although the mathematical constrain conditions in forming interference striation pattern are different for individual array element, but it is proved that the differences of time delays between array elements can be used in compensation of beamforming. The theoretical analysis, system simulation and some results of at sea experiment show a new way in passive ranging and target recognition.

Control strategies for aircraft airframe noise reduction

With the development of low-noise aircraft engine, airframe noise now represents a major noise source during the commercial aircraft＇s approach to landing phase. Noise control efforts have therefore been extensively focused on the airframe noise problems in order to further reduce aircraft overall noise. In this review, various control methods explored in the last decades for noise reduction on airframe components including high-lift devices and landing gears are summarized. We introduce recent major achievements in airframe noise reduction with passive control methods such as fairings, deceleration plates, splitter plates, acoustic liners, slat cove cover and side-edge replacements, and then discuss the potential and control mechanism of some promising active flow control strategies for airframe noise reduction, such as plasma technique and air blowing/suction devices. Based on the knowledge gained throughout the extensively noise control testing, a few design concepts on the landing gear, high-lift devices and whole aircraft are provided for advanced aircraft low-noise design. Finally, discussions and suggestions are given for future research on airframe noise reduction.

Numerical Study of Controlling Jet Flow and Noise using Pores on Nozzle Inner Wall

In this paper, the feasibility of controlling the subsonic jet flow and its noise using pores of blind holes added on the nozzle inner wall is explored numerically. These pores are intended to introduce disturbances to the shear layer so as to change the flow mixing. This passive strategy has not been attempted so far. A convergent nozzle with a cylindrical extension is selected as the baseline case. Three nozzles with pores on the inner wall are set up. Validations of the numerical settings are carried out, then the compressible turbulent jets at the exit Math number Mj = 0.6 in the four nozzles are calculated by large eddy simulations （LES）, while the ra-diated sounds are predicted by the FW-H acoustic analogy. The results show that the blind holes have produced some effects on weakening the turbulence intensity in the shear layer. Comparison reveals that both temporal and spatial correlations of the turbulent fluctuations in the modified cases are suppressed to some extent. Meanwhile, the porous nozzles are shown to suppress the pairing of vortices and enhance the flow mixing, and therefore, the development of shear layer and the fragmentation of large scale vortices are accelerated.