Study of passive optical techniques for detecting clear air turbulence

Passive optical techniques evaluated for detecting clear air turbulence

The Impact of Pre-existing Comorbidities and Therapeutic Interventions on COVID-19.

Evidence from the global outbreak of SARS-CoV-2 has clearly demonstrated that individuals with pre-existing comorbidities are at a much greater risk of dying from COVID-19. This is of great concern for individuals living with these conditions, and a major challenge for global healthcare systems and biomedical research. Not all comorbidities confer the same risk, however, many affect the function of the immune system, which in turn directly impacts the response to COVID-19. Furthermore, the myriad of drugs prescribed for these comorbidities can also influence the progression of COVID-19 and limit additional treatment options available for COVID-19. Here, we review immune dysfunction in response to SARS-CoV-2 infection and the impact of pre-existing comorbidities on the development of COVID-19. We explore how underlying disease etiologies and common therapies used to treat these conditions exacerbate COVID-19 progression. Moreover, we discuss the long-term challenges associated with the use of both novel and repurposed therapies for the treatment of COVID-19 in patients with pre-existing comorbidities

Zero-one Schubert polynomials

We prove that if σ∈Sm is a pattern of w∈Sn, then we can express the Schubert polynomial w as a monomial times σ (in reindexed variables) plus a polynomial with nonnegative coefficients. This implies that the set of permutations whose Schubert polynomials have all their coefficients equal to either 0 or 1 is closed under pattern containment. Using Magyar's orthodontia, we characterize this class by a list of twelve avoided patterns. We also give other equivalent conditions on w being zero-one. In this case, the Schubert polynomial w is equal to the integer point transform of a generalized permutahedron

Predicting Aviation Performance in Rotor-Wing Students

A critical shortage of commercial fixed and rotor-wing pilots has elevated the importance of the recruitment, training, and certification of pilots. The U.S. Department of Labor has identified situational awareness, selective attention, and inhibitory function as important and frequently occurring Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs) for the job of commercial pilot. Previous research has shown that success in situation awareness training performance predicts future fixed-wing airline pilot performance. In addition, the flanker task, measuring selective attention and inhibitory function, has been shown to predict performance across a variety of professions. The purpose of the current study will be to predict student performance in instrumentality courses of a rotor-wing aircraft program using assessments of situation awareness, selective attention, and inhibitory function. Currently, no research has investigated the predictive ability of situational awareness, selective attention, and inhibitory function in rotor-wing aviation student course performance. The hypothesis for the current study is: Higher student scores on situational awareness, selective attention, and inhibitory function assessments will have a positive relationship with course performance measures. Participants will be rotor-wing aviation students enrolled in instrumentality courses at a local university. Participants will complete a modified version of the Factors Affecting Situation Awareness (FASA) assessment of situational awareness and a modified Flanker task measuring participants\u27 ability to avoid the interference of distractors via reaction time. Scores from each measure will be compared to various student course performance measures collected throughout their Aviation program courses. Results of this research can be used to improve the recruitment and training process of academic and commercial training programs for commercial pilots. The identification of KSAs that predict future pilot performance could be used to improve the training pipeline for commercial pilots, thereby reducing the critical shortage currently impacting the domestic and global markets

Neutron dark-field imaging of hydrogen-fatigued pressure vessel steel

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Physiological status of conifer seedlings treated with radiation, drought and frost stress mitigation techniques: a laboratory assessment

Post planting assistance techniques during early ontogeny may be a determining factor for tree survival in stressful habitats. In the eastern region of NW Patagonia, stands of the fast-growing exotic conifers Pinus ponderosa (Ponderosa pine) and Pseudotsuga menziesii (Douglas fir) are being established in places which are currently, or were in the past, occupied by native Austrocedrus chilensis (mountain cypress) forests. We hypothesize that mitigation techniques could (1) reduce photoinhibition and consequently increase the net photosynthesis rate of plants under high radiation conditions due to increases in the dissipation of radiation with Kaolin, (2) improve water availability in soils using hydrogel, and (3) reduce the effects of chills and frosts events in the species that are most susceptible to environmental stress, A. chilensis and P. menziesii, achieving similar values to those measured in the most resistant species, P. ponderosa using film-forming polymers such as Poly-1-p-Menthene. The short-term responses of seedlings to solar radiation, soil water availability and air temperature were evaluated through gas exchange capacities. Our results indicate that the effects of the different techniques depend on the susceptibility of the species to environmental stress. Kaolin treatment increased stomatal conductance, photosynthesis and transpiration rates in all species. For the hydrogel assay, higher pot volumetric water content was observed in treated plants than in control plants. Pinus ponderosa showed a lower response to the application of hydrogel, while a positive response was observed in A. chilensis and no effect in P. menziesii. The frost mitigation technique evaluated proved unsuitable for the three study species, but appears to work as an anti-desiccant for P. menziesii. In order to optimize the process of planting and establishment for a particular species, the package of techniques needs to be evaluated regarding the requirements and susceptibility to environmental stress of that species.Fil: Varela, Santiago A.. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria. Centro Regional Patagonia Norte. Estación Experimental Agropecuaria San Carlos de Bariloche; ArgentinaFil: Weigandt, Mariana Noemi. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria. Centro Regional Patagonia Norte. Estación Experimental Agropecuaria San Carlos de Bariloche; ArgentinaFil: Willems, Priscila. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria. Centro Regional Patagonia Norte. Estación Experimental Agropecuaria San Carlos de Bariloche; ArgentinaFil: Bianchi, Emilio. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria. Centro Regional Patagonia Norte. Estación Experimental Agropecuaria San Carlos de Bariloche; ArgentinaFil: Diez, Juan P.. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria. Centro Regional Patagonia Norte. Estación Experimental Agropecuaria San Carlos de Bariloche; ArgentinaFil: Gyenge, Javier Enrique. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria. Centro Regional Patagonia Norte. Estación Experimental Agropecuaria San Carlos de Bariloche; Argentin