Constant Depth (constant + depth)

Distribution by Scientific Domains


Selected Abstracts


The formation of dunes, antidunes, and rapidly damping waves in alluvial channels

INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL FOR NUMERICAL AND ANALYTICAL METHODS IN GEOMECHANICS, Issue 7 2001
L.-H. Huang
Abstract Under the effect of a constant current for a long time, a water channel of infinitely long and constant depth interacting with a uniform sandbed of infinite thickness is used to simulate the formation of dunes, antidunes and rapidly damping waves in alluvial channels. The theory of potential flow is applied to the channel flow, while Biot's theory of poroelasticity is adopted to deal with erodible bed material. The governing equations, together with free surface, bed surface, and far field boundary conditions, form a complete boundary-value problem without applying empirical sediment discharge formulas as in conventional researches. The comparison of the present result with Kennedy's (Journal of Fluid Mechanics, 1963; 16: 521,544) instability analysis not only indicates the appropriateness of the present work, but also reveals the advantage of the present study due to its ability to find all kinds of bed forms (including the rapidly damping waves that Kennedy could not find) and of solving for the unclear lagged distance , introduced in Kennedy's work. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source]


A ,-coordinate three-dimensional numerical model for surface wave propagation

INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL FOR NUMERICAL METHODS IN FLUIDS, Issue 11 2002
Pengzhi Lin
Abstract A three-dimensional numerical model based on the full Navier,Stokes equations (NSE) in , -coordinate is developed in this study. The , -coordinate transformation is first introduced to map the irregular physical domain with the wavy free surface and uneven bottom to the regular computational domain with the shape of a rectangular prism. Using the chain rule of partial differentiation, a new set of governing equations is derived in the , -coordinate from the original NSE defined in the Cartesian coordinate. The operator splitting method (Li and Yu, Int. J. Num. Meth. Fluids 1996; 23: 485,501), which splits the solution procedure into the advection, diffusion, and propagation steps, is used to solve the modified NSE. The model is first tested for mass and energy conservation as well as mesh convergence by using an example of water sloshing in a confined tank. Excellent agreements between numerical results and analytical solutions are obtained. The model is then used to simulate two- and three-dimensional solitary waves propagating in constant depth. Very good agreements between numerical results and analytical solutions are obtained for both free surface displacements and velocities. Finally, a more realistic case of periodic wave train passing through a submerged breakwater is simulated. Comparisons between numerical results and experimental data are promising. The model is proven to be an accurate tool for consequent studies of wave-structure interaction. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source]


The contribution of the swimbladder to buoyancy in the adult zebrafish (Danio rerio): A morphometric analysis

JOURNAL OF MORPHOLOGY, Issue 6 2008
George N. Robertson
Abstract Many teleost fishes use a swimbladder, a gas-filled organ in the coelomic cavity, to reduce body density toward neutral buoyancy, thus minimizing the locomotory cost of maintaining a constant depth in the water column. However, for most swimbladder-bearing teleosts, the contribution of this organ to the attainment of neutral buoyancy has not been quantified. Here, we examined the quantitative contribution of the swimbladder to buoyancy and three-dimensional stability in a small cyprinid, the zebrafish (Danio rerio). In aquaria during daylight hours, adult animals were observed at mean depths from 10.1 ± 6.0 to 14.2 ± 5.6 cm below the surface. Fish mass and whole-body volume were linearly correlated (r2 = 0.96) over a wide range of body size (0.16,0.73 g); mean whole-body density was 1.01 ± 0.09 g cm,3. Stereological estimations of swimbladder volume from linear dimensions of lateral X-ray images and direct measurements of gas volumes recovered by puncture from the same swimbladders showed that results from these two methods were highly correlated (r2 = 0.85). The geometric regularity of the swimbladder thus permitted its volume to be accurately estimated from a single lateral image. Mean body density in the absence of the swimbladder was 1.05 ± 0.04 g cm,3. The swimbladder occupied 5.1 ± 1.4% of total body volume, thus reducing whole-body density significantly. The location of the centers of mass and buoyancy along rostro-caudal and dorso-ventral axes overlapped near the ductus communicans, a constriction between the anterior and posterior swimbladder chambers. Our work demonstrates that the swimbladder of the adult zebrafish contributes significantly to buoyancy and attitude stability. Furthermore, we describe and verify a stereological method for estimating swimbladder volume that will aid future studies of the functions of this organ. J Morphol., 2008. © 2008 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source]


Use of optical coherence tomography for assessment of dental caries: quantitative procedure

JOURNAL OF ORAL REHABILITATION, Issue 12 2001
B. T. Amaechi
A method for quantitative assessment of dental caries using optical coherence tomography (OCT) was demonstrated. Development of caries lesions in 15 bovine teeth, by demineralization in acidic buffer solution, was quantitatively assessed daily for 3 days, using OCT. An OCT system which can collect A-scans (depth versus reflectivity curve), B-scans (longitudinal images) and C-scans (transverse images at constant depth) was used. While the B- and C-scans qualitatively described the lesion detected, the A-scan which showed the depth (mm) resolved reflectivity (dB) of the tooth tissue was used for the quantitative analysis. After a simple normalization procedure to determine the actual depth the light travelled into the tooth tissue, the area (R) under the A-scan was quantified as a measure of the degree of reflectivity of the tissue. The result showed that R (dB mm) decreased with increasing demineralization time. The percentage reflectivity loss (R%) in demineralized tissue, which related to the amount of mineral loss, was also calculated, and it was observed that R% increased with increasing demineralization time. It was concluded that with the above procedure, OCT could quantitatively monitor the mineral changes in a caries lesion on a longitudinal basis. [source]


Effects of dexmedetomidine on intraoperative motor and somatosensory evoked potential monitoring during spinal surgery in adolescents

PEDIATRIC ANESTHESIA, Issue 11 2008
JOSEPH D. TOBIAS MD
Summary Background:, Dexmedetomidine may be a useful agent as an adjunct to an opioid,propofol total intravenous anesthesia (TIVA) technique during posterior spinal fusion (PSF) surgery. There are limited data regarding its effects on somatosensory (SSEPs) and motor evoked potentials (MEPs). Methods:, The data presented represent a retrospective review of prospectively collected quality assurance data. When the decision was made to incorporate dexmedetomidine into the anesthetic regimen for intraoperative care of patients undergoing PSF, a prospective evaluation of its effects on SSEPs and MEPs was undertaken. SSEPs and MEPs were measured before and after the administration of dexmedetomidine in a cohort of pediatric patients undergoing PSF. Dexmedetomidine (1 ,g·kg,1 over 20 min followed by an infusion of 0.5 ,g·kg,1·h,1) was administered at the completion of the surgical procedure, but prior to wound closure as an adjunct to TIVA which included propofol and remifentanil, adjusted to maintain a constant depth of anesthesia as measured by a BIS of 45,60. Results:, The cohort for the study included nine patients, ranging in age from 12 to 17 years, anesthetized with remifentanil and propofol. In the first patient, dexmedetomidine was administered in conjunction with propofol at 110 ,g·kg,1·min,1 which resulted in a decrease in the bispectral index from 58 to 31. Although no significant effect was noted on the SSEPs (amplitude or latency) or the MEP duration, there was a decrease in the MEP amplitude. The protocol was modified so that the propofol infusion was incrementally decreased during the dexmedetomidine infusion to achieve the same depth of anesthesia. In the remaining eight patients, the bispectral index was 52 ± 6 at the start of the dexmedetomidine loading dose and 49 ± 4 at its completion (P = NS). There was no statistically significant difference in the MEPs and SSEPs obtained before and at completion of the dexmedetomidine loading dose. Conclusion:, Using the above-mentioned protocol, dexmedetomidine can be used as a component of TIVA during PSF without affecting neurophysiological monitoring. [source]