Joining lead wires to thin platinum alloy films

A two step process of joining a lead wire to .000002 m thick platinum alloy film which rests upon an equally thin alumina insulating layer which is adhered to a metal substrate is described. Typically the platinum alloy film forms part of a thermocouple for measuring the surface temperature of a gas turbine airfoil. In the first step the lead wire is deformed 30 to 60% at room temperature while the characteristic one million ohm resistance of the alumina insulating layer is monitored for degradation. In the second step the cold pressed assembly is heated at 865 to 1025 C for 4 to 75 hr in air. During the heating step any degradation of insulating layer resistance may be reversed, provided the resistance was not decreased below 100 ohm in the cold pressing

Turbine Blade Temperature Measurements Using Thin Film Temperature Sensors

The development of thin film temperature sensors is discussed. The technology for sputtering 2 micron thin film platinum versus platinum 10 percent rhodium thermocouples on alumina forming coatings was improved and extended to applications on actual turbine blades. Good adherence was found to depend upon achieving a proper morphology of the alumina surface. Problems of adapting fabrication procedures to turbine blades were uncovered, and improvements were recommended. Testing at 1250 K at one atmosphere pressure was then extended to a higher Mach No. (0.5) in combustor flow for 60 hours and 71 thermal cycles. The mean time to failure was 47 hours accumulated during 1 hour exposures in the combustor. Calibration drift was about 0.1 percent per hour, attributable to oxidation of the rhodium in the thin films. An increase in film thickness and application of a protective overcoat are recommended to reduce drift in actual engine testing

Multiple endocytic pathways of G protein-coupled receptors delineated by GIT1 sensitivity.

Recently, we identified a GTPase-activating protein for the ADP ribosylation factor family of small GTP-binding proteins that we call GIT1. This protein initially was identified as an interacting partner for the G protein-coupled receptor kinases, and its overexpression was found to affect signaling and internalization of the prototypical beta(2)-adrenergic receptor. Here, we report that GIT1 overexpression regulates internalization of numerous, but not all, G protein-coupled receptors. The specificity of the GIT1 effect is not related to the type of G protein to which a receptor couples, but rather to the endocytic route it uses. GIT1 only affects the function of G protein-coupled receptors that are internalized through the clathrin-coated pit pathway in a beta-arrestin- and dynamin-sensitive manner. Furthermore, the GIT1 effect is not limited to G protein-coupled receptors because overexpression of this protein also affects internalization of the epidermal growth factor receptor. However, constitutive agonist-independent internalization is not regulated by GIT1, because transferrin uptake is not affected by GIT1 overexpression. Thus, GIT1 is a protein involved in regulating the function of signaling receptors internalized through the clathrin pathway and can be used as a diagnostic tool for defining the endocytic pathway of a receptor

Modèle technico-économique pour le transport conjoint d'hydrogène cryogénique et d'électricité par câble supraconducteur

RÉSUMÉ: Le terme «superlien», utilisé dans ce mémoire, vient décrire un corridor bi-énergie haute puissance, combinant au sein d’un même système un pipeline d’hydrogène cryogénique refroidissant un câble de transport électrique supraconducteur (CTSC). La synergie évidente entre les deux vecteurs énergétiques motive une analyse technico-économique de leur combinaison. En effet, à travers la cryogénie, les coûts énergétiques et d’infrastructures pour la densification de l’hydrogène et le maintien de la condition supraconductrice se recoupent mutuellement. Pour faire cette analyse, un modèle technico-économique, couvrant le «superlien» proposé (cryostat et câble supraconducteur) et ses infrastructures auxiliaires de cryogénie, est développé est détaillé. Une analyse segmentée des sous-parties du modèle (cryo-compression initiale de l’hydrogène, câble supraconducteur, station de réfrigération, etc.) établit un premier jet de résultats, dits «haut-niveau». Ceux-ci présentent, entre-autre, les contraintes au niveau des investissements nécessaires et de l’empreinte au sol des infrastructures auxiliaires de cryogénie, le profil des investissements pour le superlien (changeant avec le type de conception et la proportion des puissances transmises) et la limite énergétique à la revalorisation du froid livré dans l’hydrogène. Les résultats «haut-niveau» dégagent des intuitions de conceptions permettant de définir, parmi le vaste ensemble de possibilités, un sous-ensemble de configurations spécifiques à approfondir et analyser. Ces configurations sont décrites en détails dans des fiches techniques rassemblant les paramètres nécessaires à la description de la configuration elle-même, les paramètres définissant l’opération du superlien, les puissances de réfrigérations associées, les investissements pour le lien et les infrastructures cryogéniques auxiliaires, ainsi que leur somme totale, normalisée par une métrique de puissance transmise. L’information contenue clarifie et nuance la proposition du désengorgement de postes électriques urbains par ce type d’infrastructure, souligne des choix de configurations et des régimes d’opérations avantageux et fournit des valeurs énergétiques et économiques concrètes, appuyées sur un modèle documenté et transparent. ABSTRACT: The term “superlink”, used in this master thesis, describes a high-power dual-energy corridor combining, within the same system, a cryogenic hydrogen pipeline cooling a superconducting electrical transmission cable. The obvious synergy between the two energy vectors motivates a techno-economic analysis of their combination. Indeed, through cryogenics, the energy and infrastructure costs for hydrogen densification and the maintainance of the superconducting condition overlap. To carry out this analysis, a techno-economic model, covering the proposed “superlink” (a cryostat and a superconducting cable) and its auxiliary cryogenic infrastructures, is developed and detailed. A segmented analysis of the sub-parts of the model (initial cryo-compression of hydrogen, superconducting cable, refrigeration station, etc.) establishes a first draft of results, called “high-level”. These present, among other things, the constraints in terms of the necessary investments and the spatial footprint of the auxiliary cryogenic infrastructures, the investment profile for the superlink (changing with the type of design and the proportion of the type of powers transmitted) and the energy limit for the re-valorization of the cold delivered through the hydrogen. The “high-level” results reveal design intuitions making it possible to define, among the vast set of possibilities, a subset of specific configurations to be further explored and analyzed. These configurations are described in detail in technical sheets bringing together the parameters necessary for the description of the configuration itself, the parameters defining the operation of the superlink, the refrigeration powers incurred, the investments for the superlink and the auxiliary cryogenic infrastructures and their total sum, normalized by the transmitted power metric. The information contained clarifies and brings nuance to the proposal for deconjestion of urban electrical substations by this type of infrastructure, highlights configuration choices and advantageous operating regimes and provides concrete energetic and economic values, based on a documented and transparent model

Prévalence d’agents pathogènes de l’abeille domestique (Apis mellifera) au Québec et leur impact sur la mortalité hivernale

Les colonies d’abeilles (Apis mellifera) sont d’une importance vitale pour la production agricole de nombreuses denrées, puisque plusieurs plantes dépendent en partie et parfois totalement de la pollinisation. Toutefois, les apiculteurs québécois sont confrontés chaque année à des pertes hivernales dépassant les limites optimales. Plusieurs facteurs ont été avancés pour expliquer la mortalité hivernale des colonies, mais leurs rôles exacts et interactions sont encore mal compris. Ce projet a pour but d’évaluer la présence des agents pathogènes et leurs impacts sur les pertes hivernales des colonies d’abeilles domestiques dans le sud-ouest du Québec. Les agents pathogènes Varroa destructor, Acarapis woodi, Nosema spp., Ascosphaera apis, Melissococcus plutonius, Paenibacillus larvae, les virus des ailes déformées (DWV), du complexe AKI et des cellules noires de la reine (BQCV), ainsi que Apocephalus borealis ont été recherchés sur des abeilles adultes collectées en août 2017 dans 242 colonies provenant de 31 ruchers situés dans l’Outaouais et la Montérégie. La mortalité hivernale des colonies de l’étude a été quantifiée en mai 2018. Des modèles de régression logistique et binomiale négative ont été élaborés pour évaluer l’impact de ces agents pathogènes, de facteurs environnementaux et de pratiques de régie sur la mortalité hivernale des colonies. La mortalité hivernale a été de 31% dans les colonies du projet. Varroa destructor, dont la prévalence a été estimée à 48% dans les colonies et 93% dans les ruchers, et a été associé à la mortalité hivernale des colonies (p100 colonies (14%). Les résultats de cette étude fournissent des informations utiles pour l’élaboration de programmes de médecine préventive ciblés et efficaces.Honey bee colonies are of vital importance for the agricultural production, since many plants depend partially and sometimes totally on pollination. However, beekeepers in Quebec are confronted each year with winter losses exceeding the objectives set. Several factors have been advanced to explain the winter mortality of colonies, but their exact roles and interactions are still poorly understood. This project aims to assess the presence and define the impact of pathogens on winter losses in southwestern Quebec. Pathogens Varroa destructor, Acarapis woodi, Nosema spp., Ascosphaera apis, Melissococcus plutonius, Paenibacillus larvae, deformed wing virus (DWV), AKI complex viruses and black queen cells virus (BQCV), as well as Apocephalus borealis were studied on adult bees collected in August 2017 in 242 colonies from 31 apiaries located in the Outaouais and Montérégie. Study colony winter mortality was assessed in May 2018. Negative logistic and binomial regression models were developed to evaluate the impact of these pathogens, environmental factors, and management practices on winter colony mortality. Colony winter mortality was 31%. The prevalence of Varroa destructor was estimated at 48% in the colonies and 93% in the apiaries, and the mite was associated with winter colony mortality (p100 colonies (14%). The results of this study provide useful information for the design of targeted and effective preventive medicine programs

IPV, distress, and affect dysregulation

Despite an increase in research initiatives and prevention campaigns, intimate partner violence (IPV) remains a public health problem that affects many victims worldwide. The current study aims to examine whether psychological distress symptoms (anger, depression, anxiety) are indirectly related to the perpetration of IPV (physical assault, psychological abuse, coercive control) through affect dysregulation (AD) in men seeking help. Online questionnaires assessing psychological distress symptoms, AD, and violent behaviors were completed by 335 adult men entering treatment for IPV. A path analysis model revealed the indirect associations between psychological distress symptoms and higher IPV perpetration through higher AD. Symptoms of anger were indirectly related to the three forms of perpetrated IPV through higher AD. Symptoms of depression were, directly and indirectly, related to the three forms of perpetrated IPV through higher AD. Finally, symptoms of anxiety were directly related to lower physical assault perpetration, and indirectly related to higher physical assault and coercive control perpetration through higher AD. The final model explained 10% of the variance in perpetrated physical assault, 23% of the variance in perpetrated psychological abuse, and 13% of the variance in perpetrated coercive control. These results underline the necessity of assessing and addressing symptoms of psychological distress and AD among men perpetrators in the treatment of IPV

Childhood sexual abuse, dyadic empathy, and intimate partner violence among men seeking psychological help

Abstract : Childhood sexual abuse (CSA) and intimate partner violence (IPV) have both been associated with numerous negative repercussions. The first aim of this study is to understand intimate partner violence perpetrated by men within a clinical population, by examining the effects of two potential predictors: CSA and dyadic empathy (cognitive and emotional). The second aim of this study is to explore whether dyadic empathy is an intermediary variable of the association between CSA and IPV. A sample of 198 men (aged 18 to 69 years old) who were seeking help for relationship problems, completed a set of self-administered questionnaires. While controlling for social desirability and family violence history, our findings outlined the mediating and moderating role of dyadic empathy in the link between CSA and perpetrated psychological, but not physical, IPV. Emotional empathy mediated and moderated the link between CSA and psychological IPV, whereas cognitive empathy only moderated this link. The examination of the direct links between the variables also revealed that CSA was related to lower emotional empathy and higher rates of both types of IPV. In addition, cognitive empathy was negatively associated with physical and psychological IPV, where as emotional empathy was positively associated with psychological IPV. This study contributes to the literature by documenting some of the mechanisms that could explain the perpetration of IPV and highlights the importance of investigating CSA and empathy in men who are seeking help