Significance of thermal contact resistance in two-layer thermal-barrier-coated turbine vanes

The importance of thermal contact resistance between layers in heat transfer through two layer, plasma sprayed, thermal barrier coatings applied to turbine vanes was investigated. Results obtained with a system of NiCrAlY bond and yttria stabilized zirconia ceramic show that thermal contact resistance between layers is negligible. These results also verified other studies which showed that thermal contact resistance is negligible for a different coating system of NiCr bond calcia stabilized zirconia ceramic. The zirconia stabilized ceramic thermal conductivity data scatter presented in the literature is ?20 to -10 percent about a curve fit of the data. More accurate predictions of heat transfer and metal wall temperatures are obtained when the thermal conductivity values are used at the ?20 percent level

Measured and calculated wall temperatures on air-cooled turbine vanes with boundary layer transition

Convection cooled turbine vane metal wall temperatures experimentally obtained in a hot cascade for one vane design were compared with wall temperatures calculated with TACT1 and STAN5 computer codes which incorporated various models for predicting laminar-to-turbulent boundary layer transition. Favorable comparisons on both vane surface were obtained at high Reynolds number with only one of these transition models. When other models were used, temperature differences between calculated and experimental data obtained at the high Reynolds number were as much as 14 percent in the separation bubble region of the pressure surface. On the suction surface and at lower Reynolds number, predictions and data unsatisfactorily differed by as much as 22 percent. Temperature differences of this magnitude can represent orders of magnitude error in blade life prediction

The Somalia Operation: Report on Feeding and Nutrition in the Refugee Camps

Review of UNHCR operations in Somalia from 24 March to 6 April 1980. Studies of International relief organizations. (12) Disaster studies (Specific Disasters) (90) Administrative Case Studies. Relief Administration Case Studies. (199.1) Country Profiles. (801.4H)The digital Cuny Archive was made available in part through funding assistance from USAID.INTERTEC

Intrinsic water transport in moisture-capturing hydrogels

Moisture-capturing hydrogels have emerged as attractive sorbent materials capable of converting ambient humidity into liquid water. Recent works have demonstrated exceptional water capture capabilities of hydrogels, while simultaneously, exploring different strategies to accelerate water capture and release. However, on the material level, an understanding of the intrinsic transport properties of moisture-capturing hydrogels is currently missing, which hinders their rational design. In this work, we combine absorption and desorption experiments of macroscopic hydrogel samples in pure-vapor with models of water diffusion in the hydrogels to demonstrate the first measurements of the intrinsic water diffusion coefficient in hydrogel-salt composites. Based on these insights, we pattern hydrogels with micropores to significantly decrease the required absorption and desorption time by 19% and 72%, respectively, while reducing the total water capacity of the hydrogel by only 4%. Thereby, we provide an effective strategy towards hydrogel material optimization, with a particular significance in pure-vapor environments

Frequent somatic mutations of GNAQ in uveal melanoma and blue naevi.

BRAF and NRAS are common targets for somatic mutations in benign and malignant neoplasms that arise from melanocytes situated in epithelial structures, and lead to constitutive activation of the mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase pathway. However, BRAF and NRAS mutations are absent in a number of other melanocytic neoplasms in which the equivalent oncogenic events are currently unknown. Here we report frequent somatic mutations in the heterotrimeric G protein alpha-subunit, GNAQ, in blue naevi (83%) and ocular melanoma of the uvea (46%). The mutations occur exclusively in codon 209 in the Ras-like domain and result in constitutive activation, turning GNAQ into a dominant acting oncogene. Our results demonstrate an alternative route to MAP kinase activation in melanocytic neoplasia, providing new opportunities for therapeutic intervention

A 6-Year Experience of Laser Treatments for Burn Scars in a Regional Burn Center-Safety, Efficacy, and Quality Improvement

Laser treatments have long been used as a treatment method for burn scars. Since 2012, more than 1800 laser treatments were performed at Lehigh Valley Health Network Burn Center, far exceeding any previous cohort in studies exploring laser treatments for burn scars. Although previous research has looked at improving scar appearance and physiology with laser treatments, very few have focused on safety. The purpose of the study was to determine whether laser treatments are a safe treatment option for burn scars. Four hundred and fourteen patients who had undergone at least one laser treatment in the outpatient burn center since 2012 were analyzed. Electronic medical records (EPIC) were reviewed. The data were entered in REDCap and later exported to Microsoft Excel and R Studio for statistical analysis. Most of the complications found were related to the moderate sedation during the procedures and were mild, ie, nausea. The most common adverse effect was prolonged recovery time, which can affect practice flow. The overall postoperative complication rate for laser treatments with and without moderate sedation was minimal at 2.2% and 1.4%, respectively. Pain during and after the procedure averaged 3.9 and 1.7, respectively, on a 1 to 10 scale. The Vancouver Scar Scale showed modest improvement in scar appearance over time with an average improvement of 1.4. The high variability of the Vancouver Scar Scale observed in this series underlines its lack of sensitivity. The study results show that laser treatments for burn scars in the outpatient setting generally are safe for patients in need of burn scar intervention. Some practice flow adjustments need to be taken into consideration when offering these procedures in an outpatient setting

The Somalia Operation: Summary of Lessons Learned and Implications for UNHCR Emergency Preparedness and Response

Review of UNHCR operations in Somalia from 24 March to 6 April 1980. Studies of International relief organizations. (12) Disaster studies (Specific Disasters) (90) Administrative Case Studies. Relief Administration Case Studies. (199.1) Country Profiles. (801.4H)The digital Cuny Archive was made available in part through funding assistance from USAID.INTERTEC

The Somalia Operation: A Case Study of UNHCR Emergency Preparedness.

Review of UNHCR operations in Somalia from 24 March to 6 April 1980. Studies of International relief organizations. (12) Disaster studies (Specific Disasters) (90) Administrative Case Studies. Relief Administration Case Studies. (199.1) Country Profiles. (801.4H)The digital Cuny Archive was made available in part through funding assistance from USAID.INTERTEC