Performance Back-deduction from a Loading to Flow Coefficient Map: Application to Radial Turbine

Radial turbine stages are often used for applications requiring off-design operation, as turbocharging for instance. The off-design ability of such stages is commonly analyzed through the traditional turbine map, plotting the reduced mass-flow against the pressure-ratio, for reduced-speed lines. However, some alternatives are possible, such as the flow-coefficient (Ψ ) to loading-coefficient (φ) diagram where the pressure-ratio lines are actually straight lines, very convenient property to perform prediction. A robust method re-creating this map from a predicted Ψ−φ diagram is needed. Recent work has shown that this back-deduction quality, without the use of any loss models, depends on the knowledge of an intermediate pressure-ratio. A modelization of this parameter is then proposed. The comparison with both experimental and CFD results is presented, with quite good agreement for mass flow rate and rotational speed, and for the intermediate pressure ratio. The last part of the paper is dedicated to the application of the intermediate pressure-ratio knowledge to the improvement of the deduction of the pressure ratio lines in the Ψ−φ diagram. Beside this improvement, the back-deduction method of the classical map is structured, applied and evaluated

Alligator Diet in Relation to Alligator Mortality on Lake Griffin, FL

Alligator mississippiensis (American Alligators) demonstrated low hatchrate success and increased adult mortality on Lake Griffin, FL, between 1998 and 2003. Dying Lake Griffin alligators with symptoms of poor motor coordination were reported to show specific neurological impairment and brain lesions. Similar lesions were documented in salmonines that consumed clupeids with high thiaminase levels. Therefore, we investigated the diet of Lake Griffin alligators and compared it with alligator diets from two lakes that exhibited relatively low levels of unexplained alligator mortality to see if consumption of Dorosoma cepedianum (gizzard shad) could be correlated with patterns of mortality. Shad in both lakes Griffin and Apopka had high levels of thiaminase and Lake Apopka alligators were consuming greater amounts of shad relative to Lake Griffin without showing mortality rates similar to Lake Griffin alligators. Therefore, a relationship between shad consumption alone and alligator mortality is not supported

Interdependence of Bad and Puma during Ionizing-Radiation-Induced Apoptosis

Ionizing radiation (IR)-induced DNA double-strand breaks trigger an extensive cellular signaling response that involves the coordination of hundreds of proteins to regulate DNA repair, cell cycle arrest and apoptotic pathways. The cellular outcome often depends on the level of DNA damage as well as the particular cell type. Proliferating zebrafish embryonic neurons are highly sensitive to IR-induced apoptosis, and both p53 and its transcriptional target puma are essential mediators of the response. The BH3-only protein Puma has previously been reported to activate mitochondrial apoptosis through direct interaction with the pro-apoptotic Bcl-2 family proteins Bax and Bak, thus constituting the role of an “activator” BH3-only protein. This distinguishes it from BH3-only proteins like Bad that are thought to indirectly promote apoptosis through binding to anti-apoptotic Bcl-2 family members, thereby preventing the sequestration of activator BH3-only proteins and allowing them to directly interact with and activate Bax and Bak. We have shown previously that overexpression of the BH3-only protein Bad in zebrafish embryos supports normal embryonic development but greatly sensitizes developing neurons to IR-induced apoptosis. While Bad has previously been shown to play only a minor role in promoting IR-induced apoptosis of T cells in mice, we demonstrate that Bad is essential for robust IR-induced apoptosis in zebrafish embryonic neural tissue. Moreover, we found that both p53 and Puma are required for Bad-mediated radiosensitization in vivo. Our findings show the existence of a hierarchical interdependence between Bad and Puma whereby Bad functions as an essential sensitizer and Puma as an essential activator of IR-induced mitochondrial apoptosis specifically in embryonic neural tissue

Passion, craving, and affect in online gaming: Predicting how gamers feel when playing and when prevented from playing

According to the Dualistic Model of Passion, two forms of passion can motivate a behavior: harmonious passion and obsessive passion. Across various life activities, studies have found that the two forms of passion show different relationships with affect, linking harmonious passion to positive affect and obsessive passion to negative affect. To investigate if this pattern also holds for online gaming, the present study investigated 160 gamers involved in playing massively multiplayer online role-playing games (MMOs) and examined positive and negative affect (a) when playing and (b) when prevented from playing. In addition, the effects of general affect and craving for playing MMOs were controlled for. Results were as expected from the Dualistic Model of Passion: Harmonious passion for online gaming predicted positive affect when playing whereas obsessive passion predicted negative affect when playing and when prevented from playing. Moreover, these effects remained unchanged when general affect and craving were controlled for. With this, the present research shows that individual differences in passion for online gaming explain unique variance in gaming-related emotions. Moreover, the present findings suggests that craving is a variable that future research on positive and negative affect in online gaming should pay closer attention to

On Passion and Sports Fans:A Look at Football

The purpose of the present research was to test the applicability of the Dualistic Model of Passion (Vallerand et al., 2003) to being a sport (football) fan. The model posits that passion is a strong inclination toward an activity that individuals like (or even love), that they value, and in which they invest time and energy. Furthermore, two types of passion are proposed: harmonious and obsessive passion. While obsessive passion entails an uncontrollable urge to engage in the passionate activity, harmonious passion entails a sense of volition while engaging in the activity. Finally, the model posits that harmonious passion leads to more adaptive outcomes than obsessive passion. Three studies provided support for this dualistic conceptualization of passion. Study 1 showed that harmonious passion was positively associated with adaptive behaviours (e.g., celebrate the team’s victory), while obsessive passion was rather positively associated with maladaptive behaviours (e.g., to risk losing one’s employment to go to the team’s game). Study 2 used a short Passion Scale and showed that harmonious passion was positively related to the positive affective life of fans during the 2006 FIFA World Cup, psychological health (self-esteem and life satisfaction), and public displays of adaptive behaviours (e.g., celebrating one’s team victory in the streets), while obsessive passion was predictive of maladaptive affective life (e.g., hating opposing team’s fans) and behaviours (e.g., mocking the opposing team’s fans). Finally, Study 3 examined the role of obsessive passion as a predictor of partner’s conflict that in turn undermined partner’s relationship satisfaction. Overall, the present results provided support for the Dualistic Model of Passion. The conceptual and applied implications of the findings are discussed

Alien Registration- Carbonneau, Marie A. (Lewiston, Androscoggin County)

https://digitalmaine.com/alien_docs/29783/thumbnail.jp

Alien Registration- Carbonneau, Louis A. (Lewiston, Androscoggin County)

https://digitalmaine.com/alien_docs/29782/thumbnail.jp

A multicriteria climatic classification system for grape-growing regions worldwide.

resumo Este estudo refere-se em primeiro lugar, a metodologia para descrever o clima de vinhedos, em uma escala de macroclimate regiões vitícolas em todo o mundo. Três índices climáticos vitícolas sintéticos e complementares (potencial balanço hídrico do solo ao longo do ciclo de crescimento, condições heliothermal sobre a crescente temperatura do ciclo e de noite durante a maturação), são utilizados, validados como descritores: (1) índice de secura (DI), que corresponde a o balanço hídrico potencial do solo do índice de Riou, aqui adaptado usando condições precisas para calculá-lo, como um indicador do nível de presença-ausência de secura; (2) índice de heliothermal (HI) que corresponde ao índice de heliothermal Huglin; (3) índice noite fresca (CI) um índice desenvolvido como um indicador das condições de temperatura durante a noite de maturação. Estes índices são representativos da variabilidade do clima vitícola em todo o mundo, relacionada com os requisitos de qualidade, variedades vindima (açúcar, cor, aroma) e typeness dos vinhos. A multicritério Sistema de Classificação Climática (Geovitícola MCC System) para as regiões produtoras de uvas em todo o mundo é formulada com base em classes para cada um dos três índices climáticos, com elementos para explicar os resultados. Três conceitos formulados fornecem a base do sistema: o clima vitícola, grupo climático e clima vitícola com a variabilidade intra-anual (para regiões quentes com mais de uma safra por ano, em condições climáticas naturais). A aplicação do Geovitícola multicritério Sistema de Classificação Climática é apresentado para 97 regiões vitícolas em 29 países. O sistema é uma ferramenta de pesquisa para a uva-crescimento e zoneamento vitivinícola. Ele também permite o trabalho em diferentes níveis da escala, em escala mundial ou maior - a região cultivo de uvas grandes, a região cultivo de uvas pequenas, como mostram os estudos realizados. Ele permite relacionar o clima vitícola para os elementos de qualidade da uva e do typeness dos vinhos considerando a zona climática. Abstract This study concerns firstly the methodology to describe the climate of vineyards, on a macroclimate scale of viticultural regions worldwide. Three synthetic and complementary viticultural climatic indices (potential water balance of the soil over the growing cycle, heliothermal conditions over the growing cycle and night temperature during maturation), validated as descriptors, are used: (1) dryness index (DI) which corresponds to the potential water balance of the soil of Riou?s index, here adapted using precise conditions to calculate it, as an indicator of the level of presence-absence of dryness; (2) heliothermal index (HI) which corresponds to Huglin?s heliothermal index; (3) cool night index (CI) an index developed as an indicator of night temperature conditions during maturation. These indices are representative of the variability of the viticultural climate worldwide, related to the requirements of varieties, vintage quality (sugar, colour, aroma), and typeness of the wines. A Multicriteria Climatic Classification System (Géoviticulture MCC System) for the grape-growing regions worldwide is formulated based on classes for each of the three climate indices, with elements to explain the results. Three formulated concepts provide the system base: viticultural climate, climatic group and viticultural climate with intra-annual variability (for warm regions with more than one harvest a year in natural climate conditions). The application of the Géoviticulture Multicriteria Climatic Classification System is presented for 97 grape-growing regions in 29 countries. The system is a research tool for grape-growing and wine-making zoning. It also enables work at different levels on the scale, on a world-wide scale or larger ? the large grape-growing region, the small grape-growing region, as shown by the studies performed. It allows relating the viticultural climate to the elements of grape quality and the typeness of the wines considering the climatic zone

Influence of water deficits on grape berry growth

The effects of early and late water deficits on pericarp cell division and enlargement of Syrah berries (Vitis vinifera L.) was determined by DNA extraction and quantification. Different periods and different levels of water deficit were applied between anthesis and maturity to grapevines growing under controlled water supply in two consecutive years. DNA extraction profiles showed that water deficit did not affect cell division. Reduction of berry size and berry weight was caused exclusively by a decrease of pericarp volume, independent of the intensity of the water deficit or the stage of berry development. Decreased cell volume as a result of an early water deficit from flowering to veraison was irreversible. These results support the hypothesis that early water deficits modify the structural properties of the cell components and consequently cell wall extensibility, thereby limiting the subsequent enlargement of pericarp cells.