The effect of prewhirl on the internal aerodynamics and performance of a mixed flow research centrifugal compressor

The internal three-dimensional steady and time-varying flow through the diffusing elements of a centrifugal impeller were investigated using a moderate scale, subsonic, mixed flow research compressor facility. The characteristics of the test facility which permit the measurement of internal flow conditions throughout the entire research compressor and radial diffuser for various operating conditions are described. Results are presented in the form of graphs and charts to cover a range of mass flow rates with inlet guide vane settings varying from minus 15 degrees to plus 45 degrees. The static pressure distributions in the compressor inlet section and on the impeller and exit diffuser vanes, as well as the overall pressure and temperature rise and mass flow rate, were measured and analyzed at each operating point to determine the overall performance as well as the detailed aerodynamics throughout the compressor

Forecast accuracy and monetary policy

An examination of GNP forecasts and their implications for monetary policy, showing that although such forecasts have lessened uncertainty about the economy's future course, the errors are still too large to justify basing monetary policy on the near-term GNP outlook alone.Monetary policy ; Forecasting

Comparing inflation expectations of households and economists: is a little knowledge a dangerous thing?

A comparison of the performance of forecasts by economists (the Livingston survey), households (the Michigan Survey of Consumer Finances), and a time series model (ARIMA).Rational expectations (Economic theory) ; Inflation (Finance) ; Forecasting

Integrating Green Infrastructure Into Stormwater Policy: Reliability, Watershed Management, and Environmental Psychology as Holistic Tools for Success

As cities continue to expand, the issues of flood control and urban water quality have become major modern sustainability challenges. Green infrastructure—the use of nature-based solutions to target, treat, and store stormwater at its source—has emerged as a possible solution. While green infrastructure does offer multiple benefits for urban users, its performance is also highly variable. This Article addresses a key gap in existing literature by explicitly addressing how uncertainty in environmental and anthropogenic factors affects green infrastructure performance and integration within the Clean Water Act’s municipal separate storm sewer (MS4) regulatory program

Velocity map imaging of femtosecond laser induced photoelectron emission from metal nanotips

A novel application of velocity-map imaging (VMI) is demonstrated, whereby the momentum distribution of photoelectrons ejected from a tungsten nanoscale metal tip (< 50 nm radius) is recorded following illumination with an ultrafast laser pulse. The electrostatic conditions in the VMI instrument are optimized through finite element modelling, taking into account a physically realistic geometry including all conductive elements in the vicinity of the electron trajectories. The instrument is calibrated by observing above threshold ionization in krypton gas, and simultaneous electron emission from this gas and a tungsten nanotip is presented, illustrating that the velocity mapping condition is maintained. Realizing photoelectron VMI for femtosecond laser illuminated nanoscale objects will have a significant impact on the emerging field of ultrafast nanoplasmonics and will influence the development of such devices as a source of coherent pulses of electrons with applications in time-resolved microscopy, holography and diffractive imaging

Phenotypic and proteomic analysis of 5-Fluorouracil treated normal and carcinoma cells

The anti-metabolite - 5-Fluorouracil (5-FU) - is the most widely used chemotherapeutic drug. It exerts its anti cancer effect through incorporation into DNA and RNA. Characterisation of this drugs mode of action is crucial in the development of future therapies. There have been many DNA microarray experiments performed in order to gain such information. However, only two proteomic experiments have been performed to date that look at the effect of 5-FU treatment. Here the proteomic alterations induced by IC8o 5-FU treatment of normal and cancer cells of epithelial origin of the lung and breast are investigated. These cell lines include a lung adenocarcinoma (A549), a non small cell lung carcinoma cell line (DLKP), normal bronchial epithelial cell line (NHBE), a breast adenocarcinoma (MCF-7) and human mammary epithelial cells (HMEC). Phenotypes were characterised and 5-FU was found to induce and reduce invasion in various cell lines. Adherence was altered in one of the three cancer cell lines to the extracellular matrix proteins collagen type IV and fibronectin. Differential regulated proteins were quantified using 2 dimensional difference gel electrophoresis (2D-DIGE) and differentially regulated proteins were identified using matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time of flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-ToF MS). Data shows the NHBE showed a dose dependent response to 5-FU treatment. Proteins that were found regulated are discussed in terms of microtubule dynamics and future drug combinations, translation control and stress, cytosketetal dynamics and invasion, and inhibition of apoptosis. 5-Fluorouracil is being increasing replaced in clinical trials with 3rd generation 5-FU drugs such as capecitabine. Capecitabine is converted in the liver to 5-fluoro-5’- deoxyuridine (55FdU) and this is converted to 5-FU by thymidine phosphorylase whose over expression is induced by radiotherapy. 5-FU is converted to 5-fluoro-2’- deoxyuridine in the cytoplasm. A comparison using 2D-DIGE between DLKP treated 5-FU and the fluoropyrimidines - 52FdU and 55FdU at ICgo cocentrations to determine similar proteomic alterations. Results demonstrated that the down regulation of Stathmin as a common fluoropyrimidine response. Furthermore this data may indicate a role for the use of vinca alkoloids or taxanes in combination with 5-FU. Resistance to 5-FU is a major clinical problem as mediated predominantly by over expression of Thymidylate Synthetase. A variant of DLKP was generated by pulse selection with 55FdU and showed a ~4 fold resistance to 5-FU. Proteomic analysis using 2D-DIGE identified several proteins involved in uracil metabolism and oxidative metabolism differentially regulated between DLKP and DLKP-55. DLKP is a heterogeneous cell line composed of at least three subpopulations. These subpopulations were isolated and were assigned the names DLKP-SQ, DLKP-I and DLKP-M. In this thesis data is presented demonstrating highly significant differences in motility and invasion between the clonal subpopulation. Analysis of proteomic alteration was carried out using 2D-DIGE on both the total cell lysate and the hydrophobic proteomes. Proteins were identified in the total cell lysates that suggest that DLKP-M is mesenchymal-like in nature as originally described and that the interconversion process observed between the clones is regulated at least by key proteins involved in protein metabolism. Analysis of the hydrophobic proteome found at least 300 proteins that correlated with motility/invasion and collagen synthesis. Identification of these proteins demonstrated increased association of microfilaments to the cellular membranes a process important in cellular motility. Furthermore 3 poorly described proteins were identified that correlated with motility/invasion and collagen synthesis. In addition data generated by these experiments indicates that fluoropyrimidine treatment of DLKP does not result in the selection of one of the subpopulations of DLKP and that DLKP-55 is not a subpopulation of DLKP. Data also shows the presence of protein in the heterogeneous population that are not present or are over expressed in the clonal populations indicating cell-cell communication

TRANSITION AND FOOD CONSUMPTION

This paper examines why transition from planned to market economies in the countries of the former Soviet bloc has changed their mix and volumes of food consumption. During transition, consumption of high value products, such as meat and dairy products, has plummeted, while consumption of staple foods such as bread and potatoes has remained steady, or even increased. The paper shows that in the pre-reform planned economy, planners "desired" the production and national consumption of high value (and cost) foodstuffs more than consumers. When market reform resulted in consumer prices adjusting to reflect the full cost of production, consumer demand switched from high cost foods to other goods and services. The demand-driven nature of food restructuring in these countries has implications for food security, reinforcing the argument that any food security problems are not mainly the result of inadequate aggregate supplies of agricultural products.Food Consumption/Nutrition/Food Safety,