Folded-BISC: a parametric design approach to building integrated solar collectors

The paper discusses an innovative multi-functional façade system with building-integrated solar collectors (BISC) that generates on-site renewable energy, is highly energy efficient, and produces a new vocabulary for sustainable construction. The work includes a preliminary evaluation of the system applied to a doubleskin unitized curtain wall for a re-cladding project on a high-rise building in New York City. The study presents a workflow implementing the latest digital parametric tools, pairing environmental analysis with geometric form finding, so that factors such as solar irradiation, sun angle and sun shading inform a novel and differential façade system tailored to its environment and orientation. Preliminary energy analysis shows approximately 48.5% energy savings, resulting from both the interactive effects of individual energy conservation measures, sun control, and the production of electricity from façade integrated photovoltaics, fulfilling the target of a net-zero lighting retrofit for a Class-A office building

Experimental investigation of cavitation signatures in an automotive torque converter using a microwave telemetry technique

A unique experimental investigation of cavitation signatures in an automotive torque converter under stall conditions is reported. A quantitative criterion is proposed for predicting early and advanced cavitation in terms of suitable nondimensional pump speeds. The dimensionless pump speed that marks early cavitation is obtained by relating this parameter to the appearance of charge-pressure–dependent pressure fluctuations in the differential pressure transducer readings. The differential pressure transducers were mounted at well-defined locations in the pump passage of a torque converter. The data were transmitted by a wireless telemetry system mounted on the pump housing. Data were received and processed by a ground-based data acquisition system. Automatic transmission fluid exhibited cavitation for charge pressures of 70–130 psi and pump speeds of 1000– 2250 rpm. Advanced cavitation was marked by operating conditions that exhibited a 2% or more torque degradation from the converter\u27s noncavitating performance. For a given family of torque-converter designs and a given transmission fluid, the proposed nondimensional pumpspeed criteria are capable of marking early and advanced stages of cavitation for a range of torque-converter sizes and a range of charge pressures in the torque converter

Experimental investigation of cavitation signatures in an automotive torque converter using a microwave telemetry technique

A unique experimental investigation of cavitation signatures in an automotive torque converter under stall conditions is reported. A quantitative criterion is proposed for predicting early and advanced cavitation in terms of suitable nondimensional pump speeds. The dimensionless pump speed that marks early cavitation is obtained by relating this parameter to the appearance of charge-pressure–dependent pressure fluctuations in the differential pressure transducer readings. The differential pressure transducers were mounted at well-defined locations in the pump passage of a torque converter. The data were transmitted by a wireless telemetry system mounted on the pump housing. Data were received and processed by a ground-based data acquisition system. Automatic transmission fluid exhibited cavitation for charge pressures of 70–130 psi and pump speeds of 1000– 2250 rpm. Advanced cavitation was marked by operating conditions that exhibited a 2% or more torque degradation from the converter\u27s noncavitating performance. For a given family of torque-converter designs and a given transmission fluid, the proposed nondimensional pumpspeed criteria are capable of marking early and advanced stages of cavitation for a range of torque-converter sizes and a range of charge pressures in the torque converter

Uniaxial stretch-induced regulation of mitogen-activated protein kinase, Akt and p70S6 kinase in the ageing Fischer 344 × Brown Norway rat aorta

The effects of ageing on the cardiovascular system contribute to substantial alterations in cellular morphology and function. The variables regulating these changes are unknown; however, one set of signalling molecules that may be of particular importance in mediating numerous cellular responses, including control of cell growth, differentiation and adaptation, are the proteins associated with the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signalling systems. The MAPKs, in conjunction with the p70 S6k signalling cascade, have emerged as critical components for regulating numerous mechanotransduction-related cellular responses. Here we investigate the ability of uniaxial stretch to activate the MAPK and p70 S6k pathways in adult (6-month-old), aged (30-month-old) and very aged (36-month-old) Fischer 344/NNiaHSd × Brown Norway/BiNia (FBN) rats. Western blotting of the MAPK family proteins extracellular signal-regulated kinase (Erk) 1/2, p38- and c-Jun NH2-terminal kinase (Jnk)-MAPKs showed differential expression and activation between these proteins with age. An acute 15 min interval of 20% uniaxial stretch using an ex vivo aortic preparation demonstrated similar regulation of Erk1/2, p38- and Jnk-MAPK. However, ageing altered uniaxial induced p70 S6k pathway signalling. These observations confirm previous data demonstrating that MAPK proteins are mechanically regulated and also suggest that p70 S6k signalling expression and activation are controlled differently with ageing. Taken together, these data may help to explain, in part, the age-related changes in vascular morphology, function and response to injury

Fireside corrosion testing of candidate superheater tube alloys, coatings, and claddings -- Phase 2 field testing

In Phase 1 of this project, laboratory experiments were performed on a variety of developmental and commercial tubing alloys and claddings by exposing them to fireside corrosion tests which simulated a superheater or reheater in a coal-fired boiler. Phase 2 (in situ testing) has exposed samples of 347, RA85H, HR3C, RA253MA, Fe{sub 3}Al + 5Cr, Ta-modified 310, NF 709, 690 clad, 671 clad, and 800HT for up to approximately 16,000 hours to the actual operating conditions of a 250-MW, coal-fired boiler. The samples were installed on air-cooled, retractable corrosion probes, installed in the reheater cavity, and controlled to the operating metal temperatures of an existing and advanced-cycle, coal-fired boiler. Samples of each alloy were exposed for 4,483, 11,348, and 15,883 hours of operation. The present results are for the metallurgical examination of the corrosion probe samples after the full 15,883 hours of exposure. A previous topical report has been issued for the 4,483 hours of exposure

Attack of superheater tube alloys, coatings, and claddings by coal-ash corrosion

Twenty stainless steels, nickel alloys, claddings, and intermetallics have been evaluated for resistance to coal-ash attack. Six series of test conducted to determine effects of two gas and three ash compositions at 650 and 700C (1202 and 1292F) for times up to 800 hours

Diabetes alters vascular mechanotransduction: pressure-induced regulation of mitogen activated protein kinases in the rat inferior vena cava

BACKGROUND: Diabetes mellitus is an important risk factor for increased vein graft failure after bypass surgery. However, the cellular and molecular mechanism(s) underlying vessel attrition in this population remain largely unexplored. Recent reports have suggested that the pathological remodeling of vein grafts may be mediated by mechanically-induced activation of the mitogen activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling pathways and the MAPK-related induction of caspase-3 activity. On the basis of these findings, we hypothesized that diabetes may be associated with alterations in how veins "sense" and "respond" to altered mechanical loading. METHODS: Inferior venae cavae (IVC) from the non-diabetic lean (LNZ) and the diabetic obese (OSXZ) Zucker rats were isolated and incubated ex vivo under basal or pressurized conditions (120 mmHg). Protein expression, basal activation and the ability of increased pressure to activate MAPK pathways and apoptosis-related signaling was evaluated by immunoblot analysis. RESULTS: Immunoblot analyses revealed differential expression and activation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK1/2), p38 and c-Jun NH2-terminal kinase (JNK) MAPKs in the IVCs of diabetic rats as compared to non-diabetic rats. In particular, the expression and basal phosphorylation of p38β- (52.3 ± 11.8%; 45.8 ± 18.2%), JNK 1- (21.5 ± 9.3%; 19.4 ± 11.6%) and JNK3-MAPK (16.8 ± 3.3%; 29.5 ± 17.6%) were significantly higher (P < 0.05) in the diabetic vena cava. An acute increase in IVC intraluminal pressure failed to increase the phosphorylation of ERK1-, JNK-2, or any of the p38-MAPKs in the diabetic obese Zucker rats. Also, IVC loading in the LNZ led to a 276.0 ± 36.0% and 85.8 ± 25.1% (P < 0.05) increase in the cleavage of caspase-3 and caspase-9, respectively, with no effect on these molecules in the OSXZ. No differences were found in the regulation of Bax and Bcl-2 between groups. However, basal expression levels of Akt, phospho-Akt, PTEN, phospho-PTEN and phospho-Bad were higher in the diabetic venae cavae (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: These data suggest that diabetes is associated with significant alteration in the ability of the vena cava to activate MAPK- and apoptosis-related signaling. Whether these changes are associated with the increased vein graft attrition seen in the diabetic population will require further investigation

Diabetes Alters Contraction-Induced Mitogen Activated Protein Kinase Activation in the Rat Soleus and Plantaris

The prescription of anaerobic exercise has recently been advocated for the management of diabetes; however exercise-induced signaling in diabetic muscle remains largely unexplored. Evidence from exercise studies in nondiabetics suggests that the extracellular-signal-regulated kinases (Erk1/2), p38, and c-JUN NH2-terminal kinase (Jnk) mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) are important regulators of muscle adaptation. Here, we compare the basal and the in situ contraction-induced phosphorylation of Erk1/2- p38- and Jnk-MAPK and their downstream targets (p90rsk and MAPKAP-K2) in the plantaris and soleus muscles of normal and obese (fa/fa) Zucker rats. Compared to lean animals, the time course and magnitude of Erk1/2, p90rsk and p38 phosphorylation to a single bout of contractile stimuli were greater in the plantaris of obese animals. Jnk phosphorylation in response to contractile stimuli was muscle-type dependent with greater increases in the plantaris than the soleus. These results suggest that diabetes alters intramuscular signaling processes in response to a contractile stimulus

Diabetes Alters Contraction-Induced Mitogen Activated Protein Kinase Activation in the Rat Soleus and Plantaris

The prescription of anaerobic exercise has recently been advocated for the management of diabetes; however exercise-induced signaling in diabetic muscle remains largely unexplored. Evidence from exercise studies in nondiabetics suggests that the extracellular-signal-regulated kinases (Erk1/2), p38, and c-JUN NH2-terminal kinase (Jnk) mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) are important regulators of muscle adaptation. Here, we compare the basal and the in situ contraction-induced phosphorylation of Erk1/2- p38- and Jnk-MAPK and their downstream targets (p90rsk and MAPKAP-K2) in the plantaris and soleus muscles of normal and obese (fa/fa) Zucker rats. Compared to lean animals, the time course and magnitude of Erk1/2, p90rsk and p38 phosphorylation to a single bout of contractile stimuli were greater in the plantaris of obese animals. Jnk phosphorylation in response to contractile stimuli was muscle-type dependent with greater increases in the plantaris than the soleus. These results suggest that diabetes alters intramuscular signaling processes in response to a contractile stimulus

Predicting the Onset of Cavitation in Automotive Torque Converters—Part II: A Generalized Model

The objective of this investigation was to develop a dimensionless model for predicting the onset of cavitation in torque converters applicable to general converter designs. Dimensional analysis was applied to test results from a matrix of torque converters that ranged from populations comprised of strict geometric similitude to those with more relaxed similarities onto inclusion of all the torque converters tested. Stator torque thresholds at the onset of cavitation for the stall operating condition were experimentally determined with a dynamometer test cell using nearfield acoustical measurements. Cavitation torques, design parameters, and operating conditions were resolved into a set of dimensionless quantities for use in the development of dimensionless empirical models. A systematic relaxation of the fundamental principle of dimensional analysis, geometric similitude, was undertaken to present empirical models applicable to torque converter designs of increasingly diverse design parameters. A stepwise linear regression technique coupled with response surface methodology was utilized to produce an empirical model capable of predicting stator torque at the onset of cavitation with less than 7% error for general automotive torque converter designs