Zeyuan Zhou, Ming Yu, Xinfeng Wang^*, Zaixing Huang

CMES-Computer Modeling in Engineering & Sciences, Vol.137, No.3, pp. 2593-2620, 2023, DOI:10.32604/cmes.2023.027384

Abstract How to simulate fracture mode and crack propagation path in a plate with multiple cracks is an attractive but dicult issue in fracture mechanics. Peridynamics is a recently developed nonlocal continuum formulation that can spontaneously predict the crack nucleation, branch and propagation in materials and structures through a meshfree discrete technique. In this paper, the peridynamic motion equation with boundary traction is improved by simplifying the boundary transfer functions. We calculate the critical cracking load and the fracture angles of the plate with multiple cracks under uniaxial tension. The results are consistent with those predicted by classical fracture mechanics. The… More > Graphic Abstract

Yazeed Al-Radhi^1,*, Farzad Hejazi², Azmi Abdulkarim³, Ali Feroozi⁴

Structural Durability & Health Monitoring, Vol.17, No.2, pp. 89-113, 2023, DOI:10.32604/sdhm.2023.011439

Abstract Offshore steel structures are a common investment in oil and gas industries operating in shallow to medium depth seas. These structures have become increasingly popular since the mid-19th century, with a typical design life of 30-50 years. Despite their popularity, the structural integrity of existing offshore structures remains a controversial topic. Environmental loads and material degradation have been identified as significant factors that can compromise the structural integrity of offshore structures. To address this issue, this study aims to investigate the reserved strength capacity of a selected offshore structure located in the Malaysian Seas. The study will explore the effect… More >

Woo Chul Chung¹, Chungkuk Jin^2,*, MooHyun Kim³, Ju-young Hwang⁴

CMES-Computer Modeling in Engineering & Sciences, Vol.137, No.1, pp. 155-174, 2023, DOI:10.32604/cmes.2023.026754

Abstract This paper presents dynamic-behavior comparisons and related forensic analyses of a submerged floating tunnel (SFT) between numerical simulation and physical experiment under regular and irregular waves. The experiments are conducted in the 3D wave tank with 1:33.3 scale, and the corresponding coupled time-domain simulation tool is devised for comparison. The entire SFT system consists of a long concrete tunnel and 12 tubular aluminum mooring lines. Two numerical simulation models, the Cummins equation with 3D potential theory including second-order wave-body interaction effects and the much simpler Morison-equation-based formula with the lumped-mass-based line model, are designed and compared. Forensic analyses for mooring-line… More >

Jing Zhao, Jun Yang^*

FDMP-Fluid Dynamics & Materials Processing, Vol.19, No.7, pp. 1951-1961, 2023, DOI:10.32604/fdmp.2023.026115

Abstract Low-Tension-Foam (LTF) flooding is an emerging enhanced oil recovery technique for low-permeability carbonate reservoirs. Foam capacity is closely related to the salinity environment (or, equivalently, the phase behavior of the oil/water/surfactant system). Therefore, the interactions between microemulsion and foam components are of primary importance in the LTF process. In this study, the phase behavior of an oil/water/surfactant system under equilibrium is analyzed, firstly by assuming perfect mixing. Meanwhile, the formation kinetics of microemulsion are monitored through a novel low-field NMR technique, which is able to provide quantitative assessment on the microemulsion evolution characteristics. Then, foam stability is examined in the… More >

Heesup Han¹, Hong Ngoc Nguyen², Hyerin Lee³, Sanghyeop Lee^4,*

International Journal of Mental Health Promotion, Vol.25, No.4, pp. 449-469, 2023, DOI:10.32604/ijmhp.2023.025379

Abstract Since the outbreak of COVID-19, tourists have been increasingly concerned over various risks of international travel, while knowledge of the pandemic appears to vary significantly. In addition, as travel restrictions continue to impact adversely on international tourism, tourism efforts should be placed more on the domestic markets. Via structural equation modeling, this study unearthed different risk factors impacting Korean travelers’ choices of alternative local destinations in the post-pandemic era. In addition, this study extended the goal-directed behavior framework with the acquisition of perceived risk and knowledge of COVID-19, which was proven to hold a significantly superior explanatory power of tourists’… More >

C. Vairavel^1,*, N. S. Nithya²

Computer Systems Science and Engineering, Vol.46, No.2, pp. 2159-2175, 2023, DOI:10.32604/csse.2023.036598

Abstract The immune system goes through a profound transformation during pregnancy, and certain unexpected maternal complications have been correlated to this transition. The ability to correctly examine, diagnoses, and predict pregnancy-hastened diseases via the available big data is a delicate problem since the range of information continuously increases and is scalable. Many approaches for disease diagnosis/classification have been established with the use of data mining concepts. However, such methods do not provide an appropriate classification/diagnosis model. Furthermore, single learning approaches are used to create the bulk of these systems. Classification issues may be made more accurate by combining predictions from many… More >

Andrei George Iosifescu^1,2,*, Roxana Enache^1,3, Ioana Marinică⁴, Corina Radu², Vlad Anton Iliescu^1,2

Congenital Heart Disease, Vol.18, No.1, pp. 67-72, 2023, DOI:10.32604/chd.2023.026598

Abstract Left main coronary compression syndrome (LMCS) may complicate pulmonary artery aneurysms (PAA), usually developed in the context of pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). We report the case of a 51-year-old female patient with an atrial septal defect (unsuitable for device closure) complicated by a PAA generating a 90% left main stenosis. The significant PAH held us back from immediate surgery. After specific dual PAH-targeted therapy (sildenafil and bosentan), the atrial septal defect could be closed with a unidirectional valved patch; the PAA-induced LMCS was treated by reductive arterioplasty. The postoperative course was uneventful. Follow-up showed clinical improvement, but PAH treatment was… More > Graphic Abstract

Shanhui Liu^1,*, Haodi Ding¹, Ziyu Wang¹, Li’e Ma¹, Zheng Li²

Journal of Renewable Materials, Vol.11, No.4, pp. 1991-2014, 2023, DOI:10.32604/jrm.2022.023659

Abstract High precision control of substrate tension is the premise and guarantee for producing high-quality products in roll-to-roll precision coating machine. However, the complex relationships in tension system make the problems of decoupling control difficult to be solved, which has limited the improvement of tension control accuracy for the coating machine. Therefore, an ADRC parameters self-tuning decoupling strategy based on RBF neural network is proposed to improve the control accuracy of tension system in this paper. Firstly, a global coupling nonlinear model of the tension system is established according to the composition of the coating machine, and the global coupling model… More > Graphic Abstract

Irene Martin de Miguel¹, C. Charles Jain¹, Alexander C. Egbe¹, Jason H. Anderson², Heidi M. Connolly¹, William R. Miranda^1,*

Congenital Heart Disease, Vol.17, No.6, pp. 605-615, 2022, DOI:10.32604/chd.2022.023969

Abstract Background: Coarctation of the aorta (CoA) is associated with a generalized arteriopathy and long-term complications despite repair. Data on invasive exercise hemodynamics in this population are lacking. Accordingly, we reviewed adults with CoA undergoing exercise catheterization to assess 1. hemodynamic profile; 2. feasibility for assessment of CoA severity. Methods: Twenty patients undergoing exercise cardiac catheterization (12 arm adduction and 8 supine cycle ergometry) at a quaternary care center between 2004 and 2021 were identified. Resting and exercise hemodynamic data were abstracted from the procedure logs. Results: Mean age was 43.6 ± 12.0 years. Eleven patients (55%) had resting pulmonary arterial wedge pressure… More >

Huan Zhou^1,#, Jin Kang^2,#, Jun Gao^2,*, Xiaoyuan Feng¹, Li Zhou², Xia Xiao², Zhengliang Meng², Chengwen Guo²

Congenital Heart Disease, Vol.17, No.6, pp. 697-707, 2022, DOI:10.32604/chd.2022.022648

Abstract Background: Real-time three-dimensional echocardiography (RT-3DE) could obtain ventricular volume and ejection fraction rapidly and non-invasively without relying on ventricular morphology. This study aims to use RT-3DE to evaluate the changes in biventricular volume and systolic function in children with ventricular septal defect (VSD) and moderate to severe pulmonary hypertension (PH) before surgery. Methods: In this study 18 children with VSD and moderate to severe PH (VSD + PH Group) and 18 healthy children of the same age (Control Group) were recruited. Biventricular volume and systolic function were evaluated by RT-3DE. The measurements included: left and right ventricular volume indexed to… More > Graphic Abstract