Do changes in intracoronary pressure aid coronary spasm diagnosis using the spasm provocation test?

BACKGROUND Although the spasm provocation test(SPT)can diagnose coronary spasms,it would be helpful if it could also predict their occurrence.AIM To investigate whether coronary spasms can be predicted using changes in intracoronary artery pressure measured using a pressure wire during the SPT.METHODS Seventy patients underwent SPTs with pressure-wire measurement of intracoronary artery pressure.During each SPT,the pressure wire was advanced into the distal portion of the right coronary artery(RCA)and left anterior descending coronary artery,and the ratio of intracoronary pressure to aortic pressure(Pd/Pa)was monitored.Coronary spasm was defined as an arterial narrowing of>90%in response to the administration of acetylcholine(ACh),with chest symptoms and/or ischemic electrocardiographic changes.ACh was administered to the RCA at low,moderate,or high doses of 20,50,or 80μg,respectively,and to the left coronary artery(LCA)at low,moderate,or high doses of 50,100,or 200μg,respectively.Coronary arteries with coronary spasms at low doses of ACh were defined as group L,and those with coronary spasms at moderate or high doses were defined as group MH.Those who did not occur coronary spasms at any ACh dose were designated as group N.RESULTS Among the 132 coronary arteries assessed using a pressure wire,there were 49 in group N,25 in group L,and 58 in group MH.Baseline Pd/Pa was the lowest in group L(P=0.001).The decrease in the Pd/Pa between baseline to low doses of ACh was lower in group MH than in group N(P<0.001).A receiver-operating characteristics analysis showed that the cutoff baseline Pd/Pa value for predicting group L was 0.95,with a sensitivity of 0.600(15/25)and a specificity of 0.713(76/107)and that the cutoff value of Pd/Pa from baseline to low doses of ACh for predicting group MH was−0.04,with a sensitivity of 0.741(43/58)and a specificity of 0.694(34/49).CONCLUSION These findings suggest that indices of intracoronary pressure during SPT may be useful means for predicting the occurrence of coronary spasms.

Lateral earth pressure of granular backfills on retaining walls with expanded polystyrene geofoam inclusions under limited surcharge loading

Existing studies have focused on the behavior of the retaining wall equipped with expanded polystyrene(EPS)geofoam inclusions under semi-infinite surcharge loading rather than limited surcharge loading.In this paper,the failure mode and the earth pressure acting on the rigid retaining wall with EPS geofoam inclusions and granular backfills(henceforth referred to as EPS-wall),under limited surcharge loading are investigated through two-and three-dimensional model tests.The testing results show that different from the sliding of almost all the backfill in the EPS-wall under semi-infinite surcharge loading,only an approximately triangular backfill slides in the wall under limited surcharge loading.The distribution of the lateral earth pressure on the EPS-wall under limited surcharge loading is non-linear,and the distribution changes from the increase of the wall depth to the decrease with the increase of the limited surcharge loading.An approach based on the force equilibrium of a differential element is developed to predict the lateral earth pressure behind the EPS-wall subjected to limited surcharge loading,and its performance was fully validated by the three-dimensional model tests.

Impact pressure of waves generated by landslides on bank slopes

Impulse waves that are generated by landslides in narrow reservoir areas threaten the stability of buildings and bank slopes.To discuss the action process and evolution law of the wave pressure on bank slopes,a three-dimensional physical model test that considers impulse waves generated by landslides was performed,and factors including landslide width,thickness,slope angles of the sliding surface,and bank slope angle were considered.Based on wave forms on the bank slopes,wave pressure curve characteristics,and peak value,the action process of wave pressure could be divided into the following stages:maximum pulsating pressure stage,wave impact stage(when waves break),and stationary pulsation stage.It was found that wave breaking is dependent on the value of the surf similarity parameterξ.The distribution pattern of impact pressure decays linearly on both sides of the maximum impact pressure point,and the attenuation degree decreases when it attains 40%of the maximum value.Thus,it is proposed that the prediction formula for the maximum effective impact pressure of the bank slope be related to the reciprocal of wave steepness,relative water depth,and slope rate.The prediction formula provides strong theoretical support for early safety warning and for predicting the bank slope under impulse waves generated by landslides.

Surrounding rock pressure in the tunnel portal section through moraine under freeze-thaw action

Moraines,characterized by the accumulation of rock and soil debris transported by glacial activity,present unique challenges for tunnel construction,particularly in portal sections,due to prevailing geographical and climatic conditions that facilitate freeze-thaw action.Despite these challenges,there is a dearth of studies investigating the influence of freeze-thaw action and water content on the mechanical properties of moraines,and no research on calculating surrounding rock pressure in moraine tunnels subjected to freeze-thaw conditions.In this study,direct shear tests under freeze-thaw cycles were conducted to examine the effects of freeze-thaw cycles and water content on the mechanical properties of frozen moraine.A comprehensive parameter K,integrating the number of freeze-thaws and water content,was introduced to model cohesion c.Drawing on Terzaghi Theory,we propose an improved algorithm for calculating surrounding rock pressure at the portal section of moraine tunnels.Using a tunnel as a case study,surrounding rock pressure was calculated under various conditions to validate the Improved Algorithm's efficacy.The results show that:(1)Strength loss exhibits a linear trend with the number of freeze-thaw cycles at water content levels of 4%and 8%,while at 12%water content,previous freeze-thaw cycles induce more significant damage to the soil.(2)Moraine saturation peaks between 8%and 12%water content.Following repeated freeze-thaw cycles,moraine shear strength initially increases before decreasing with varying water content.(3)The internal friction angle of moraine experiences slight reductions with prolonged freeze-thaw cycles,but both freeze-thaw cycles and water content significantly influence cohesion.(4)Vertical surrounding rock pressure increases after the initial freeze-thaw cycle,particularly with higher water content,although freeze-thaw cycles have minimal effect on it.(5)Freeze-thaw cycles lead to a substantial increase in lateral surrounding rock pressure,necessitating reinforced support structures at the arch wall,arch waist,and arch foot in engineering projects to mitigate freeze-thaw effects.This study provides a foundation for designing and selecting tunnel support structures in similar geological conditions.

Air pressure law of a reservoir constructed in karst sinkholes

Karst sinkholes with natural negative landform provide favorable conditions for the pumped storage reservoir construction for less excavation work.However,the construction of the reservoir would plug the natural karst channels for water and air,which would cause remarkable air pressure in karst channels when the groundwater level fluctuates.A large laboratory simulation test was carried out to study the air pressure variation of a reservoir built on the karst sinkhole.The air pressure in the karst channel and inside the model was monitored during the groundwater rising and falling process.Result showed that the variation of air pressure in the karst channel and the surrounding rock exhibited a high degree of similarity.The air pressure increased rapidly at the initial stage of water level rising,followed by a slight decrease,then the air pressure increased sharply when the water level approached the top of the karst cave.The initial peak of air pressure and the final peak of air pressure were defined,and both air pressure peaks were linearly increasing with the water level rising rate.The negative air pressure was also analyzed during the drainage process,which was linearly correlated with the water level falling rate.The causes of air pressure variation in karst channels of a pumped storage reservoir built on the karst sinkhole were discussed.The initial rapid increase,then slight decrease and final sudden increase of air pressure were controlled by the combined effects of air compression in karst channel and air seepage into the surrounding rock.For the drainage process,the instant negative air pressure and gradual recovering of air pressure were controlled by the combined effects of negative air pressure induced by water level falling and air supply from surrounding rock.This work could provide valuable reference for the reservoir construction in karst area.

A Numerical Investigation of the Effect of Boundary Conditions on Acoustic Pressure Distribution in a Sonochemical Reactor Chamber

The intensification of physicochemical processes in the sonochemical reactor chamber is widely used in problems of synthesis,extraction and separation.One of the most important mechanisms at play in such processes is the acoustic cavitation due to the non-uniform distribution of acoustic pressure in the chamber.Cavitation has a strong impact on the surface degradation mechanisms.In this work,a numerical calculation of the acoustic pressure distribution inside the reactor chamber was performed using COMSOL Multiphysics.The numerical results have revealed the dependence of the structure of the acoustic pressure field on the boundary conditions for various thicknesses of the piezoelectric transducer.In particular,the amplitude of the acoustic pressure is minimal in the case of absorbing boundaries,and the attenuation becomes more significant as the thickness of the piezoelectric transducer increases.In addition,reflective boundaries play a significant role in the formation and distribution of zones of maximum cavitation activity.

A Transient-Pressure-Based Numerical Approach for Interlayer Identification in Sand Reservoirs

Almost all sandstone reservoirs contain interlayers. The identification and characterization of these interlayers iscritical for minimizing the uncertainty associated with oilfield development and improving oil and gas recovery.Identifying interlayers outside wells using identification methods based on logging data and machine learning isdifficult and seismic-based identification techniques are expensive. Herein, a numerical model based on seepageand well-testing theories is introduced to identify interlayers using transient pressure data. The proposed modelrelies on the open-source MATLAB Reservoir Simulation Toolbox. The effects of the interlayer thickness, position,and width on the pressure response are thoroughly investigated. A procedure for inverting interlayer parametersin the reservoir using the bottom-hole pressure is also proposed. This method uses only transient pressuredata during well testing and can effectively identify the interlayer distribution near the wellbore at an extremelylow cost. The reliability of the model is verified using effective oilfield examples.

Mechanical Analysis of a Multi-Test String in High-Temperature and High-Pressure Deep Wells

The mechanical behavior of the test string in deep wells is generally relatively complex as a result of the high temperature and high pressure,severe dogleg and buckling effects,which in some circumstances can even lead to string failure.Traditional computational methods for the analysis of these behaviors are often inaccurate.For this reason,here a more accurate mechanical model of the test string is introduced by considering variables such as temperature,pressure,wellbore trajectory,and buckling,as well as combining them with the deformation and string constraint conditions brought in by changes in temperature and pressure during the tripping,setting,and test operations.The model is validated by applying it to a specific high-pressure gas well(located in Northeast Sichuan).

Shear behaviour of a rock bridge sandwiched between incipient joints under the influence of hydraulic pressures

The rock bridges sandwiched in incipiently jointed rock mass were considered as barriers that block the fluid seepage,and provide certain shear strength reservation.For better revealing the influence of hydraulic pressure on the failure behaviour of rock bridges,direct shear tests were carried out through a newly proposed method on rock samples that contain two parallel incipient joints.By developing the gypsum-silicone pad coupling samples,a conventional triaxial test system was qualified to implement direct shear tests with satisfied sealing capability.The results showed that the rock bridges could be failed through the tensile failure,shear failure and mixed failure mechanism.The hydraulic pressure would facilitate the tensile failure mechanism and induce rougher fracture surfaces;while the normal stress would facilitate the shear failure mechanism and induce less rough fracture.The hydraulic pressure reduced the global shear strength of the rock block through reducing the efficient normal stress applied on the rock bridge area,which was highly dependent on the joint persistence,k.Moreover,because of the iterating occurrence of the hydraulic pressure lag with the fracture propagation,the rock bridge failure stage in the shear stress-shear displacement curves displayed a fluctuation trend.

In-Situ Test and Numerical Analysis of Bore Pressure on Sheet-Pile Groin

An in-situ test of bore pressure on a sheet-pile groin is carried out to investigate the characteristics of the bore pressure of fide in the Qian-tang River. The histories of bore pressure and the rule of the distribution of bore pressure on the sheet-pile groin are obtained through the test, which shows that the bore pressure on the sheet-pile groin are varies with time and space. The peak value of bore pressure on sheet-pile groin at different heights occurs almost at the same time. vertical distribution of bore pressure on the sheet-pile groin is linear above the still water level. The maximum bore pressure on the sheet-pile groin occurs at the still water level. Then a numerical method is also used to further study the characteristics of bore pressure. The standard k - ε turbulence model and VOF （volume of fluid） method for surface tracking are used to simulate the bore against the sheet-pile groin. The numerical results show flow fields, the position of free surface and time history and spatial distribution of bore pressure on the sheet-pile groin. The numerical and test resuits show good agreement.

Effects of confining pressure and temperature on strength and deformation behavior of frozen saline silty clay

Buildings are always affected by frost heave and thaw settlement in cold regions,even where saline soil is present.This paper describes the triaxial testing results of frozen silty clay with high salt content and examines the in-fluence of confining pressure and temperature on its mechanical characteristics.Conventional triaxial compression tests were conducted under different confining pressures(0.5–7.0 MPa)and temperatures(-6℃,-8℃,-10℃,and-12℃).The test results show that when the confining pressure is less than 1 MPa,the frozen saline silty clay is dominated by brittle behavior with the X-shaped dilatancy failure mode.As the confining pressure increases,the sample gradually transitions from brittle to plastic behavior.The strength of frozen saline silty clay rises first and then decreases with increasing confining pressure.The improved Duncan-Chang hyperbolic model can describe the stress-strain relationship of frozen saline silty clay.And the parabolic strength criterion can be used to describe the strength evolution of frozen saline silty clay.The function relation of strength parameters with temperature is obtained by fitting,and the results of the parabolic strength criterion are in good agreement with the experimental results,especially when confining pressure is less than 5 MPa.Therefore,the study has important guiding significance for design and construction when considering high salinity soil as an engineering material in cold regions.

Orthogonal Test About Biogas Upgrading by Pressured Water Scrubbing

Biogas is a kind of regenerable energy which is inexpensive and friendly to the environment, but the potential ofbiogas is difficult to develop fully in China, for most biogas have badly qualities and the utilization of it is monotonous. The suitable operation term about biogas upgrading by pressurized water scrubbing was researched through the orthogonal test in this study. Two sorts of scrubber packing included the random multidimensional hollow sphere packing and the structured screen packing were also used, and the effects of experiment factors included packing, water temperature, gas flow speed, water flow speed and washing pressure were studied. The results showed that better effect was got when the screen structured packing was used; all the five test factors affected the processing significantly in the arrange as before and had better and better significant effects.

Model test study of frost heaving pressures in tunnels excavated in fractured rock mass in cold regions

Based on the similarity theory, taking the horseshoe, city-gate and round linings as examples, the value and distribution regularities of normal frost heaving pressures （hereinafter as frost heaving pressures） in tunnels excavated in fractured rock mass in cold regions under different constraints and freezing depths were studied by a test model. It was found that the larger the frozen depth, the larger the frost heaving pressure, and the stronger the top constraint, the larger the frost heaving pressure. For the horseshoe lining and city-gate lining, the top constraint has a greater effect on the frost heaving pressures on the arch and the inverted arch. For the round lining, the influences of the top constraint on the frost heaving pressure in all linings are almost the same. The frost heaving pressure is maximum on the city-gate lining and minimal on the round lining. The largest frost heaving pressure all occur near the foot of the inverted arch for the three kinds of lining. Thus, the test data basically coincide with the observed in situ data.

A Test Model of Water Pressures within a Fault in Rock Slope

This paper introduces model test results of water pressure in a fault, which is located in a slope and 16 different conditions. The results show that the water pressures in fault can be expressed by a linear function, which is similar to the theoretical model suggested by Hoek. Factors affecting water pressures are water level in tension crack, dip angle of fault, the height of filling materials and thickness of fault zone in sequence.

Comparison of intraocular pressure peak and fluctuations among Filipino patients with non-glaucomatous eyes and glaucoma suspects using water drinking test and diurnal intraocular pressure

AIM:To compare the intraocular pressure(IOP)peaks and fluctuations using water drinking tests(WDTs)and mean diurnal IOP among Filipino patients with normal eyes and glaucoma suspectsMETHODS:This prospective study included normal and glaucoma suspect patients.Each patient underwent both WDT and mean diurnal examination on separate visits.For mean diurnal examination,IOP was recorded every 2 h for 8 h while in WDT,IOP was recorded prior to WDT,and postWDT at 5,15,30,45,and 60 min.IOP peak was recorded as the highest IOP for both methods,and IOP fluctuation was recorded as highest IOP minus lowest IOP.RESULTS:With the comparison of diagnostic tests,both normal eyes and glaucoma suspect groups,the peak IOP was caught at 15 min.Comparative analysis of both groups also showed that the peak IOP measurements were statistically higher for the WDT compared to mean diurnal IOP(P=0.039,P=0.048 under normal group and P=0.032 and P=0.031 under glaucoma suspect group).Similarly,the WDT had a statistically higher mean IOP fluctuation score than the mean diurnal IOP method in both groups(P=0.003,P=0.011 under normal group;P=0.002 and P=0.005 under glaucoma suspect group).CONCLUSION:This study shows that WDT is a comparable diagnostic exam in predicting IOP fluctuations than mean diurnal measurement.WDT is a promising diagnostic procedure for risk assessment in glaucoma.

Modular zonal fluid sampling and pressure testing technology for production well

To accurately obtain development dynamic data such as zonal pressure and fluid parameters of each oil layer in the late development stage of a high water-cut old oilfield, a modular zonal sampling and testing technology with the characteristics of modularization, full electronic control and rapidity was proposed and developed. Lab testing and on-site testing was carried out. The modular zonal sampling and testing system is composed of 10 functional modules, namely ground control system, downhole power supply module, drainage pump, electronically controlled anchor, electronically controlled packer, electronically controlled sampler, magnetic positioning sub, terminal sub, adapter cable, and quick connector. Indoor tests have confirmed that the performance parameters of each module meet the design requirements. The downhole function modules of the system can withstand pressures up to 35 MPa and temperatures up to 85 ℃. The rubber cylinder of the electronically controlled packer can withstand a pressure difference of more than 10 MPa. The electronically controlled anchor has an anchoring force of greater than 6.9 t, and can be forcibly detached in the event of an accident. The discharge pump has a displacement of 0.8 m;/d and a head of 500 m. The electronically controlled sampler can meet the requirement of taking 500 mL of sample in each of the 3 chambers. Field tests in Jilin Oilfield show that the system can realize rapid isolation and self-check of isolation of a certain production interval downhole, as well as layer-by layer pressure build-up test. The drainage pump can be used to discharge the mixed liquid between the upper and lower packers and near the wellbore to obtain real fluid samples of the tested formation interval. The data obtained give us better understanding on the pay zones in old oilfields, and provide important basis for development plan adjustment, reservoir stimulation, and EOR measures.

Design of occlusion pressure testing system for infusion pump

Reliability of medical devices such as infusion pumps is extremely important because these devices are being used in patients who are in critical condition. Occlusion pressure, as an important parameter of infusion pumps, should be detected when an occlusion occurred. How-ever, infusion pumps’ occlusion pressure could not be tested and the performance of these pumps is not known to us. In order to test the occlusion pressure of infusion pump, a testing system has been put forward according to standards of IEC 60601-2-24:1998/ GB 9706.27- 2005. The system is comprised of sensor, acquisition card, three-way tap and so on;this system is controlled by a PC. At the same time, sampling rate could be changed if necessary and test time could be recorded. And then the characteristics of this system were studied, such as linear, effects of pump rates and different pumps. The system remained linear in a given environment. The higher is the pump rate, the faster is the time to reach occlusion condi-tion. The testing system has been proved to be effective in testing the occlusion pressure of infusion pumps and the accuracy error of pressure is content the demand of ±1% of range.

Centrifugal model test and numerical simulation of vertical earth pressure on soft foundation box culvert

To obtain the vertical earth pressure on a soft foundation box culvert and investigate the interaction of the soil-culvert-foundation system, both a centrifugal model test and a numerical simulation were conducted and the comparisons with the current methods to determine the load on a culvert were completed. The results of the model test and numerical analysis are in satisfactory agreement, which shows that the direction of the shear stress between the culvert and the adjacent embankment depends on the differential settlement between them. A vertical earth pressure concentration appears on the culvert with a rigid piles foundation because of a downward shear stress. The ratio of the load on a soft foundation culvert and the overburden pressure above the culvert raises first and then decreases as the backfill height increases. In order to reduce the load on a culvert, it is suggested to limit the stiffness difference of the foundations under the culvert and embankment and to use a light backfill over the culvert.

Approach to minish scattering of results for split Hopkinson pressure bar test

Split Hopkinson pressure bar(SHPB) apparatus, usually used for testing behavior of material in median and high strain-rate, is now widely used in the study of rock dynamic constitutive relation, damage evolvement mechanism and energy consumption. However, the possible reasons of sampling disturbance, machining error and so on often lead to the scattering of test results, and bring ultimate difficulty for forming general test conclusion. Based on the stochastic finite element method, the uncertain parameters of specimen density ρs, specimen radius Rs, specimen elastic modulus Es and specimen length Ls in the data processing of SHPB test were considered, and the correlation between the parameters and the test results was analyzed. The results show that the specimen radius Rs has direct correlation with the test result, improving the accuracy in preparing and measuring of specimen is an effective way to improve the accuracy of test and minish the scattering of results for SHPB test.

Evaluation of Contact Pressure in Bending under Tension Test by a Pressure Sensitive Film

The contact pressure acting on the sheet/tools interface has been studied because of growing the concern about the wear of tools. Recent studies make use of numerical simulation software to evaluate and correlate this pressure with the friction and wear generated. Since there are many studies that determine the coefficient of friction in sheet metal forming by bending under tension (BUT) test, the contact pressure between the pin and the sheet was measured using a film that has the ability to record the applied pressure. The vertical force applied to pin was also measured. The results indicate that the vertical force is more accurate to set the contact pressure that using equations predetermined. It was also observed that the contact area between the sheet and the pin is always smaller than the area calculated geometrically. The friction coefficient was determined for the BUT test through several equations proposed by various authors in order to check if there is much variation between the results. It was observed that the friction coefficient showed little variation for each equation, and each one can be used. The material used was the commercially pure aluminum, alloy Al1100.