Cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator modulation may improve intestinal inflammation in adults with cystic fibrosis

A clinical decision report using: Ooi CY, Syed SA, Rossi L, Garg M, Needham B, Avolio J, Young K, Surette MG, Gonska T. Impact of CFTR modulation with Ivacaftor on Gut Microbiota and Intestinal Inflammation. Sci Rep. 2018 Dec 13;8(1):17834. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-018-36364-6 for a patient with cystic fibrosis experiencing small bowel obstruction

Why material slow light does not improve cavity-enhanced atom detection

We discuss the prospects for enhancing absorption and scattering of light from a weakly coupled atom in a high-finesse optical cavity by adding a medium with large, positive group index of refraction. The slow-light effect is known to narrow the cavity transmission spectrum and increase the photon lifetime, but the quality factor of the cavity may not be increased in a metrologically useful sense. Specifically, detection of the weakly coupled atom through either cavity ringdown measurements or the Purcell effect fails to improve with the addition of material slow light. A single-atom model of the dispersive medium helps elucidate why this is the case.Comment: 11 pages, 4 figures; QuTiP python file included. This version: changed title and added several references; results are unchanged. Accepted for open access publication in a special issue of Journal of Modern Optics in memory of Prof Danny Segal. Publisher's version available at http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/09500340.2017.138451

Cold-formed steel structural elements subjected to time-dependent loading

This report summarizes the results obtained from a comprehensive study of the behavior of thin-walled, cold-formed members subjected to impact or shock loading. The influence of local buckling and the concept of effective width in the elastic post-buckling range on the dynamic response of these members is described. Analytical and experimental results for thin compression elements, beams and columns are discussed. Comparisons between the analytical and experimental results are presented. Application of the results obtained from this research to practical situations involving impact or shock loading of cold-formed members is also discussed

Vertical pump turbine oil environmental evaluation

In Oregon low-temperature geothermal injection well construction, siting and receiving formations requires approval by the Water Resources Department (OWRD). In addition, the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality (ODEQ) has regulations concerning injection. Conversations with the OWRD and ODEQ representatives indicated they were very concerned about the potential for contamination of the geothermal (and cooler but hydraulically connected) aquifers by oils and grease. Their primary concern was over the practice of putting paraffin, motor oils and other hydrocarbons in downhole heat exchanger (DHE) wells to prevent corrosion. They also expressed considerable concern about the use of oil in production well pumps since the fluids pumped would be injected. Oregon (and Idaho) prohibit the use of oil-lubricated pumps for public water supplies except in certain situations where non-toxic food-grade lubricants are used. Since enclosed-lineshaft oil-lubricated pumps are the mainstay of direct-use pumping equipment, the potential for restricting their use became a concern to the Geo-Heat Center staff. An investigation into alternative pump lubrication schemes and development of rebuttals to potential restrictions was proposed and approved as a contract task. (SM