Academic literature on the topic 'Pressure change measurements'

Exaggerated inspiratory swings in intrathoracic pressure have been postulated to increase left ventricular (LV) afterload. These predictions are based on measurements of LV afterload by use of esophageal or lateral pleural pressure. Using direct measurements of pericardial pressure, we reexamined respiratory changes in LV afterload. In 11 anesthetized vagotomized dogs, we measured arterial pressure, LV end-systolic (ES) and end-diastolic transmural (TM) pressures, stroke volume (SV), diastolic left anterior descending blood flow (CBF-D), and coronary resistance. Dogs were studied before and while breathing against an inspiratory threshold load of -20 to -25 cmH2O compared with end expiration. Relative to end expiration, SV and LVES TM pressures decreased during inspiration and increased during early expiration, effects exaggerated during inspiratory loading. In all cases, LV afterload (LVES TM pressure) changed in parallel with SV. LV end-diastolic TM pressure did not change. CBF-D paralleled arterial pressure, and there were no changes in coronary resistance. In two dogs, regional LVES segment length paralleled calculated changes in LVES TM pressure. We conclude that 1) LV afterload decreases during early inspiration and increases during early expiration, changes secondary to those in SV; 2) changes in CBF-D are secondary to changes in perfusion pressure during the respiratory cycle; and 3) the use of esophageal or lateral pleural pressure to estimate LV surface pressure overestimates changes in LV TM pressures during respiration.

This study investigated the agreement of intraocular pressure measurements using rebound tonometry and applanation tonometry in response to atmospheric changes in a hyperbaric chamber. Twelve eyes of 12 healthy subjects were included in this prospective, comparative, single-masked study. Intraocular pressure measurements were performed by rebound tonometry followed by applanation tonometry in a multiplace hyperbaric chamber at 1 Bar, followed by 2, 3 and 4 Bar during compression and again at 3 and 2 Bar during decompression. Mean differences between rebound and applanation intraocular pressure measurements were 1.6, 1.7, and 2.1 mmHg at 2, 3, and 4 Bar respectively during compression and 2.6 and 2.2 mmHg at 3 and 2 Bar during decompression. Lower limits of agreement ranged from -3.7 to -5.9 mmHg and upper limits ranged from -0.3 to 1.9 mmHg. Multivariate analysis showed that the differences between rebound and applanation intraocular pressure measurements were independent of atmospheric pressure changes (p = 0.79). Intraocular pressure measured by rebound tonometry shows a systematic difference compared to intraocular measured by applanation tonometry, but this difference is not influenced by changes of atmospheric pressure up to 4 Bar in a hyperbaric chamber. Agreement in magnitude of change between devices suggests rebound tonometry is viable for assessing intraocular pressure during atmospheric changes. Future studies should be designed in consideration of expected differences in IOP values provided by the two devices.

The liver provides a reservoir available for mobilizing large amounts of blood, but if a change in downstream (outflow) pressure below a certain magnitude (break pressure) does not change upstream pressures, blood volume redistribution may be limited. For downstream pressures larger than the break pressure, the upstream pressures change proportionately. We tested the hypothesis that this nonlinear mode of pressure transmission could be found from the abdominal vena cava to the hepatic microcirculation and from the hepatic microcirculation to the portal vein. Using a servo-null micropipette technique, we measured microvascular pressures at the liver surface of rabbits. In 16 of 30 measurements, increasing the pressure at the liver outflow, by partially occluding the caudal thoracic vena cava, caused an increase in hepatic venular pressure only after the abdominal vena caval pressure exceeded a break pressure of 2.85 +/- 0.92 mmHg. In 13 of 31 measurements, portal venous pressure was not changed until the hepatic venular pressure exceeded a break pressure of 3.36 +/- 0.54 mmHg. Similar behavior and values were obtained for sinusoids and portal venules. When present, the sharp inflection in the upstream-downstream pressure plots suggests that this may be caused by a Starling resistor-type mechanism. When the break was absent, the downstream pressure may have been larger than the break pressure. We conclude that significant hepatic resistances with nonlinear characteristics exist upstream and downstream to the central venules, sinusoids, and portal venules.

Background: Upper arm sphygmomanometry is the most commonly used method to measure blood pressure in adults. However, variations in upper arm circumference and use of different cuff-sizes results in different pressure readings. When using the same cuff size, pressure readings will be higher for larger arm circumferences and lower for smaller arm circumferences. The objective of this study was to identify an adjustment factor that will allow pressure readings obtained for any combination of arm circumference and cuff size to be compared.Methods: To investigate the relationship between arm circumferences, cuff size and pressure readings, experiments were conducted using laboratory simulations and blood pressure measurements on nineteen human subjects. Power analysis identified minimum sample size. Results were analyzed using Chi-square and t-tests. The study was conducted between 2019 and 2021 in Boise, Idaho, USA. The University institutional review board approved the use of human subjects.Results: Simulations revealed a 99% linear correlation between changes in arm circumference coverage and changes in pressure readings. Human subject tests showed a 1% change in upper arm coverage by the sphygmomanometer cuff corresponded to a 1mmHg change in both systolic and diastolic pressure readings. Conclusions: The proposed adjustment factor can simplify blood pressure measurements in clinical settings by allowing healthcare providers to use only one sphygmomanometer size. It will also provide the basis for a “reference” against which blood pressure values obtained for any combination of cuff size and arm circumference can be standardized.

Background: Plantar pressure measurements are commonly used to evaluate foot function in chronic musculoskeletal conditions. However, manually identifying anatomical landmarks is a source of measurement error and can produce unreliable data. The aim of this study was to evaluate intratester reliability associated with manual masking of plantar pressure measurements in patients with gout. Methods: Twenty-five patients with chronic gout (mean disease duration, 22 years) were recruited from rheumatology outpatient clinics. Patients were excluded if they were experiencing an acute gout flare at the time of assessment, had lower-limb amputation, or had diabetes mellitus. Manual masking of peak plantar pressures and pressure-time integrals under ten regions of the foot were undertaken on two occasions on the same day using an in-shoe pressure measurement system. Test-retest reliability was assessed by using intraclass correlation coefficients, SEM, 95% limits of agreement, and minimal detectable change. Results: Mean peak pressure intraclass correlation coefficients ranged from 0.92 to 0.97, with SEM of 8% to 14%. The 95% limits of agreement ranged from−150.3 to 133.5 kPa, and the minimal detectable change ranged from 30.8 to 80.6 kPa. For pressure-time integrals, intraclass correlation coefficients were 0.86 to 0.94, and SEM were 5% to 29%, with the greater errors observed under the toes. The 95% limits of agreement ranged from −48.5 to 48.8 kPa/sec, and the minimal detectable change ranged from 6.8 to 21.0 kPa/sec. Conclusions: These findings provide clinicians with information confirming the errors associated with manual masking of plantar pressure measurements in patients with gout. (J Am Podiatr Med Assoc 101(5): 424–429, 2011)

Abstract P, Vm , Tdata have been measured for the smectic, nematic and isotropic phases of 4'-n-octyl-biphen-yl-4-carbonitrile (8CB) in the temperature range 300-370 K and pressures up to 300 MPa. At atmospheric pressure all phase transitions appear to be of first order due to a discontinuity in the density. The volume change at the smectic A -nematic transition is only a tenth of the volume change at the clearing temperature. At moderate pressures below 80 MPa the SA -N transition could be detected as a discontinuity in the period of oscillation in measurements with a high-pressure vibrating tube densimeter. At higher pressures the discontinuity seems to die away, possibly indicating a change from first order to second order transition. From the volume changes and the slopes of the transition lines we calculate the enthalpy changes at the phase transition. The p, Vm , T data enable us to calculate the volume part of the entropy and the molecular field parameter γ=δln TNI/δln VNI .

Purpose: The aim of the study is to find out whether and to extent the change of selected parameters of the system, such as the type of tires, tire pressure and axle load, changes the result of the technical test of the analysed vehicle in the field of measuring braking forces. Design/methodology/approach: Diagnostic tests, tire pressure measurements, axle load measurements, braking force measurements on a roller device were carried out. Findings: The relationships between the pressure in the tires and the braking force measured on the wheel as well as between the braking force and the load acting on the vehicle axle have been demonstrated. Research limitations/implications: Mathematical relationships between tire pressure and vehicle braking force can be derived in the future. Practical implications: In the course of the tests, it was found that the technical tests made it possible to determine the braking forces only while maintaining the nominal ±1×105 Pa tire pressure. Changes to this parameter may influence the measurement results. Moreover, the influence of tire pressure on the change of the measured braking force values was found, which translates into the safety of the vehicle in road traffic. Originality/value: approach to brake system.

Objective.The possible effect of blood pressure measurements per se on heart rate variability (HRV) was studied in the setting of concomitant ambulatory blood pressure monitoring (ABPM) and Holter ECG monitoring (HM).Methods.In 25 hypertensive patients (14 women and 11 men, mean age: 58.1 years), 24-hour combined ABPM and HM were performed. For every blood pressure measurement, 2-minute ECG segments (before, during, and after measurement) were analyzed to obtain time domain parameters of HRV: SDNN and rMSSD. Mean of normal RR intervals (MNN), SDNN/MNN, and rMSSD/MNN were calculated, too. Parameter variations related to blood pressure measurements were analyzed using one-way ANOVA with multiple comparisons.Results.2281 measurements (1518 during the day and 763 during the night) were included in the analysis. Both SDNN and SDNN/MNN had a constant (the same for 24-hour, daytime, and nighttime values) and significant change related to blood pressure measurements: an increase during measurements and a decrease after them (p<0.01for any variation).Conclusion.In the setting of combined ABPM and HM, the blood pressure measurement itself produces an increase in short-term heart rate variability. Clarifying the physiological basis and the possible clinical value of this phenomenon needs further studies.

Abstract Considering accuracy/precision cut-offs of 5 ± 8 mmHg and cut-off values for inter-class correlation coefficients (ICC=0.37...1, from DIN EN ISO 81060-2), absolute and relative errors in time independent measurement of blood pressure changes with non-invasive intermittent devices (NiBP) are derived mathematically for mean arterial blood pressure range of 40-180 mmHg. As a clinically relevant value for change of arterial blood pressure 20% of the baseline blood pressure is considered. The mean ratio between the change of BP measured by the NiBP and measured by the invasive reference device (TE%) were proposed as quality measure for the evaluation of NiBP device tracking capability. The proposed measure TE%is theoretically independent of absolute accuracy but depends on precision and ICC of a device. NiBP devices show considerable maximum TE% of 41% in tracking mean blood pressure changes respectively. In 10% of the measurements in the low blood pressure range TE% exceeding 100%. The mean 50th/90th TE% percentile over the whole blood pressure range were 25/61%, respectively. Furthermore, TE% was relatively insensitive to assumed blood pressure range but sensitive to ICC. NiBP devices have high relative error in tracking blood pressure changes that make those devices not well-suited for tracking blood pressure changes. The proposed tracking error allows the definition of reasonable accuracy/precision requirements of NBP devices.

Abstract Measurements of ocean bottom pressure, particularly on the continental slope, make an efficient means of monitoring large-scale integrals of the ocean circulation. However, direct pressure measurements are limited to monitoring relatively short time scales (compared to the deployment period) because of problems with sensor drift. Measurements are used from the northwest Atlantic continental slope, as part of the Rapid Climate Change (RAPID)–West Atlantic Variability Experiment, to demonstrate that the drift problem can be overcome by using near-boundary measurements of density and velocity to reconstruct bottom pressure differences with accuracy better than 1 cm of water (100 Pa). This accuracy permits the measurement of changes in the zonally integrated flow, below and relative to 1100 m, to an accuracy of 1 Sv (1 Sv ≡ 106 m3 s−1) or better. The technique employs the “stepping method,” a generalization of hydrostatic balance for sloping paths that uses geostrophic current measurements to reconstruct the horizontal component of the pressure gradient.

When significant pore pressure changes occur because of production from a hydrocarbon reservoir the rocks both inside and outside of the reservoir deform. This deformation results in traveltime changes between reflection events on timelapse seismic data, because the distance between reflection events is altered and the seismic velocity changes with the strain. These traveltime differences are referred to as time-lapse time shifts. In this thesis, time-lapse time shifts observed in the overburden are used as an input to a linear inversion for reservoir pressure. Measurements from the overburden are used because, in general, time shift estimates are more stable, the strain deformations can be considered linear, and fluid effects are negligible, compared to the reservoirlevel signal. A critical examination of methods currently available to measure time-lapse time shifts is offered. It is found that available methods are most accurate when the time shifts are slowly varying with pressure and changes in the seismic reflectivity are negligible. While both of these conditions are generally met in the overburden they are rarely met at reservoir level. Next, a geomechanical model that linearly relates the overburden time-lapse time shifts to reservoir pressure is considered. This model takes a semi-analytical approach by numerical integration of a nucleus of strain in a homogeneous poroelastic halfspace. Although this model has the potentially limiting assumption of a homogenous medium, it allows for reservoirs of arbitrary geometries, and, in contrast to the complex numerical approaches, it is simple to parameterise and compututationally efficient. This model is used to create a linear inversion scheme which is first tested on synthetic data output from complex finite-element model. Despite the simplifications of the i inversion operator the pressure change is recovered to within ±10% normalised error of the true pressure distribution. Next, the inversion scheme is applied to two real data cases in different geological settings. First to a sector of the Valhall Field, a compacting chalk reservoir in the Norwegian Sea, and then the Genesis Field, a stacked turbidite in the Gulf of Mexico. In both cases the results give good qualitative matches to existing reservoir simulator estimates of compaction or pressure depletion. It is possible that updating of the simulation model may be assisted by these results. Further avenues of investigation are proposed to test the robustness of the simplified geomechanical approach in the presence of more complex geomechanical features such as faults and strong material contrasts.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Aeronautics and Astronautics, 2011.
Cataloged from PDF version of thesis.
Includes bibliographical references (p. 123-135).
Adequate blood supply and circulation in bones is required to maintain a healthy skeleton, and inadequate blood perfusion is associated with numerous bone pathologies and a decrease in bone mineral density (BMD). Bone hemodynamics remains poorly understood and loss of BMD is still one of the limiting factors to long duration human spaceflight. Developments in photoplethysmography (PPG) hardware have made it a promising tool for non-invasive bone hemodynamic measurements. The aims of this thesis are to: 1) validate the use of PPG as a tool for non-invasive bone hemodynamic measurements, 2) characterize bone hemodynamic responses to changes in external pressure, and 3) identify the predominant mechanisms regulating bone hemodynamic responses to pressure changes. A new PPG device capable of measuring bone hemodynamic responses was designed and tested. It represents the state-of-the-art in deep-tissue PPG instrumentation. Validation experiments including arterial occlusion, cold exposure, skin occlusion and nitroglycerin exposure were performed. Single-limb pressure chamber experiments were performed over a range of pressures from -50 to +50 mmHg to characterize the responses to changes in external pressure and to identify the predominant control mechanisms. Our results support the use of PPG as a valid tool for measuring bone hemodynamic responses. Bone hemodynamic responses to changes in external pressure have been characterized for the first time. We also present the first report of a myogenic response in bone and show that the myogenic effect is the predominant control mechanism in bone over a wide range of pressure levels. Myogenic-induced vasoconstriction is observed at all negative pressure levels, with increasing vasoconstriction at the more extreme pressure differences. At positive pressures we observed an initial myogenic-induced vasodilation followed by activation of the intramuscular pressure receptors at +30 mmHg which overrides the initial response and causes vasoconstriction at the highest positive pressure. The availability of a new tool for non-invasive bone hemodynamic measurements opens the door to several new research opportunities with clinical, Earth-based as well as human spaceflight applications.
by Jaime Mateus.
Ph.D.

A novel optical system was used to map the inspiratory movement of the anterior chest wall in patients anaesthetized with isoflurane and nitrous oxide. Flow in the airway, and pressures in the airway, oesophagus and stomach were also measured, during mechanical ventilation and spontaneous ventilation, with and without the effects of opioid. In addition, breathing was stimulated with carbon dioxide. Both normal breathing, and occlusion of either inspiration or expiration for single breath cycles were studied. In some patients, electromyograms of diaphragm and external oblique muscles were recorded, to test whether inspiratory or expiratory occlusion affected either the timing of the respiratory cycle, or the activation of these muscles. The effects of airway occlusion on timing and muscle activity, compared with an unoccluded breath, were small. Occlusion decreased the amplitude of the EMG activity by 7.5%. During carbon dioxide stimulation, diaphragm activity was prolonged. There were no discernible effects on the external oblique activity. Passive inflation inflated the ribcage more than the abdomen, as shown by previous investigators. However during spontaneous ventilation, expansion during inspiration was predominantly abdominal. Stimulation with carbon dioxide increased the movement, and opioid reversal increased ventilation, but neither affected the pattern of movement, which was always closely proportional to the overall amplitude. Airway occlusion pressure indicated that expiration was active, and the movement during occlusion of expiration was inversely proportional to inspiratory movement.

Due to the nature of gas-solid fluidized beds, providing continuous contacts between fluidizing particles and between particles and the reactor wall, the occurrence of electrostatic charges is unavoidable. In the polyethylene industry, electrostatics is a major problem. Large amounts of electrostatic charges are generated causing polyethylene and catalyst particles to adhere to the reactor wall, forming sheets. Particle sheets can break off and block the distributor plate, causing long shutdown periods for clean-up which result in economic loss due to decreased production and higher maintenance costs. The overall purpose of the project of which this thesis is part of is to help industry in minimizing this problem by examining the mechanisms underlying this phenomenon. Towards this goal, an experimental technique for the measurement of the degree of wall fouling and its charge distribution was previously developed and implemented in an atmospheric system with a column of 0.102 m in diameter. This technique was extended in this thesis to a pilot-scale unit (0.154 m in diameter) designed to be capable of operating at pressures and temperatures up to 2 600 kPa and 100°C respectively and gas velocities up to 1 m/s, which are operating conditions of industrial polyethylene reactors. Preliminary experiments showed that increasing the operating pressure from 101 kPa to 401 kPa almost doubled the amount of polyethylene wall fouling due to the higher bubble rise velocity at this pressure, enhancing charge generation within the fluidized bed. Changing the particle size distribution by removing particles smaller than 250 μm had no significant effect on the extent of the wall fouling. Increasing the column diameter from 0.102 m to 0.154 m decreased wall fouling due to the lower column wall area per mass of particles. Overall, particle-particle contacts generated positively and negatively charged particles, but did not produce a net charge in the bed due to the negligible elutriation. However, particle-wall contacts produced a net charge. The formation of the wall layer was due to the image force created by the net charge and the layering effect created by the attraction between oppositely charged particles.

The developments of new types of conductors and increase of voltage level have driven the need to carry out research on evaluating overhead line acoustic noise. The surface potential gradient of a conductor is a critical design parameter for planning overhead lines, as it determines the level of corona loss (CL), radio interference (RI), and audible noise (AN). The majority of existing models for surface gradient calculation are based on analytical methods which restrict their application in simulating complex surface geometries. This thesis proposes a novel method which utilizes both analytical and numerical procedures to predict the surface gradient. Stranding shape, proximity of tower, protrusions and bundle arrangements are considered within this model. One of UK National Grid's transmission line configurations has been selected as an example to compare the results for different methods. The different stranding shapes are a key variable in determining dry surface fields. The dynamic behaviour of water droplets subject to AC electric fields is investigated by experiment and finite element modelling. The motion of a water droplet is considered on the surface of a metallic sphere. To understand the consequences of vibration, the FEA model is introduced to study the dynamics of a single droplet in terms of phase shift between vibration and exciting voltage. Moreover, the evolution of electric field within the whole cycle of vibration is investigated. The profile of the electric field and the characteristics of mechanical vibration are evaluated. Surprisingly the phase shift between these characteristics results in the maximum field occurring when the droplet is in a flattened profile rather than when it is ‘pointed’.Research work on audible noise emitted from overhead line conductors is reviewed, and a unique experimental set up employing a semi-anechoic chamber and corona cage is described. Acoustically, this facility isolates undesirable background noise and provides a free-field test space inside the anechoic chamber. Electrically, the corona cage simulates a 3 m section of 400 kV overhead line conductors by achieving the equivalent surface gradient. UV imaging, acoustic measurements and a partial discharge detection system are employed as instrumentation. The acoustic and electrical performance is demonstrated through a series of experiments. Results are discussed, and the mechanisms for acoustic noise are considered. A strategy for evaluating the noise emission level for overhead line conductors is developed. Comments are made on predicting acoustic noise from overhead lines. The technical achievements of this thesis are summarized in three aspects. First of all, an FEA model is developed to calculate the surface electric field for overhead line conductors and this has been demonstrated as an efficient tool for power utilities in computing surface electric field especially for dry condition. The second achievement is the droplet vibration study which describes the droplets' behaviour under rain conditions, such as the phase shift between the voltage and the vibration magnitude, the ejection phenomena and the electric field enhancement due to the shape change of droplets. The third contribution is the development of a standardized procedure in assessing noise emission level and the characteristics of noise emissions for various types of existing conductors in National Grid.

Automatisation du controle de qualite par vision. Les pieces sont positionnees par un mecanisme a quatre barres. Les traitements d'image permettent d'obtenir des resolutions superieures aux precisions des cameras

Haemodynamic monitoring is a significant component in the management of critically-ill patients. Flow-directed pulmonary artery catheters (PAC) are a simple and rapid technique for measuring several continuous or intermittent circulatory variables. The PAC is helpful in diagnosis, guidance of therapy, and monitoring therapeutic interventions in various clinical conditions, including myocardial infarction and its complications, non-cardiogenic pulmonary oedema and severely ill patients.The catheter is inserted through a large vein. The PAC is advanced, after ballooninflation with 1.5 mL of air, through the right ventricle across the pulmonary valve and into the pulmonary artery (PA). Finally, the catheter is advanced to the ‘wedge’ position. The pulmonary artery wedge pressure (PAWP) is identified by a decrease in pressure combined with a characteristic change in the waveform. The balloon should then be deflated and the PA tracing should reappear. Direct measurements include central venous pressure, pulmonary artery pressure, and PAWP, which during diastole represents the left ventricular end-diastolic pressure and reflects left ventricular preload. Cardiac output can be measured by thermodilution technique. Other haemodynamic variables can be derived from these measurements. Absolute contraindications are rare. Relative contraindications include coagulopathy and conditions that increase the risk of arrhythmias.

Central venous pressure (CVP) is at the crucial intersection of the force returning blood to the heart and the force produced by cardiac function, which drives the blood back to the systemic circulation. The normal range of CVP is small so that before using it one must ensure proper measurement, specifically the reference level. A useful approach to hypotension is to first determine if arterial pressure is low because of a decrease in vascular resistance or a decrease in cardiac output. This is done by either measuring cardiac output or making a clinical assessment blood flow. If the cardiac output is decreased, next determine whether this is because of a cardiac pump problem or a return problem. It is at this stage that the CVP is most helpful for these options can be separated by considering the actual CVP or even better, how it changed with the change in cardiac output. A high CVP is indicative of a primary pump problem, and a low CVP and return problem. Understanding the factors that determine CVP magnitude, mechanisms that produce the components of the CVP wave form and changes in CVP with respiratory efforts can also provide useful clinical information. In many patients, CVP can be estimated on physical exam.

This chapter covers the basic science of physics relevant to anaesthetic practice. Equipment and measurement devices are covered elsewhere. Starting with fundamentals, atomic structure is introduced, followed by dimensions and units as used in science. Basic mechanics are then discussed, focusing on mass and density, force, pressure, energy, and power. The concept of linearity, hysteresis, and frequency response in physical systems is then introduced, using relevant examples, which are easy to understand. Laminar and turbulent fluid flow is then described, using flow measurement devices as applications of this theory. The concept of pressure and its measurement is then discussed in some detail, including partial pressure. Starting with the kinetic theory of gases, heat and temperature are described, along with the gas laws, critical temperature, sublimation, latent heat, vapour pressure and vaporization illustrated by the function of anaesthetic vaporizers, humidity, solubility, diffusion, osmosis, and osmotic pressure. Ultrasound and its medical applications are discussed in some detail, including Doppler and its use to measure flow. This is followed by an introduction to lasers and their medical uses. The final subject covered is electricity, starting with concepts of charge and current, voltage, energy, and power, and the role of magnetism. This is followed by a discussion of electrical circuits and the rules governing them, and bridge circuits used in measurement. The function of capacitors and inductors is then introduced, and alternating current and transformers are described.

Intracranial pressure monitoring 130Intracranial perfusion 132EEG and CFAM monitoring 134Other forms of neurological monitoring 138In adults, the normal resting intracranial pressure (ICP) is 0–10mm Hg. ICP may rise to 50mm Hg or so during straining or sneezing, with no impairment in function. It is not, therefore, ICP alone that is important but rather the interpretation of the measurement in pathological conditions. Many of the clinicopathological changes associated with brain injury are the result of pressure differences between the intracranial compartments, with consequent shift of brain structures, rather than the absolute level of ICP....

Concepts of temperature, temperature scales and temperature measurement. The ideal gas law, Dalton’s law of partial pressure. Assumptions underlying the ideal gas, and distinction between ideal and real gases. Introduction to equations-of-state such as the van der Waals, Dieterici, Berthelot and virial equations, which describe real gases. Concept of heat, and distinction between heat and temperature. Experiments of Rumford and Joule, and the principle of the conservation of energy. Units of measurement for heat. Heat as a path function. Flow of heat down a temperature gradient as an irreversible and unidirectional process. ‘Zeroth’ Law of Thermodynamics. Definitions of isolated, closed and open systems, and of isothermal, adiabatic, isobaric and isothermal changes in state. Connection between work and heat, as illustrated by the steam engine. The molecular interpretation of heat, energy and temperature. The Boltzmann distribution. Meaning of negative temperatures.

This article describes the threat costal hazards pose to existing life in light of climate change and natural disaster. It includes an overview of flooding, extreme waves, and other water-related stressors. The article discusses how human-induced risks in the coastal zone, resulting from mismanaged urbanization, persistent pollution, and overexploitation of resources, exacerbate matters and pose extra pressure on the environment, science, and society. Ways of measurement and reaction to these events, as well as best practices for preparedness, are discussed. Businesses, individuals, and ecosystems are under threat of destruction from these circumstances. The article also emphasizes the need to make scientific work in this field accessible and understandable to society and decisión makers.

This article describes the threat costal hazards pose to existing life in light of climate change and natural disaster. It includes an overview of flooding, extreme waves, and other water-related stressors. The article discusses how human-induced risks in the coastal zone, resulting from mismanaged urbanization, persistent pollution, and overexploitation of resources, exacerbate matters and pose extra pressure on the environment, science, and society. Ways of measurement and reaction to these events, as well as best practices for preparedness, are discussed. Businesses, individuals, and ecosystems are under threat of destruction from these circumstances. The article also emphasizes the need to make scientific work in this field accessible and understandable to society and decisión makers.

Abstract Whereas knowledge has often been attributed to individuals or, from a sociological perspective, to communities, a communications perspective on the sciences enables us to proceed to the measurement of the discursive knowledge contents. Knowledge claims are organized into texts which are entrained in evolving structures. The aggregated citation relations among journals, for example, can be used to visualize disciplinary structures. The structures are reproduced as “ecosystems” which differ among them in terms of using specific codes in the communications (e.g., jargons). Unlike biological DNA, these codes are not hard-wired; they can be changed in the communication. The sciences develop historically along trajectories embedded in regimes of expectations. Regimes exert selection pressure on the historical manifestations. The evolutionary dynamics at the regime level induce crises, bifurcations, etc., as historical events.

Capacitive pressure sensors measure changes in pressure typically by the deflection of a flexible conducting membrane towards a fixed electrode. The deflection in the membrane produces a quadratic change in capacitance, which often yields higher sensitivity to changes in pressure compared to piezo-resistive pressure sensors, which measures the resistance changes proportional to the applied pressure. However, residual stresses in the membrane can provide a substantial resistance to deformation compared to the driving force created by the applied pressure, which decreases the sensitivity at low pressures and produces a nonlinear signal. If the membrane is made compliant enough to increase sensivitiy, pull-in of the membrane can occur, reducing the effective pressure range of the capacitive manometer type pressure sensor. Hence, these type of sensors are typically not used to measure very low pressure differences over several hundred Pascals. To overcome this limitation, a capacitive pressure sensor was developed that operates in a peeling mode while under applied electrostatic actuation, which counters the residual stresses. The changes in capacitance can be detected if the pressure is just enough to overcome the interfacial electrostatic pressure. This type of pressure sensor can potentially be used for very low differential pressure differences, well below 100 Pa, over ~ 1 kPa range.

Direct pressure and flow rate measurement in microsystems has been problematic due to micro and nano length scales. Commercially available pressure and flow rate transducers are typically orders of magnitude larger than the channel cross sections making these sensors impractical for microchannels. A novel, non-intrusive measurement technique has proven to be adaptable for making such measurements. The technique, based upon backscattering interferometry, correlates changes in interferometric fringe morphology to fluid compressibility. Sub-Pascal pressure detection has been demonstrated using an unfocused laser beam impinging on a fluid-filled, glass capillary tube. Fringe movement and thickness change, resulting from fluid velocity changes and transverse tube deflection, have been correlated to pressure values via the Hagen-Poiseuille relationships for laminar flow.

Abstract The measurement of combustion product gas temperature is valuable for the development and control of many combustion systems. In gas turbine engines, measurement of the rotor inlet temperature remains particularly challenging because of harsh operating conditions and limited access. The Integrated Spectral Band Ratio (ISBR) method is a non-intrusive optical emission gas temperature measurement technique suitable for this application. Optical fibers made of sapphire were used to transmit the radiative signal from the post combustion zone to a Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectrometer without the need for probe cooling. The ratio of spectral bands of H2O, nominally 100 cm−1 wide between 4600 and 6200 cm−1 were used to infer temperature. ISBR and thermocouple measurements were obtained during two temperature sweeps; one at high load and one at low load (pressures of 1.2 and 0.7MPa, respectively). The average of three thermocouples 76 mm downstream of the ISBR measurements were consistently on the order of 200 K lower, consistent with a radiative correction and the heat loss between the two measurements. The change in ISBR temperature (95 K) during the sweep was similar to the change in average thermocouple temperature (89 K). Repeatability of the optical measurement at a given operating condition was on the order of ± 15 K and the absolute uncertainty of a single ISBR temperature measurement was estimated to be ± 61 K. A linear correlation with an R-squared value of 0.97 was also found between raw optical signal and thermocouple measurements suggesting that once a calibrated measurement is obtained, changes in gas temperature can be determined using a correlation of the raw signal to produce the temperature.

A bell jar is used to determine containment vessel pressurization due to gas generation from plutonium/uranium materials. Seventy eight food pack cans containing plutonium and uranium oxide bearing materials have been tested to date. Minimal change in pressure (increase or decrease) occurred in fifty one cases, depressurization occurred in seventeen cases, and pressurization occurred in ten cases. Pressurization is considered linked to the presence of certain impurities such as magnesium oxide.

Abstract Pressure measurements have long been vital to evaluating fracture interactions and well performance in both conventional and unconventional formations. Pressure responses during stimulation can be used to evaluate characteristics such as fracture geometry and net pressure. Dynamic pressure changes which occur during drawdown, both near wellbore and far-field, provide insight into the effective geometry being drained and how it evolves over time. The combination of horizontal wells and hydraulic stimulation have been key in unlocking vast unconventional resources across North America and beyond, but there is still much left to understand regarding how the reservoir is drained across the miles of laterals accessing the resource. The density of pressure gauges required to accurately measure the drainage pattern from a horizontal multi-stage stimulation is currently not realistic economically or technologically. In this case study, the authors will describe a method of monitoring the drainage profile of a horizontal multi-stage stimulation using optical fiber. Optical fiber was installed on an observation lateral in combination with six reservoir-sensing pressure gauges as part of the Hydraulic Fracture Test Site I, Phase 3 in the Eagle Ford, funded by the Department of Energy (DOE). The lateral observation well was positioned approximately 225 feet away from the nearest stimulated and producing horizontal well. Using Raleigh Frequency Shift Distributed Strain Sensing (RFS-DSS), the strain change was measured in the far-field as the offset well was stimulated and first produced. RFS-DSS provides a spatial resolution of 20 cm, allowing for the monitoring of strain changes much smaller than we can accurately sense with Low Frequency Distributed Acoustic Sensing (LF-DAS) (Ugento et al., 2019). The strain change measured during the offset fracturing strongly correlates to the strain change measured during the production period. The combination of RFS-DSS and six externally sensing pressure gauges provided a strong correlation between the total strain change and total pressure drawdown, where gauges positioned in regions of large negative strain change interpreted as drawdown showed large pressure declines and gauges in areas of small strain change saw small pressure declines. The correlation was applied to the total length of strain change, including areas without pressure gauges, to generate an estimated pressure profile for the entire length of the optical fiber. This is the first attempt known to the authors where RFS-DSS monitored during production in a far-field observation well was translated to an estimated pressure profile. The technique will continue to be evaluated, trialed, and improved upon as additional data is collected from the pilot.

Two-phase pressure drop measurements are very difficult to make while the fluid is in non-equilibrium condition (i.e. while phase change is occurring). This is further complicated by the fact that supplying the channels with an initial quality comprised of atomized liquid and entrained gas changes the presupposed trends. The purpose of this paper is to present methods of measurement for fluctuating two-phase pressure drop in converging mini-channels with phase change (i.e. in the heat acquisition zone), an initial quality, and varying heat fluxes. The inlet and exit hydraulic diameters of the converging channel are 1.55mm and 1.17mm respectively and the fluid was PF5050. A numerical model was developed to understand the parameters contributing to the trends identified in the data. The numerical model includes the momentum effects of droplets from entrainment and atomization. The model shows good agreement with the experimental data.

An experimental study was conducted to investigate two-phase damping in tube arrays. The objective was to compare different measurement methodologies in order to obtain a more reliable damping estimate. This will allow for improved guidelines related to failures due to fluidelastic instability in tube bundles. The methods compared were the traditionally used half-power bandwidth, the logarithmic decrement and an exponential fitting to the tube decay response. The working fluid used was Refrigerant 11 (Freon), which better models the real steam-water problem, as it allows for phase change. The void fraction was measured using a gamma densitometer, introducing an improvement over the traditional Homogeneous Equilibrium Model (HEM) in terms of velocity and density predictions. The results obtained by using the half-power bandwidth method agree with data previously reported for two-phase flow. The experiments showed that the half-power bandwidth produces higher damping values than the other two, but only up to a certain void fraction. After that point, the results obtained from the three methods are very similar. The exponential fitting proved to be more consistent than the logarithmic decrement, and it is not as sensitive as the half-power bandwidth to the frequency shifting caused by the change in added mass around the tube. By plotting the damping ratio as a function of void fraction, pitch mass flux and flow regime, we were able to verify that damping is more dependent on void fraction and flow regime than on mass flux.

Abstract A methodology of fitness-for-service evaluation (FFSE) for explosive containment vessels (ECVs) is introduced that utilizes change-in-thickness measurements pre- and post-test to determine the propensity of the structure to ratchet or to shake down. The method focuses on ductile failure and complements previously developed brittle failure methodologies associated with fatigue-fracture of flaws introduced during manufacture or subsequent service. The methodology is illustrated using measured thickness changes on a spherical vessel and is intended to eliminate or diminish the need for detailed, challenging finite element calculations of ratcheting and shakedown. An example is presented, based upon measured thickness changes in an explosively loaded containment vessel. Current limitations of the procedure are discussed. Applicable consensus code requirements and issues with the numerical modeling of ratcheting are briefly presented.

A detailed aero performance measurement program utilizing fully cooled engine hardware (high-pressure turbine stage) supplied by Honeywell Aerospace Advanced Technology Engines is described. The primary focus of this work was obtaining relevant aerodynamic data for a small turbine stage operating at a variety of conditions, including changes in operating conditions, geometry, and cooling parameters. The work extraction and the overall stage performance for each of these conditions can be determined using the measured acceleration rate of the turbine disk, the previously measured moment of inertia of the rotating system, and the mass flow through the turbine stage. Measurements were performed for two different values of tip/shroud clearance and two different blade tip configurations. The vane and blade cooling mass flow could be adjusted independently and set to any desired value including totally off. A wide range of stage pressure ratios, coolant to freestream temperature ratios, and corrected speeds were used during the course of the investigation. A combustor emulator controlled the free stream inlet gas temperature, enabling variation of the temperature ratios and investigation of their effects on aero performance. The influence of tip/shroud gap is clearly seen in this experiment. Improvements in specific work and efficiency achieved by reducing the tip/shroud clearance depend upon the specific values of stage pressure ratio and corrected speed. The maximum change of 3% to 4% occurs at a stage pressure ratio and corrected speed greater than the initial design point intent. The specific work extraction and efficiency for two different blade tip sets (one damaged from a rub and one original) were compared in detail. In general, the tip damage only had a very small effect on the work extraction for comparable conditions. The specific work extraction and efficiency were influenced by the presence of cooling gas and by the temperature of the cooling gas relative to the free stream gas temperature and the metal temperature. These same parameters were influenced by the magnitude of the vane inlet gas total temperature relative to the vane metal temperature and the coolant gas temperature.

The original objectives of this research project were to: (1) develop immunoassays, photometric sensors, and electrochemical sensors for real-time measurement of progesterone and estradiol in milk, (2) develop biosensors for measurement of caseins in milk, and (3) integrate and adapt these sensor technologies to create an automated electronic sensing system for operation in dairy parlors during milking. The overall direction of research was not changed, although the work was expanded to include other milk components such as urea and lactose. A second generation biosensor for on-line measurement of bovine progesterone was designed and tested. Anti-progesterone antibody was coated on small disks of nitrocellulose membrane, which were inserted in the reaction chamber prior to testing, and a real-time assay was developed. The biosensor was designed using micropumps and valves under computer control, and assayed fluid volumes on the order of 1 ml. An automated sampler was designed to draw a test volume of milk from the long milk tube using a 4-way pinch valve. The system could execute a measurement cycle in about 10 min. Progesterone could be measured at concentrations low enough to distinguish luteal-phase from follicular-phase cows. The potential of the sensor to detect actual ovulatory events was compared with standard methods of estrus detection, including human observation and an activity monitor. The biosensor correctly identified all ovulatory events during its testperiod, but the variability at low progesterone concentrations triggered some false positives. Direct on-line measurement and intelligent interpretation of reproductive hormone profiles offers the potential for substantial improvement in reproductive management. A simple potentiometric method for measurement of milk protein was developed and tested. The method was based on the fact that proteins bind iodine. When proteins are added to a solution of the redox couple iodine/iodide (I-I2), the concentration of free iodine is changed and, as a consequence, the potential between two electrodes immersed in the solution is changed. The method worked well with analytical casein solutions and accurately measured concentrations of analytical caseins added to fresh milk. When tested with actual milk samples, the correlation between the sensor readings and the reference lab results (of both total proteins and casein content) was inferior to that of analytical casein. A number of different technologies were explored for the analysis of milk urea, and a manometric technique was selected for the final design. In the new sensor, urea in the sample was hydrolyzed to ammonium and carbonate by the enzyme urease, and subsequent shaking of the sample with citric acid in a sealed cell allowed urea to be estimated as a change in partial pressure of carbon dioxide. The pressure change in the cell was measured with a miniature piezoresistive pressure sensor, and effects of background dissolved gases and vapor pressures were corrected for by repeating the measurement of pressure developed in the sample without the addition of urease. Results were accurate in the physiological range of milk, the assay was faster than the typical milking period, and no toxic reagents were required. A sampling device was designed and built to passively draw milk from the long milk tube in the parlor. An electrochemical sensor for lactose was developed starting with a three-cascaded-enzyme sensor, evolving into two enzymes and CO2[Fe (CN)6] as a mediator, and then into a microflow injection system using poly-osmium modified screen-printed electrodes. The sensor was designed to serve multiple milking positions, using a manifold valve, a sampling valve, and two pumps. Disposable screen-printed electrodes with enzymatic membranes were used. The sensor was optimized for electrode coating components, flow rate, pH, and sample size, and the results correlated well (r2= 0.967) with known lactose concentrations.

A semi-empirical elasto-plastic constitutive model with a hyperbolic stress-strain curve was developed with the goal of predicting the seismic compression of unsaturated sands in the funicular regime of the soil-water retention curve (SWRC) during undrained cyclic shearing. Using a flow rule derived from energy considerations, the evolution in plastic volumetric strain (seismic compression) was predicted from the plastic shear strains of the hysteretic hyperbolic stress-strain curve. The plastic volumetric strains are used to predict the changes in degree of saturation from phase relationships and changes in pore air pressure from Boyle’s and Henry’s laws. The degree of saturation was used to estimate changes in matric suction from the transient scanning paths of the SWRC. Changes in small-strain shear modulus estimated from changes in mean effective stress computed from the constant total stress and changes in pore air pressure, degree of saturation and matric suction, in turn affect the hyperbolic stress-strain curve’s shape and the evolution in plastic volumetric strain. The model was calibrated using experimental shear stress-strain backbone curves from drained cyclic simple shear tests and transient SWRC scanning path measurements from undrained cyclic simple shear tests. Then the model predictions were validated using experimental data from undrained cyclic simple shear tests on unsaturated sand specimens with different initial degrees of saturation in the funicular regime. While the model captured the coupled evolution in hydro-mechanical variables (pore air pressure, pore water pressure, matric suction, degree of saturation, volumetric strain, effective stress, shear modulus) well over the first 15 cycles of shearing, the predictions were less accurate after continued cyclic shearing up to 200 cycles. After large numbers of cycles of undrained shearing, a linear decreasing trend between seismic compression and initial degree of saturation was predicted from the model while a nonlinear increasing-decreasing trend was observed in the cyclic simple shear experiments. This discrepancy may be due to not considering post shearing reconsolidation in the model, calibration of model parameters, or experimental issues including a drift in the position of the hysteretic shear-stress strain curve. Nonetheless, the trend from the model is consistent with predictions from previously- developed empirical models in the funicular regime of the SWRC. The developments of the new mechanistic model developed in this study will play a key role in the future development of a holistic model for predicting the seismic compression across all regimes of the SWRC.

The objectives of this project were to develop nondestructive methods for detection of internal properties and firmness of fruits and vegetables. One method was based on a soft piezoelectric film transducer developed in the Technion, for analysis of fruit response to low-energy excitation. The second method was a dot-matrix piezoelectric transducer of North Carolina State University, developed for contact-pressure analysis of fruit during impact. Two research teams, one in Israel and the other in North Carolina, coordinated their research effort according to the specific objectives of the project, to develop and apply the two complementary methods for quality control of agricultural commodities. In Israel: An improved firmness testing system was developed and tested with tropical fruits. The new system included an instrumented fruit-bed of three flexible piezoelectric sensors and miniature electromagnetic hammers, which served as fruit support and low-energy excitation device, respectively. Resonant frequencies were detected for determination of firmness index. Two new acoustic parameters were developed for evaluation of fruit firmness and maturity: a dumping-ratio and a centeroid of the frequency response. Experiments were performed with avocado and mango fruits. The internal damping ratio, which may indicate fruit ripeness, increased monotonically with time, while resonant frequencies and firmness indices decreased with time. Fruit samples were tested daily by destructive penetration test. A fairy high correlation was found in tropical fruits between the penetration force and the new acoustic parameters; a lower correlation was found between this parameter and the conventional firmness index. Improved table-top firmness testing units, Firmalon, with data-logging system and on-line data analysis capacity have been built. The new device was used for the full-scale experiments in the next two years, ahead of the original program and BARD timetable. Close cooperation was initiated with local industry for development of both off-line and on-line sorting and quality control of more agricultural commodities. Firmalon units were produced and operated in major packaging houses in Israel, Belgium and Washington State, on mango and avocado, apples, pears, tomatoes, melons and some other fruits, to gain field experience with the new method. The accumulated experimental data from all these activities is still analyzed, to improve firmness sorting criteria and shelf-life predicting curves for the different fruits. The test program in commercial CA storage facilities in Washington State included seven apple varieties: Fuji, Braeburn, Gala, Granny Smith, Jonagold, Red Delicious, Golden Delicious, and D'Anjou pear variety. FI master-curves could be developed for the Braeburn, Gala, Granny Smith and Jonagold apples. These fruits showed a steady ripening process during the test period. Yet, more work should be conducted to reduce scattering of the data and to determine the confidence limits of the method. Nearly constant FI in Red Delicious and the fluctuations of FI in the Fuji apples should be re-examined. Three sets of experiment were performed with Flandria tomatoes. Despite the complex structure of the tomatoes, the acoustic method could be used for firmness evaluation and to follow the ripening evolution with time. Close agreement was achieved between the auction expert evaluation and that of the nondestructive acoustic test, where firmness index of 4.0 and more indicated grade-A tomatoes. More work is performed to refine the sorting algorithm and to develop a general ripening scale for automatic grading of tomatoes for the fresh fruit market. Galia melons were tested in Israel, in simulated export conditions. It was concluded that the Firmalon is capable of detecting the ripening of melons nondestructively, and sorted out the defective fruits from the export shipment. The cooperation with local industry resulted in development of automatic on-line prototype of the acoustic sensor, that may be incorporated with the export quality control system for melons. More interesting is the development of the remote firmness sensing method for sealed CA cool-rooms, where most of the full-year fruit yield in stored for off-season consumption. Hundreds of ripening monitor systems have been installed in major fruit storage facilities, and being evaluated now by the consumers. If successful, the new method may cause a major change in long-term fruit storage technology. More uses of the acoustic test method have been considered, for monitoring fruit maturity and harvest time, testing fruit samples or each individual fruit when entering the storage facilities, packaging house and auction, and in the supermarket. This approach may result in a full line of equipment for nondestructive quality control of fruits and vegetables, from the orchard or the greenhouse, through the entire sorting, grading and storage process, up to the consumer table. The developed technology offers a tool to determine the maturity of the fruits nondestructively by monitoring their acoustic response to mechanical impulse on the tree. A special device was built and preliminary tested in mango fruit. More development is needed to develop a portable, hand operated sensing method for this purpose. In North Carolina: Analysis method based on an Auto-Regressive (AR) model was developed for detecting the first resonance of fruit from their response to mechanical impulse. The algorithm included a routine that detects the first resonant frequency from as many sensors as possible. Experiments on Red Delicious apples were performed and their firmness was determined. The AR method allowed the detection of the first resonance. The method could be fast enough to be utilized in a real time sorting machine. Yet, further study is needed to look for improvement of the search algorithm of the methods. An impact contact-pressure measurement system and Neural Network (NN) identification method were developed to investigate the relationships between surface pressure distributions on selected fruits and their respective internal textural qualities. A piezoelectric dot-matrix pressure transducer was developed for the purpose of acquiring time-sampled pressure profiles during impact. The acquired data was transferred into a personal computer and accurate visualization of animated data were presented. Preliminary test with 10 apples has been performed. Measurement were made by the contact-pressure transducer in two different positions. Complementary measurements were made on the same apples by using the Firmalon and Magness Taylor (MT) testers. Three-layer neural network was designed. 2/3 of the contact-pressure data were used as training input data and corresponding MT data as training target data. The remaining data were used as NN checking data. Six samples randomly chosen from the ten measured samples and their corresponding Firmalon values were used as the NN training and target data, respectively. The remaining four samples' data were input to the NN. The NN results consistent with the Firmness Tester values. So, if more training data would be obtained, the output should be more accurate. In addition, the Firmness Tester values do not consistent with MT firmness tester values. The NN method developed in this study appears to be a useful tool to emulate the MT Firmness test results without destroying the apple samples. To get more accurate estimation of MT firmness a much larger training data set is required. When the larger sensitive area of the pressure sensor being developed in this project becomes available, the entire contact 'shape' will provide additional information and the neural network results would be more accurate. It has been shown that the impact information can be utilized in the determination of internal quality factors of fruit. Until now,

Channel Islands National Park (CHIS) has conducted long-term ecological monitoring of the kelp forests around San Miguel, Santa Rosa, Santa Cruz, Anacapa and Santa Barbara Islands since 1982. The original permanent transects were established at 16 sites between 1981 and 1986 with the first sampling beginning in 1982, this being the 33rd year of monitoring. An additional site, Miracle Mile, was established at San Miguel Island in 2001 by a commercial fisherman with assistance from the park. Miracle Mile was partially monitored from 2002 to 2004, and then fully monitored (using all KFM protocols) since 2005. In 2005, 16 additional permanent sites were established to collect baseline data from inside and adjacent to four marine reserves that were established in 2003. Sampling results from all 33 sites mentioned above are included in this report. Funding for the Kelp Forest Monitoring Program (KFM) in 2014 was provided by the National Park Service (NPS). The 2014 monitoring efforts utilized 49 days of vessel time to conduct 1,040 dives for a total of 1,059 hours of bottom time. Population dynamics of a select list of 71 “indicator species” (consisting of taxa or categories of algae, fish, and invertebrates) were measured at the 33 permanent sites. In addition, population dynamics were measured for all additional species of fish observed at the sites during the roving diver fish count. Survey techniques follow the CHIS Kelp Forest Monitoring Protocol Handbook (Davis et al. 1997) and an update to the sampling protocol handbook currently being developed (Kushner and Sprague, in progress). The techniques utilize SCUBA and surface-supplied-air to conduct the following monitoring protocols: 1 m2 quadrats, 5 m2 quadrats, band transects, random point contacts, fish transects, roving diver fish counts, video transects, size frequency measurements, and artificial recruitment modules. Hourly temperature data were collected using remote temperature loggers at 32 sites, the exception being Miracle Mile where there is no temperature logger installed. This annual report contains a brief description of each site including any notable observations or anomalies, a summary of methods used, and monitoring results for 2014. All the data collected during 2014 can be found in the appendices and in an Excel workbook on the NPS Integrated Resource Management Applications (IRMA) portal. In the 2013 annual report (Sprague et al. 2020) several changes were made to the appendices. Previously, annual report density and percent cover data tables only included the current year’s data. Now, density and percent cover data are presented in graphical format and include all years of available monitoring data. Roving diver fish count (RDFC), fish size frequency, natural habitat size frequency, and Artificial Recruitment Module (ARM) size frequency data are now stored on IRMA at https://irma.nps.gov/DataStore/Reference/Profile/2259651. The temperature data graphs in Appendix L include the same graphs that were used in past reports, but include additional violin plot sections that compare monthly means from the current year to past years. In addition to the changes listed above, the layout of the discussion section was reordered by species instead of by site. The status of kelp forests differed among the five park islands. This is a result of a combination of factors including but not limited to, oceanography, biogeography and associated differences in species abundance and composition, as well as sport and commercial fishing pressure. All 33 permanent sites were established in areas that had or were historically known to have had kelp forests in the past. In 2014, 15 of the 33 sites monitored were characterized as developing kelp forest, kelp forest or mature kelp forest. In addition, three sites were in a state of transition. Two sites were part kelp forest and part dominated by Strongylocentrotus purpuratus...

1.1 Macroeconomic summary Economic recovery has consistently outperformed the technical staff’s expectations following a steep decline in activity in the second quarter of 2020. At the same time, total and core inflation rates have fallen and remain at low levels, suggesting that a significant element of the reactivation of Colombia’s economy has been related to recovery in potential GDP. This would support the technical staff’s diagnosis of weak aggregate demand and ample excess capacity. The most recently available data on 2020 growth suggests a contraction in economic activity of 6.8%, lower than estimates from January’s Monetary Policy Report (-7.2%). High-frequency indicators suggest that economic performance was significantly more dynamic than expected in January, despite mobility restrictions and quarantine measures. This has also come amid declines in total and core inflation, the latter of which was below January projections if controlling for certain relative price changes. This suggests that the unexpected strength of recent growth contains elements of demand, and that excess capacity, while significant, could be lower than previously estimated. Nevertheless, uncertainty over the measurement of excess capacity continues to be unusually high and marked both by variations in the way different economic sectors and spending components have been affected by the pandemic, and by uneven price behavior. The size of excess capacity, and in particular the evolution of the pandemic in forthcoming quarters, constitute substantial risks to the macroeconomic forecast presented in this report. Despite the unexpected strength of the recovery, the technical staff continues to project ample excess capacity that is expected to remain on the forecast horizon, alongside core inflation that will likely remain below the target. Domestic demand remains below 2019 levels amid unusually significant uncertainty over the size of excess capacity in the economy. High national unemployment (14.6% for February 2021) reflects a loose labor market, while observed total and core inflation continue to be below 2%. Inflationary pressures from the exchange rate are expected to continue to be low, with relatively little pass-through on inflation. This would be compatible with a negative output gap. Excess productive capacity and the expectation of core inflation below the 3% target on the forecast horizon provide a basis for an expansive monetary policy posture. The technical staff’s assessment of certain shocks and their expected effects on the economy, as well as the presence of several sources of uncertainty and related assumptions about their potential macroeconomic impacts, remain a feature of this report. The coronavirus pandemic, in particular, continues to affect the public health environment, and the reopening of Colombia’s economy remains incomplete. The technical staff’s assessment is that the COVID-19 shock has affected both aggregate demand and supply, but that the impact on demand has been deeper and more persistent. Given this persistence, the central forecast accounts for a gradual tightening of the output gap in the absence of new waves of contagion, and as vaccination campaigns progress. The central forecast continues to include an expected increase of total and core inflation rates in the second quarter of 2021, alongside the lapse of the temporary price relief measures put in place in 2020. Additional COVID-19 outbreaks (of uncertain duration and intensity) represent a significant risk factor that could affect these projections. Additionally, the forecast continues to include an upward trend in sovereign risk premiums, reflected by higher levels of public debt that in the wake of the pandemic are likely to persist on the forecast horizon, even in the context of a fiscal adjustment. At the same time, the projection accounts for the shortterm effects on private domestic demand from a fiscal adjustment along the lines of the one currently being proposed by the national government. This would be compatible with a gradual recovery of private domestic demand in 2022. The size and characteristics of the fiscal adjustment that is ultimately implemented, as well as the corresponding market response, represent another source of forecast uncertainty. Newly available information offers evidence of the potential for significant changes to the macroeconomic scenario, though without altering the general diagnosis described above. The most recent data on inflation, growth, fiscal policy, and international financial conditions suggests a more dynamic economy than previously expected. However, a third wave of the pandemic has delayed the re-opening of Colombia’s economy and brought with it a deceleration in economic activity. Detailed descriptions of these considerations and subsequent changes to the macroeconomic forecast are presented below. The expected annual decline in GDP (-0.3%) in the first quarter of 2021 appears to have been less pronounced than projected in January (-4.8%). Partial closures in January to address a second wave of COVID-19 appear to have had a less significant negative impact on the economy than previously estimated. This is reflected in figures related to mobility, energy demand, industry and retail sales, foreign trade, commercial transactions from selected banks, and the national statistics agency’s (DANE) economic tracking indicator (ISE). Output is now expected to have declined annually in the first quarter by 0.3%. Private consumption likely continued to recover, registering levels somewhat above those from the previous year, while public consumption likely increased significantly. While a recovery in investment in both housing and in other buildings and structures is expected, overall investment levels in this case likely continued to be low, and gross fixed capital formation is expected to continue to show significant annual declines. Imports likely recovered to again outpace exports, though both are expected to register significant annual declines. Economic activity that outpaced projections, an increase in oil prices and other export products, and an expected increase in public spending this year account for the upward revision to the 2021 growth forecast (from 4.6% with a range between 2% and 6% in January, to 6.0% with a range between 3% and 7% in April). As a result, the output gap is expected to be smaller and to tighten more rapidly than projected in the previous report, though it is still expected to remain in negative territory on the forecast horizon. Wide forecast intervals reflect the fact that the future evolution of the COVID-19 pandemic remains a significant source of uncertainty on these projections. The delay in the recovery of economic activity as a result of the resurgence of COVID-19 in the first quarter appears to have been less significant than projected in the January report. The central forecast scenario expects this improved performance to continue in 2021 alongside increased consumer and business confidence. Low real interest rates and an active credit supply would also support this dynamic, and the overall conditions would be expected to spur a recovery in consumption and investment. Increased growth in public spending and public works based on the national government’s spending plan (Plan Financiero del Gobierno) are other factors to consider. Additionally, an expected recovery in global demand and higher projected prices for oil and coffee would further contribute to improved external revenues and would favor investment, in particular in the oil sector. Given the above, the technical staff’s 2021 growth forecast has been revised upward from 4.6% in January (range from 2% to 6%) to 6.0% in April (range from 3% to 7%). These projections account for the potential for the third wave of COVID-19 to have a larger and more persistent effect on the economy than the previous wave, while also supposing that there will not be any additional significant waves of the pandemic and that mobility restrictions will be relaxed as a result. Economic growth in 2022 is expected to be 3%, with a range between 1% and 5%. This figure would be lower than projected in the January report (3.6% with a range between 2% and 6%), due to a higher base of comparison given the upward revision to expected GDP in 2021. This forecast also takes into account the likely effects on private demand of a fiscal adjustment of the size currently being proposed by the national government, and which would come into effect in 2022. Excess in productive capacity is now expected to be lower than estimated in January but continues to be significant and affected by high levels of uncertainty, as reflected in the wide forecast intervals. The possibility of new waves of the virus (of uncertain intensity and duration) represents a significant downward risk to projected GDP growth, and is signaled by the lower limits of the ranges provided in this report. Inflation (1.51%) and inflation excluding food and regulated items (0.94%) declined in March compared to December, continuing below the 3% target. The decline in inflation in this period was below projections, explained in large part by unanticipated increases in the costs of certain foods (3.92%) and regulated items (1.52%). An increase in international food and shipping prices, increased foreign demand for beef, and specific upward pressures on perishable food supplies appear to explain a lower-than-expected deceleration in the consumer price index (CPI) for foods. An unexpected increase in regulated items prices came amid unanticipated increases in international fuel prices, on some utilities rates, and for regulated education prices. The decline in annual inflation excluding food and regulated items between December and March was in line with projections from January, though this included downward pressure from a significant reduction in telecommunications rates due to the imminent entry of a new operator. When controlling for the effects of this relative price change, inflation excluding food and regulated items exceeds levels forecast in the previous report. Within this indicator of core inflation, the CPI for goods (1.05%) accelerated due to a reversion of the effects of the VAT-free day in November, which was largely accounted for in February, and possibly by the transmission of a recent depreciation of the peso on domestic prices for certain items (electric and household appliances). For their part, services prices decelerated and showed the lowest rate of annual growth (0.89%) among the large consumer baskets in the CPI. Within the services basket, the annual change in rental prices continued to decline, while those services that continue to experience the most significant restrictions on returning to normal operations (tourism, cinemas, nightlife, etc.) continued to register significant price declines. As previously mentioned, telephone rates also fell significantly due to increased competition in the market. Total inflation is expected to continue to be affected by ample excesses in productive capacity for the remainder of 2021 and 2022, though less so than projected in January. As a result, convergence to the inflation target is now expected to be somewhat faster than estimated in the previous report, assuming the absence of significant additional outbreaks of COVID-19. The technical staff’s year-end inflation projections for 2021 and 2022 have increased, suggesting figures around 3% due largely to variation in food and regulated items prices. The projection for inflation excluding food and regulated items also increased, but remains below 3%. Price relief measures on indirect taxes implemented in 2020 are expected to lapse in the second quarter of 2021, generating a one-off effect on prices and temporarily affecting inflation excluding food and regulated items. However, indexation to low levels of past inflation, weak demand, and ample excess productive capacity are expected to keep core inflation below the target, near 2.3% at the end of 2021 (previously 2.1%). The reversion in 2021 of the effects of some price relief measures on utility rates from 2020 should lead to an increase in the CPI for regulated items in the second half of this year. Annual price changes are now expected to be higher than estimated in the January report due to an increased expected path for fuel prices and unanticipated increases in regulated education prices. The projection for the CPI for foods has increased compared to the previous report, taking into account certain factors that were not anticipated in January (a less favorable agricultural cycle, increased pressure from international prices, and transport costs). Given the above, year-end annual inflation for 2021 and 2022 is now expected to be 3% and 2.8%, respectively, which would be above projections from January (2.3% and 2,7%). For its part, expected inflation based on analyst surveys suggests year-end inflation in 2021 and 2022 of 2.8% and 3.1%, respectively. There remains significant uncertainty surrounding the inflation forecasts included in this report due to several factors: 1) the evolution of the pandemic; 2) the difficulty in evaluating the size and persistence of excess productive capacity; 3) the timing and manner in which price relief measures will lapse; and 4) the future behavior of food prices. Projected 2021 growth in foreign demand (4.4% to 5.2%) and the supposed average oil price (USD 53 to USD 61 per Brent benchmark barrel) were both revised upward. An increase in long-term international interest rates has been reflected in a depreciation of the peso and could result in relatively tighter external financial conditions for emerging market economies, including Colombia. Average growth among Colombia’s trade partners was greater than expected in the fourth quarter of 2020. This, together with a sizable fiscal stimulus approved in the United States and the onset of a massive global vaccination campaign, largely explains the projected increase in foreign demand growth in 2021. The resilience of the goods market in the face of global crisis and an expected normalization in international trade are additional factors. These considerations and the expected continuation of a gradual reduction of mobility restrictions abroad suggest that Colombia’s trade partners could grow on average by 5.2% in 2021 and around 3.4% in 2022. The improved prospects for global economic growth have led to an increase in current and expected oil prices. Production interruptions due to a heavy winter, reduced inventories, and increased supply restrictions instituted by producing countries have also contributed to the increase. Meanwhile, market forecasts and recent Federal Reserve pronouncements suggest that the benchmark interest rate in the U.S. will remain stable for the next two years. Nevertheless, a significant increase in public spending in the country has fostered expectations for greater growth and inflation, as well as increased uncertainty over the moment in which a normalization of monetary policy might begin. This has been reflected in an increase in long-term interest rates. In this context, emerging market economies in the region, including Colombia, have registered increases in sovereign risk premiums and long-term domestic interest rates, and a depreciation of local currencies against the dollar. Recent outbreaks of COVID-19 in several of these economies; limits on vaccine supply and the slow pace of immunization campaigns in some countries; a significant increase in public debt; and tensions between the United States and China, among other factors, all add to a high level of uncertainty surrounding interest rate spreads, external financing conditions, and the future performance of risk premiums. The impact that this environment could have on the exchange rate and on domestic financing conditions represent risks to the macroeconomic and monetary policy forecasts. Domestic financial conditions continue to favor recovery in economic activity. The transmission of reductions to the policy interest rate on credit rates has been significant. The banking portfolio continues to recover amid circumstances that have affected both the supply and demand for loans, and in which some credit risks have materialized. Preferential and ordinary commercial interest rates have fallen to a similar degree as the benchmark interest rate. As is generally the case, this transmission has come at a slower pace for consumer credit rates, and has been further delayed in the case of mortgage rates. Commercial credit levels stabilized above pre-pandemic levels in March, following an increase resulting from significant liquidity requirements for businesses in the second quarter of 2020. The consumer credit portfolio continued to recover and has now surpassed February 2020 levels, though overall growth in the portfolio remains low. At the same time, portfolio projections and default indicators have increased, and credit establishment earnings have come down. Despite this, credit disbursements continue to recover and solvency indicators remain well above regulatory minimums. 1.2 Monetary policy decision In its meetings in March and April the BDBR left the benchmark interest rate unchanged at 1.75%.

Meeting the increasingly stringent emission and fuel efficiency standards is the primary objective of the automotive research. Lean/diluted combustion is a promising avenue to realize high-efficiency combustion and reduce emissions in SI engines. Under the diluted conditions, the flame propagation speed is reduced because of the reduced charge reactivity. Enhancing the in-cylinder charge motion and turbulence, and thereby increasing the flame speed, is a possible way to harness the combustion process in SI engines. However, the charge motion can have a significant effect on the spark ignition process because of the reduced discharge duration and frequent restrikes. A longer discharge duration can aid in the formation of the self-sustained flame kernel and subsequent stable ignition. Therefore, an empirical study is undertaken to investigate the effect of the discharge duration and ignition timing on the ignition and early combustion in a port fueled SI engine, operated under lean conditions. The discharge duration is modulated from 1 ms to 8 ms through a continuous discharge strategy. The discharge current and voltage measurements are recorded during the engine operation to characterize the discharge process. The in-cylinder charge is diluted using fresh air to achieve lean combustion. The in-cylinder pressure measurement and heat release analysis are used to investigate the ignition and combustion characteristics of the engine. Preliminary results indicate that while the discharge duration has a marginal effect on the ignition delay, cyclic variations are notably impacted.