The city and its need for technology

An experimental program has been undertaken to explore the process of identifying and transferring newer technology for the benefit of the city. This paper describes the nature of the problems involved in the experiment, some of the areas of supposed commonality with other cities and some of the prerequisites for any city to become involved with technological innovation

Medication and Lifestyle Adherence Behaviors in Hypertensive Patients

Hypertension is a serious chronic condition that afflicts many Americans. The present study used the Common Sense Model (CSM) of Self Regulation as a theoretical framework to aid in the examination of predictors of medication and/or lifestyle adherence. Based upon the literature reviewed, the current study proposes that predictors would be different for medication and lifestyle adherence. Three hypotheses were proposed: 1. CSM-related variables (blood pressure monitoring, condition-worry hypertension duration, control beliefs, and medication beliefs items) would be correlated with medication adherence; 2. specific CSM-related variables, self assessed health (SAH) and physical functioning would significantly be correlated with lifestyle adherence; 3. If there are common predictors of medication and lifestyle adherence, the predictors would account for more of one type of adherence than the other. The current study utilized data from a larger study evaluating patients’ management of acute and chronic conditions. Results supported the three hypotheses. There was no correlation between medication and lifestyle adherence. The overall model was significant in a stepwise regression with all CSM-related predictors, including age, race and education predicting medication adherence. The stepwise regression model was significant with all CSM-related predictors, including, age, race and education predicting lifestyle adherence. Different predictors in medication (the side effect of this treatment are manageable for me”) and lifestyle adherence (“the prescribed treatment for my hypertension keeps it under good control” were found supporting hypothesized independence of the two constructs

Conceptual design of thermal energy storage systems for near term electric utility applications. Volume 1: Screening of concepts

Over forty thermal energy storage (TES) concepts gathered from the literature and personal contacts were studied for their suitability for the electric utility application of storing energy off-peak discharge during peak hours. Twelve selections were derived from the concepts for screening; they used as storage media high temperature water (HTW), hot oil, molten salts, and packed beds of solids such as rock. HTW required pressure containment by prestressed cast-iron or concrete vessels, or lined underground cavities. Both steam generation from storage and feedwater heating from storage were studied. Four choices were made for further study during the project. Economic comparison by electric utility standard cost practices, and near-term availability (low technical risk) were principal criteria but suitability for utility use, conservation potential, and environmental hazards were considered

Conceptual design of thermal energy storage systems for near term electric utility applications. Volume 2: Appendices - screening of concepts

Volume 2 of this 2 volume report is represented. This volume contains three appendices: (1) bibliography and cross references; (2) taxonomy - proponents and sources; and (3) concept definitions

Record-breaking statistics for random walks in the presence of measurement error and noise

We address the question of distance record-setting by a random walker in the presence of measurement error, $\delta$, and additive noise, $\gamma$ and show that the mean number of (upper) records up to $n$ steps still grows universally as $\sim n^{1/2}$ for large $n$ for all jump distributions, including L\'evy flights, and for all $\delta$ and $\gamma$. In contrast to the universal growth exponent of 1/2, the pace of record setting, measured by the pre-factor of $n^{1/2}$, depends on $\delta$ and $\gamma$. In the absence of noise ($\gamma=0$), the pre-factor $S(\delta)$ is evaluated explicitly for arbitrary jump distributions and it decreases monotonically with increasing $\delta$ whereas, in case of perfect measurement $(\delta=0)$, the corresponding pre-factor $T(\gamma)$ increases with $\gamma$. Our analytical results are supported by extensive numerical simulations and qualitatively similar results are found in two and three dimensions

Testing of a one-bladed 30-meter-diameter rotor on the DOE/NASA Mod-O wind turbine

Tests were conducted on the DOE/NASA Mod-O 200-kW horizontal-axis wind turbine in a one-bladed rotor configuration. The objectives of the test were to evaluate the performance, loads, and dynamic characteristics of a one-bladed rotor, and then to compare these parameters with those of an aerodynamically similar two-bladed rotor configuration. Test operations showed that this intermediate-size (15.2-m radius) one-bladed rotor configuration can be operated successfully. Test results show that the one-bladed rotor had cyclic blade loads comparable to those of a two-bladed rotor. A moderate power penalty equivalent to a reduction in windspeed of 1 m/sec occurred with the one-bladed rotor when operated at a rotor speed 50 percent higher than that of the two-bladed rotor

Study of large adaptive arrays for space technology applications

The research in large adaptive antenna arrays for space technology applications is reported. Specifically two tasks were considered. The first was a system design study for accurate determination of the positions and the frequencies of sources radiating from the earth's surface that could be used for the rapid location of people or vehicles in distress. This system design study led to a nonrigid array about 8 km in size with means for locating the array element positions, receiving signals from the earth and determining the source locations and frequencies of the transmitting sources. It is concluded that this system design is feasible, and satisfies the desired objectives. The second task was an experiment to determine the largest earthbound array which could simulate a spaceborne experiment. It was determined that an 800 ft array would perform indistinguishably in both locations and it is estimated that one several times larger also would serve satisfactorily. In addition the power density spectrum of the phase difference fluctuations across a large array was measured. It was found that the spectrum falls off approximately as f to the minus 5/2 power

Sildenafil Citrate-Restored eNOS and PDE5 Regulation in Sickle Cell Mouse Penis Prevents Priapism Via Control of Oxidative/Nitrosative Stress

Sildenafil citrate revolutionized the practice of sexual medicine upon its federal regulatory agency approval approximately 15 years ago as the prototypical phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibitor indicated for the treatment of male erectile dysfunction. We now provide scientific support for its alternative use in the management of priapism, a clinical disorder of prolonged and uncontrolled penile erection. Sildenafil administered continuously to sickle cell mice, which show a priapism phenotype, reverses oxidative/nitrosative stress effects in the penis, mainly via reversion of uncoupled endothelial nitric oxide synthase to the functional coupled state of the enzyme, which in turn corrects aberrant signaling and function of the nitric oxide/cyclic GMP/protein kinase G/phosphodiesterase type 5 cascade. Priapism tendencies in these mice are reverted partially toward normal neurostimulated erection frequencies and durations after sildenafil treatment in association with normalized cyclic GMP concentration, protein kinase G activity and phosphodiesterase type 5 activity in the penis. Thus, sildenafil exerts pleiotropic effects in the penis that extend to diverse erection disorders. © 2013 Bivalacqua et al