Expiratory Flow Limitation and Its Relation to Dyspnea and Lung Hyperinflation in Patients with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease: Analysis Using the Forced Expiratory Flow-Volume Curve and Critique

Background: Tidal expiratory flow limitation (tEFL) is defined as absence of increase in air flow during forced expiration compared to tidal breathing and is related to dyspnea at rest and minimal exertion in patients with chronic airflow limitation (CAL). Tidal EFL has not been expressed as a continuous variable (0% - 100%) in previous analyses. Objective: To relate the magnitude of tEFL to spirometric values and Modified Medical Research Council (MMRC) score and Asthma Control Test (ACT). Methods: Tidal EFL was computed as percent of the tidal volume (0% - 100%) spanned (intersected) by the forced expiratory-volume curve. Results: Of 353 patients screened, 192 (114 M, 78 F) patients (136 with COPD, 56 with asthma) had CAL. Overall characteristics: (mean ± SD) age 59 ± 11 years, BMI 28 ± 7, FVC (% pred) 85 ± 20, FEV1 (% pred) 66 ± 21, FEV1/FVC 55% ± 10%, RV (% pred) 147 ± 42. Tidal EFL in patients with tEFL was 53% ± 39%. Using univariate analysis, strongest correlations were between tEFL and FVC and between tEFL and RV in patients with BMI < 30 kg/m2. In patients with nonreversible CAL, tEFL was positively associated with increasing MMRC, negatively with spirometric measurements, and positively with RV/TLC. In asthmatics, ACT scores were higher in patients with mean BMI ≥ 28 kg/m2 (p < 0.00014) and RV/TLC values > 40% (p < 0.03). Conclusions: Dyspnea is strongly associated with tEFL and lung function, particularly in patients with nonreversible CAL. Air trapping and BMI contribute to tEFL.

Experimental test and theoretical calculation of the fracture height limit of gas pipe flow to Darcy flow

Low-speed flow experiments in which ultra-fine copper tubes are used to simulate micro-fractures in carbonate strata are conducted to analyze the variations of gas flow state in fractures of different fracture heights,determine flow state transition limit and transition interval,and establish the calculation method of flow state transition limit.The results show that the ideal Hagen-Poiseuille flow is the main form of gas flow in large fractures.Due to the decrease of fracture height,the gas flow in the fracture changes from Hagen-Poiseuille flow with ideal smooth seam surface to non-Hagen-Poiseuille flow,and the critical point of the transition is the boundary of flow state transition.After the fracture height continues to decrease to a certain extent below the boundary of the flow state transition fracture height,the form of gas flow gradually changes to the ideal Darcy flow,thus the transition interval of the gas flow state in the closing process of fracture can be determined.Based on the three-dimensional microconvex body scanning of the fracture surface,the material properties of fracture and properties of fluid in the fracture,a method for calculating the boundary of flow state transition is established.The experimental test and theoretical calculation show that the limit of the fracture height for the transition from pipe flow to Darcy flow is about twice the sum of the maximum height of the microconvex bodies on the upper and lower sides of the fracture.

A LIMITING VISCOSITY APPROACH TO THE RIEMANN PROBLEM FOR TRANSONIC FLOW

In this paper we have obtained the existence of weak solutions of the small disturbance equations of steady two-dimension flow [GRAPHICS] with Riemann date [GRAPHICS] where v+ greater-than-or-equal-to 0, v- greater-than-or-equal-to 0 and u- less-than-or-equal-to u+ by introducing 'artificial' viscosity terms and employing Helley's theorem. The setting under our consideration is a nonstrictly hyperbolic system. our analysis in this article is quite fundamental.

Computational fluid dynamic simulations on liquid film behaviors at flooding in an inclined pipe

The complex liquid film behaviors at flooding in an inclined pipe were investigated with computational fluid dynamic(CFD) approaches. The liquid film behaviors included the dynamic wave characteristics before flooding and the transition of flow pattern when flooding happened. The influences of the surface tension and liquid viscosity were specially analyzed. Comparisons of the calculated velocity at the onset of flooding with the available experimental results showed a good agreement. The calculations verify that the fluctuation frequency and the liquid film thickness are almost unaffected by the superficial gas velocity until the flooding is triggered due to the Kelvin–Helmholtz instability. When flooding triggered at the superficial liquid velocity larger than0.15 m·s-1, the interfacial wave developed to slug flow, while it developed to entrainment flow when it was smaller than 0.08 m·s-1. The interfacial waves were more easily torn into tiny droplets with smaller surface tension, eventually evolving into the mist flow. When the liquid viscosity increases, the liquid film has a thicker holdup with more intensive fluctuations, and more likely developed to the slug flow.

Capillary flow rate limitation in asymmetry open channel

Abstract This paper focuses on the stability of capillary forced flow. In space, open capillary channels are widely used as the liquid and gas separation devices to manage liquid positioning and transportation. Surface collapse happens when the flow rate exceeds the critical value, leading to a failure of propellant management. Knowledge of flow rate limitation is of great significance in design and optimization of propellant management devices （PMDs）. However, the capillary flow rate limitation in an asymmetry channel has not been studied yet in the literature. In this paper, by introducing an equivalent angle to convert the asymmetry corner to a symmetry one, the one-dimensional theoretical model is developed. The flow rate limitation can then be investigated as a function of the channel geometry as well as liquid property based on the model. Comparisons between the asymmetry and symmetry channels bring forth the characteristics of the two kinds of channels, and demonstrate good accordance between the new advanced model and the existing one in the literature. This theoretical model can provide valuable reference for PMD designers.

Flow rate limitation in open wedge channel under microgravity

A study of flow rate limitation in an open wedge channel is reported in this paper. Under microgravity condition, the flow is controlled by the convection and the viscosity in the channel as well as the curvature of the liquid free surface. A maximum flow rate is achieved when the curvature cannot balance the pressure difference leading to a collapse of the free surface. A 1-dimensional theoretical model is used to predict the critical flow rate and calculate the shape of the free surface. Computa- tional Fluid Dynamics tool is also used to simulate the phenomenon. Results show that the 1-dimensional model overestimates the critical flow rate because extra pressure loss is not included in the governing equation. Good agreement is found in 3-dim- ensional simulation results. Parametric study with different wedge angles and channel lengths show that the critical flow rate increases with increasing the cross section area; and decreases with increasing the channel length. The work in this paper can help understand the surface collapsing without gravity and for the design in propellant management devices in satellite tanks.

Spatio-temporal variation in transpiration responses of maize plants to vapor pressure deficit under an arid climatic condition

The transpiration rate of plant is physically controlled by the magnitude of the vapor pressure deficit（VPD） and stomatal conductance. A limited-transpiration trait has been reported for many crop species in different environments, including Maize（Zea mays L.）. This trait results in restricted transpiration rate under high VPD, and can potentially conserve soil water and thus decrease soil water deficit. However, such a restriction on transpiration rate has never been explored in maize under arid climatic conditions in northwestern China. The objective of this study was to examine the transpiration rate of field-grown maize under well-watered conditions in an arid area at both leaf and whole plant levels, and therefore to investigate how transpiration rate responding to the ambient VPD at different spatial and temporal scales. The transpiration rates of maize at leaf and plant scales were measured independently using a gas exchange system and sapflow instrument, respectively. Results showed significant variations in transpiration responses of maize to VPD among different spatio-temporal scales. A two-phase transpiration response was observed at leaf level with a threshold of 3.5 k Pa while at the whole plant level, the daytime transpiration rate was positively associated with VPD across all measurement data, as was nighttime transpiration response to VPD at both leaf and whole plant level, which showed no definable threshold vapor pressure deficit, above which transpiration rate was restricted. With regard to temporal scale, transpiration was most responsive to VPD at a daily scale, moderately responsive at a half-hourly scale, and least responsive at an instantaneous scale. A similar breakpoint（about 3.0 k Pa） in response of the instantaneous leaf stomatal conductance and hourly canopy bulk conductance to VPD were also observed. At a daily scale, the maximum canopy bulk conductance occurred at a VPD about 1.7 k Pa. Generally, the responsiveness of stomatal conductance to VPD at the canopy scale was lower than that at leaf scale. These results indicate a temporal and spatial heterogeneity in how maize transpiration responses to VPD under arid climatic conditions. This could allow a better assessment of the possible benefits of using the maximum transpiration trait to improve maize drought tolerance in arid environment, and allow a better prediction of plant transpiration which underpin empirical models for stomatal conductance at different spatio-temporal scales in the arid climatic conditions.

A Pragmatic Method to Determine Transient Stability Constrained with Interface Real Power Flow Limits via Power System Scenario Similarity

In practical power systems,operators generally keep interface flowing under the transient stability constrained with interface real power flow limits(TS-IRPFL)to guarantee transient stability of the system.Many methods of computing TS-IRPFL have been proposed.However,in practice,the method widely used to determine TS-IRPFL is based on selection and analysis of typical scenarios as well as scenario matching.First,typical scenarios are selected and analyzed to obtain accurate limits,then the scenario to be analyzed is matched with a certain typical scenario,whose limit is adopted as the forecast limit.In this paper,following the steps described above,a pragmatic method to determine TS-IRPFL is proposed.The proposed method utilizes data-driven tools to improve the steps of scenario selection and matching.First of all,we formulate a clear model of power system scenario similarity.Based on the similarity model,we develop a typical scenario selector by clustering and a scenario matcher by nearest neighbor algorithm.The proposed method is pragmatic because it does not change the existing procedure.Moreover,it is much more reasonable than the traditional method.Test results verify the validity of the method.