Energy efficient engine: Flight propulsion system preliminary analysis and design

The characteristics of an advanced flight propulsion system (FPS), suitable for introduction in the late 1980's to early 1990's, was more fully defined. It was determined that all goals for efficiency, environmental considerations, and economics could be met or exceeded with the possible exception of NOx emission. In evaluating the FPS, all aspects were considered including component design, performance, weight, initial cost, maintenance cost, engine system integration (including nacelle), and aircraft integration considerations. The current FPS installed specific fuel consumption was reduced 14.2% from that of the CF6-50C reference engine. When integrated into an advanced, subsonic, study transport, the FPS produced a fuel burn savings of 15 to 23% and a direct operating cost reduction of 5 to 12% depending on the mission and study aircraft characteristics relative to the reference engine

Diversities and similarities in PFGE profiles of Campylobacter jejuni isolated from migrating birds and humans

Aims: To genetically sub-type Campylobacter jejuni strains isolated from migratory birds, and to compare these with clinical strains collected in the same area and corresponding time period, with the aim to increase our knowledge on sub-types occurring among wild birds and their possible impact on human disease. Methods and Results: We sub-typed C. jejuni strains from migrating birds (n = 89) and humans (n = 47), using macrorestriction profiling by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis. Isolates from migrant birds often exhibited sub-types with higher levels of similarity to isolates from birds of the same species or feeding guild, than to isolates from other groups of birds. Likewise, could the vast majority of sub-types found among the migrant bird isolates not be identified among sub-types from human cases. Only two bird strains, one from a starling (Sturnus vulgaris) and one from a blackbird (Turdus merula), had sub-types that were similar to some of the human strain sub-types. Conclusions: Isolates from one bird species, or feeding guild, often exhibited high similarities, indicating a common transmission source for individuals, or an association between certain sub-types of C. jejuni and certain ecological guilds or phylogenetic groups of birds. Sub-types occurring among wild birds were in general distinctively different from those observed in patients. The two bird isolates that were similar to human strains were isolated from bird species that often live in close associations with human settlements. Significance and Impact of Study: Wild birds have often been mentioned as a potential route for transmission of C. jejuni to humans. Our study demonstrates that strains isolated from birds most often are different from clinical strains, but that some strain similarities occur, notably in birds strongly associated with human activities

xQTL workbench: a scalable web environment for multi-level QTL analysis

Summary: xQTL workbench is a scalable web platform for the mapping of quantitative trait loci (QTLs) at multiple levels: for example gene expression (eQTL), protein abundance (pQTL), metabolite abundance (mQTL) and phenotype (phQTL) data. Popular QTL mapping methods for model organism and human populations are accessible via the web user interface. Large calculations scale easily on to multi-core computers, clusters and Cloud. All data involved can be uploaded and queried online: markers, genotypes, microarrays, NGS, LC-MS, GC-MS, NMR, etc. When new data types come available, xQTL workbench is quickly customized using the Molgenis software generator

High temperature superconductivity: The products and their benefits

Numerous qualitative studies have discussed, in detail, the benefits projected from the commercialization of HTS systems; however, few are available with quantitative predictions of market penetration and resultant benefits. This report attempts to quantify those benefits, as a function of time, by examining five key classes of candidate HTS electrical equipment, and projecting market entry and capture based on historical market entry o technologies considered analogous to HTS. Any such projection is a judgment, based on experience and available data, and the analyses in this report fall into that category. The five classes of equipment examined are electric motors, transformers, generators, underground cable, and fault current limiters. In each of these classes, major international programs are now underway to develop and commercialize HTS equipment in a time frame from the present to the year 2020. Based on technology status and perceived market advantages as determined from the references, market entry dates were projected followed by market penetration predictions. The earliest equipment to achieve commercialization is predicted to be fault current limiters, predicted for market entry in the 2003--2004 time period. Transformers and cable are projected for entry in 2005 followed by electric motors in 2006. The final market entry will be by generators, predicted for commercialization in 2011

Brief Cognitive Behavioral Therapy For College Students With ADHD: A Case Series Report

Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is often diagnosed in childhood but persists into adulthood in many cases. Thisdisorder, which is defined by the core symptoms of IA and HI, is also associated with impairment in academic settings, interpersonalrelationships, and behavioral risk taking. While ADHD is most often treated with medication (e.g., stimulants), brief psychosocialtreatments have also been shown to produce improvement in adults with ADHD, although these have not been adequately tested incollege-age populations. The current study tested a brief, eight-session cognitive-behavioral protocol in a case-series design with fourcollege students with ADHD. Participants completed measures tapping ADHD symptoms, anxiety, depression, and general impairmentin academic, social, and employment domains. The findings indicate that the protocol may be useful as a short-term treatment option forcollege students with ADHD, warranting further study in controlled trials

The Effects Of Physiological Arousal On Cognitive And Psychomotor Performance Among Individuals With High And Low Anxiety Sensitivity

Information-processing models of anxiety posit that anxiety pathology is associated with processing biases that consume cognitive resources and may detract from one’s ability to process environmental stimuli. Previous research has consistently indicated that high anxiety has a negative impact on cognitive and psychomotor performance. Anxiety sensitivity, or the fear of anxiety and anxiety-related arousal sensations, is an anxiety vulnerability factor that has been shown to play a role in the development and maintenance of panic attacks and panic disorder. However, relatively little is known regarding the potential impact of anxiety sensitivity on performance. In the present study, 105 college students who scored either high (>24) or low ( <14) on the Anxiety Sensitivity Index were randomly assigned to complete a series of arousal-induction tasks or no activity, followed immediately by three cognitive and psychomotor performance tasks: digit span - backward, math fluency, and grooved pegboard. Results indicated that participants with high anxiety sensitivity performed comparably to individuals with low anxiety sensitivity on each task, regardless of arousal level

The point of maximum curvature as a marker for physiological time series

We present a geometric analysis of the model of Stirling. In particular we analyze the curvature of a heart rate time series in response to a step like increment in the exercise intensity. We present solutions for the point of maximum curvature which can be used as a marker of physiological interest. This marker defines the point after which the heart rate no longer continues to rapidly rise and instead follows either a steady state or slow rise. These methods are then applied to find analytic solutions for a mono exponential model which is commonly used in the literature to model the response to a moderate exercise intensity. Numerical solutions are then found for the full model and parameter values presented in Stirling

Undersøkelser for å styrke modeller knyttet til beslutningsstøtte for tiltak mot forurensede sedimenter i Grenlandsfjordene

Årsliste 2009I forbindelse med problemstillingene om sedimenttiltak i Grenlandsfjordene, er undersøkelser utført for å styrke beslutningsgrunnlaget for eventuelle tiltak mot dioksinforurensede sedimenter i fjordområdet. Dette arbeidet har bestått i en avansert kalibrering av den såkalte SedFlex-modellen for å styrke usikkerhetsestimatene i modellsimuleringene. Betydningen av skipsoppvirvling ved Herøya for dioksinutviklingen i Frierfjorden er modellert. Videre er tykkelsen på det aktive, bioturberte overflatelaget på 39 stasjoner i Grenlandsfjordene bestemt ved hjelp av SPI-sedimentkameraet. Tre stasjoner for ”overvåket naturlig forbedring” er blitt opprettet hvor den feltmessige variansen er beskrevet og utsagnskraften i et overvåkingsprogram beregnet. Transport av dioksiner fra Frierfjorden til fjordområdet utenfor er beregnet både gjennom direkte målinger ved bruk av passive prøvetakere og ved simuleringer i SedFlex-modellen.Norsk Hydr