Sustained low diffusing capacity in hepatopulmonary syndrome after liver transplantation

AIM： To study the presence of sustained low diffusing capacity （DLco） after liver transplantation （LT） in patients with hepatopulmonary syndrome （HPS）. METHODS： Six patients with mild-to-severe HPS and 24 without HPS who underwent LT were prospectively followed before and after LT at mid-term （median, 15 mo）. HPS patients were also assessed at Iong-tem （median, 86 mo）. RESULTS： Before LT, HPS patients showed lower PaO2 （71 ± 8 mmHg）, higher AaPO2 （43 ± 10 mmHg） and lower DLco （54% ± 9% predicted）, due to a combination of moderate-to-severe ventilation-perfusion （VA/Q） imbalance, mild shunt and diffusion limitation, than non- HPS patients （94 ± 4 mmHg and 19 ± 3 mmHg, and 85% ± 3% predicted, respectively） （P 〈 0.05 each）. Seven non-HPS patients had also reduced DLco （70% ± 4% predicted）. At mid- and long-term after LT, compared to pre- LT, HPS patients normalized PaO2 （91 ± 3 mmHg and 87 ± 5 mmHg）, AaPO2 （14 ± 3 mmHg and 23 ± 5 mmHg） and all VA/Q descriptors （P 〈 0.05 each） without changes in DLco （53% ± 8% and 56% ± 7% predicted, respectively）. Post-LT DLco in non-HPS patients with pre- LT low DLco was unchanged （75% ± 6% predicted）. CONCLUSION： While complete VA/Q resolution in HPS indicates a reversible functional disturbance, sustained low DLco after LT also present in some non-HPS patients, points to persistence of sub-clinical liver-induced pulmonary vascular changes.

Finite Element Simulations of Crack Propagation in Al_(2)O_(3)/6061Al Composites

In this work, the local fracture initiation behaviour of an Al2O3/6061Al composite is studied numerically. The damage behaviour of the microstructure is evaluated in consideration of the path and the amount of damage as well as the stress-strain performance of the microstructure. The damage behaviour of the ductile matrix has been simulated using the damage parameter D. For the simulation of fracture of the ceramic particles, a normal stress criterion is applied. For the analysis of the damage behaviour of the transition zone between particulate and matrix, both damage models （D parameter and normal stress criteria） are applied in this region. Parameter studies of crack propagation prediction in the Al2O3/6061Al composite on the basis of an Element Elimination technique have been performed for two differently heat-treated variants resulting in different mechanical properties. In addition, residual stress effects on the damage behaviour are examined for various microstructural situations.

A Novel Approach for Mitigating Power Quality Issues in a PV Integrated Microgrid System Using an Improved Jelly Fish Algorithm

A two-step methodology was used to address and improve the power quality concerns for the PV-integrated microgrid system. First, partial shading was included to deal with the real-time issues. The Improved Jelly Fish Algorithm integrated Perturb and Obserb (IJFA-PO) has been proposed to track the Global Maximum Power Point (GMPP). Second, the main unit-powered via DC–AC converter is synchronised with the grid. To cope with the wide voltage variation and harmonic mitigation, an auxiliary unit undergoes a novel series compensation technique. Out of various switching approaches, IJFA-based Selective Harmonic Elimination (SHE) in 120° conduction gives the optimal solution. Three switching angles were obtained using IJFA, whose performance was equivalent to that of nine switching angles. Thus, the system is efficient with minimised higher-order harmonics and lower switching losses. The proposed system outperformed in terms of efficiency, metaheuristics, and convergence. The Total Harmonic Distortion (THD) obtained was 1.32%, which is within the IEEE 1547 and IEC tolerable limits. The model was developed in MATLAB/Simulink 2016b and verified with an experimental prototype of grid-synchronised PV capacity of 260 W tested under various loading conditions. The present model is reliable and features a simple controller that provides more convenient and adequate performance.