Search results for "Small"
showing 10 items of 2441 documents
Modern small wind turbine design solutions comparison in terms of estimated cost to energy output ratio
2015
This paper presents a series of estimations performed in order to establish the actual cost-effectiveness of three different small wind turbines (SWTs) design solutions. Each of them was evaluated and based on their power curves and installation costs, using wind data from a numerical weather prediction (WNP) model, a return on investment (ROI) period was calculated. The chosen turbines are: a standard three bladed horizontal axis wind turbine (HAWT), an advanced diffuser augmented HAWT and a Darrieus type vertical axis wind turbine (VAWT). The conclusions drawn from this study entertain the idea that from the economical point of view, a price reduction of SWT systems is more important than…
Biophotonics in veterinary medicine: the first steps toward clinical translation
2019
In this paper, we analyzed the current situation and the potential of biophotonics and biomedical optics in veterinary medicine. Promising optical techniques such as optical coherence tomography, pulse oximeter, and hyperspectral imaging have been clinically translated into human medicine. But even though human and small animal medicine share personalized and state-of-the-art approach, biophotonics remains rarely exploited in the canine and feline medicine. However, there are some biophotonics studies in veterinary oncology which addressed tumor diagnosis (skin and subcutaneous tumors), prognosis (lymphoma), and therapy (clear surgical margins). Visible and near-infrared spectroscopy served…
Validation of Loop-Mediated Isothermal Amplification (LAMP) Field Tool for Rapid and Sensitive Diagnosis of Contagious Agalactia in Small Ruminants
2020
Simple Summary Contagious agalactia (CA) is an infectious disease of small ruminants endemic in the Mediterranean countries, causing significant socioeconomic impacts predominantly on small-scale farmers who still subsist on marginal lands. Mycoplasma agalactiae is historically considered the principal etiological agent of CA, especially in sheep. Clinical signs are characterised by mastitis, arthritis, keratoconjunctivitis and occasionally, abortion. Rapid, accurate and cost-effective field tests are urgently needed for effective control of M. agalactiae mastitis. Our study illustrated the validation of a Loop-Mediated Isothermal Amplification (LAMP) test for the detection of M. agalactiae…
European experiences with push-and-pull enteroscopy in double-balloon technique (double-balloon enteroscopy).
2006
This article describes research concerning push-and-pull enteroscopy. Clear and possible indications for this technique are highlighted.
Time-resolving Analysis of Cryotropic Gelation of Water/Poly(Vinyl Alcohol) Solutions via Small Angle Neutron Scattering
2007
The structural transformations occurring in initially homogeneous aqueous solutions of poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) through application of freezing (-13 degrees C) and thawing (20 degrees C) cycles is investigated by time resolving small-angle neutron scattering (SANS). These measurements indicate that formation of gels of complex hierarchical structure arises from occurrence of different elementary processes, involving different length and time scales. The fastest process that could be detected by our measurements during the first cryotropic treatment consists of the crystallization of the solvent. However, solvent crystallization is incomplete, and an unfrozen liquid microphase more concentr…
Slow Crystallization Kinetics of Poly(vinyl alcohol) in Confined Environment during Cryotropic Gelation of Aqueous Solutions
2006
The gelation kinetics of aqueous solutions of poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) during freezing at −13 °C has been investigated with time-resolved small angle neutron scattering. Crystallization of PVA takes place inside an unfrozen liquid microphase that forms in the matrix of ice crystals and follows a first-order kinetics during the early stages and becomes very slow in the later stages with an apparent Avrami exponent lower than 1. Crystallization of PVA at low temperatures is responsible of formation of strong physical gels upon defrosting, provided that the concentration of PVA is higher than a critical value.
Mesoscopic and Microscopic Investigation on Poly(vinyl alcohol) Hydrogels in the Presence of Sodium Decylsulfate
2007
The structure of poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) hydrogels formed as a result of freeze/thaw treatments of aqueous solutions of the polymer (11 wt % PVA) in the freshly prepared state is analyzed through the combined use of small (SANS) and ultrasmall (USANS) angle neutron scattering techniques. The structure of these hydrogels may be described in terms of polymer rich regions, with dimensions of the order of 1-2 microm, dispersed in a water rich phase, forming two bicontinuous phases. The PVA chains in the polymer rich phase form a network where the cross-linking points are mainly crystalline aggregates of PVA having average dimensions of approximately 45 A. The structural organization of freeze…
A Molecular Dynamics-Shared Pharmacophore Approach to Boost Early-Enrichment Virtual Screening: A Case Study on Peroxisome Proliferator-Activated Rec…
2016
Molecular dynamics (MD) simulations can be used, prior to virtual screening, to add flexibility to proteins and study them in a dynamic way. Furthermore, the use of multiple crystal structures of the same protein containing different co-crystallized ligands can help elucidate the role of the ligand on a protein's active conformation, and then explore the most common interactions between small molecules and the receptor. In this work, we evaluated the contribution of the combined use of MD on crystal structures containing the same protein but different ligands to examine the crucial ligand-protein interactions within the complexes. The study was carried out on peroxisome proliferator-activat…
Can Applications Designed to Evaluate Visual Function Be Used in Different iPads?
2018
SIGNIFICANCE: Apple devices could be suitable for vision tests, provided that the test has been correctly adapted to the device, after considering the spatial and colorimetric characterization of the screen. PURPOSE: The majority of vision applications has not been developed by vision or colorimetry experts and suffers from conceptual and design errors that may lead average users to an erroneous assessment of their visual capabilities. The reliability of vision tests depends on the accurate generation of the necessary visual stimuli in a particular device. Our aim was to ascertain whether a given color test, designed for a colorimetrically characterized device, might be used in another simi…
Effects of fabrication on the mechanics, microstructure and micromechanical environment of small intestinal submucosa scaffolds for vascular tissue e…
2013
In small intestinal submucosa scaffolds for functional tissue engineering, the impact of scaffold fabrication parameters on success rate may be related to the mechanotransductory properties of the final microstructural organization of collagen fibers. We hypothesized that two fabrication parameters, 1) preservation (P) or removal (R) of a dense collagen layer present in SIS and 2) SIS in a final dehydrated (D) or hydrated (H) state, have an effect on scaffold void area, microstructural anisotropy (fiber alignment) and mechanical anisotropy (global mechanical compliance). We further integrated our experimental measurements in a constitutive model to explore final effects on the micromechanic…