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The present work addresses the coupling of a flamelet database that can accurately represent the flame structure in composition space with a low-Mach approximation of the Navier-Stokes equations. An advancement of the CFI combustion model, which is currently based on laminar premixed flamelets, is used for chemistry tabulation. This model can be applied to different combustion regimes from premixed to non-premixed combustion, although this work is concentrated on turbulent premixed flames for Reynolds-averaged Navier-Stokes (RANS) and large-eddy simulations (LES). A premixed confined jet flame, which has been investigated experimentally at the German Aerospace Center (DLR) is used for validation in adiabatic conditions showing satisfactory agreement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Beckwith-Wiedemann syndrome (BWS) is an overgrowth syndrome associated with an increased risk of pediatric tumors. The underlying molecular abnormalities may be genetic (CDKN1C mutations or 11p15 paternal uniparental isodisomy, pUPD) or epigenetic (imprinting center region 1, ICR1, gain of methylation, ICR1 GOM, or ICR2 loss of methylation, ICR2 LOM). Aim: We aimed to describe a cohort of 407 BWS patients with molecular defects of the 11p15 domain followed prospectively after molecular diagnosis. Results: Birth weight and length were significantly higher in patients with ICR1 GOM than in the other groups. ICR2 LOM and CDKN1C mutations were associated with a higher prevalence of exomphalos. Mean adult height (regardless of molecular subtype, n = 35) was 1.8 ± 1.2 SDS, with 18 patients having a final height above +2 SDS. The prevalence of tumors was 8.6% in the whole population; 28.6 and 17.3% of the patients with ICR1 GOM (all Wilms tumors) and 11p15 pUPD, respectively, developed a tumor during infancy. Conversely, the prevalence of tumors in patients with ICR2 LOM and CDKN1C mutations were 3.1 and 8.8%, respectively, with no Wilms tumors. Conclusion: Based on these results for a large cohort, we formulated guidelines for the follow-up of these patients according to the molecular subtype of BWS. © 2013 S. Karger AG, Basel [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Bioaccessibility tests can be used to improve contaminated land risk assessments. For organic pollutants a ‘sink’ is required within these tests to better mimic their desorption under the physiological conditions prevailing in the intestinal tract, where a steep diffusion gradient for the removal of organic pollutants from the soil matrix would exist. This is currently ignored in most PBET systems. By combining the CEPBET bioaccessibility test with an infinite sink, the removal of PAH from spiked solutions was monitored. Less than 10% of spiked PAH remained in the stomach media after 1 h, 10% by 4 h in the small intestine compartment and c.15% after 16 h in the colon. The addition of the infinite sink increased bioaccessibility estimates for field soils by a factor of 1.2–2.8, confirming its importance for robust PBET tests. TOC or BC were not the only factors controlling desorption of the PAH from the soils. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The article presents the study which monitored the actual role of different pathogens in the induction of mastitis in the dairy industry in Jalisco State, West Mexico. The study also aims to detect the incidence of subclinical mastitis in relation to clinical cases. It defines mastitis as a complex disease with various predisposing factors and different causative agents. In the study, the California Mastitis Test was used to differentiate subclinical cases from healthy cows.

The purpose of this study is to determine the critical wear levels of the contact wire of the catenary on metropolitan lines. The study has focussed on the zones of contact wire where localized wear is produced, normally associated with the appearance of electric arcs. To this end, a finite element model has been developed to study the dynamics of pantograph–catenary interaction. The model includes a zone of localized wear and a singularity in the contact wire in order to simulate the worst case scenario from the point of view of stresses. In order to consider the different stages in the wire wear process, different depths and widths of the localized wear zone were defined. The results of the dynamic simulations performed for each stage of wear let the area of the minimum resistant section of the contact wire be determined for which stresses are greater than the allowable stress. The maximum tensile stress reached in the contact wire shows a clear sensitivity to the size of the local wear zone, defined by its width and depth. In this way, if the wear measurements taken with an overhead line-recording vehicle are analysed, it will be possible to calculate the potential breakage risk of the wire. A strong dependence of the tensile forces of the contact wire has also been observed. These results will allow priorities to be set for replacing the most critical sections of wire, thereby making maintenance much more efficient. The results obtained show that the wire replacement criteria currently borne in mind have turned out to be appropriate, although in some wear scenarios these criteria could be adjusted even more, and so prolong the life cycle of the contact wire. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The process of talo-calcaneal superposition is one of the most important steps in the transformation of the reptilian foot (primitive) into the mammalian foot (modern). This change was developed in certain families of mammal-like reptiles and transitional mammals during the Mesozoic age and represents a different path in the morphological development of the foot to that of other dominant reptiles (Dinosaurs, etc.). The talo-calcaneal superposition takes place during the embryonic stage of human life and ends during the primary stages of the foetal period of the same. This study aims to demonstrate the similarities between the phylogenic and ontogenic development of the said morphological change. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]