A real-time, dual processor simulation of the rotor system research aircraft

A real-time, man-in-the loop, simulation of the rotor system research aircraft (RSRA) was conducted. The unique feature of this simulation was that two digital computers were used in parallel to solve the equations of the RSRA mathematical model. The design, development, and implementation of the simulation are documented. Program validation was discussed, and examples of data recordings are given. This simulation provided an important research tool for the RSRA project in terms of safe and cost-effective design analysis. In addition, valuable knowledge concerning parallel processing and a powerful simulation hardware and software system was gained

Recycled powder as filler admixture in cementitious systems : production and characterization

In concrete production, aggregate represents almost 75% of the materials used. The exploitation of natural sources for this purpose also causes an environmental impact, while deposition of wastes from construction industry pollutes soil and water. The feasibility of recycled coarse aggregate used as component of concrete has been amply proved. Fine recycled aggregate is a by-product derived from the processing of recycled coarse aggregate, but there are some technological difficulties for its use in concrete, because of the high water absorption and powder content. The aim of this study is to propose and analyse the alternative use of milled recycled fine aggregate as mineral admixture. For this purpose, dry recycled fine aggregate was processed in a laboratory ball mill for cement, with the aid of cylpebs. Grinding was carried out for 2:00, 2:45 and 3:30 hours, and the sampling of ground recycled fine aggregate (GRFA) was done after each period. For the three grindings periods, the characterization of GFRA was performed for assessing its suitability as mineral filler. Tests included determinations of contents of material < 45 μm and < 75 μm by wet sieving, density, particle size distribution by laser diffraction, chemical composition and Blaine specific surface. Additionally, water demand for standard consistency paste with ordinary Portland cement (OPC) was prepared as reference, and also determined for pastes with replacement of 15% and 30% of cement by GRFA for each grinding period. Also, setting times and strength were measured. Results showed limited filler effect from GRFA when incorporated in cementitious materials, with the consideration of the grinding period as an important factor. Thus, further feasibility studies are necessary in order to investigate different potential applications of this ground material

Salsalate treatment improves glycemia without altering adipose tissue in nondiabetic obese hispanics.

ObjectiveSalsalate treatment has well-known effects on improving glycemia, and the objective of this study was to examine whether the mechanism of this effect was related to changes in adipose tissue.MethodsA randomized double-blind and placebo-controlled trial in obese Hispanics (18-35 years) was conducted. The intervention consisted of 4 g day(-1) of salsalate (n = 11) versus placebo (n = 13) for 4 weeks. Outcome measures included glycemia, adiposity, ectopic fat, and adipose tissue gene expression and inflammation.ResultsIn those receiving salsalate, plasma fasting glucose decreased by 3.4% (P &lt; 0.01), free fatty acids decreased by 42.5% (P = 0.06), and adiponectin increased by 27.7% (P &lt; 0.01). Salsalate increased insulin AUC by 38% (P = 0.01) and HOMA-B by 47.2% (P &lt; 0.01) while estimates of insulin sensitivity/resistance were unaffected. These metabolic improvements occurred without changes in total, abdominal, visceral, or liver fat. Plasma markers of inflammation/immune activation were unchanged following salsalate. Salsalate had no effects on adipose tissue including adipocyte size, presence of crown-like structures, or gene expression of adipokines, immune cell markers, or cytokines downstream of NF-κB with the exception of downregulation of IL-1β (P &lt; 0.01).ConclusionsFindings suggest that metabolic improvements in response to salsalate occurred without alterations in adiposity, ectopic fat, or adipose tissue gene expression and inflammation

Functionalized up conversion rare earth nanoparticles for bio imaging of cancer cells

In recent yearsupconversion nanoparticles (UCNPs)have being investigated due to their potential applications in biomedicine such as fluorescent biolabels, among many others. The luminescence of this kind of NP's are effectively activatedby near infrared radiation (NIR) and upconvertto luminescence in the visible region. Besides, their luminescence is not faded as compared with organic dyes and fluorescent proteins. In this study, UCNPs made of Y2O3:Yb3+, Er3+ (1%, 10% mol) and Gd2O3:Yb3+, Er3+ (1%, 10% mol) were functionalized with aminosilanes and folic acid (UCNP-NH2-FA) and characterized with transmission electron microscopy (TEM), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and luminescence measurements. Moreover, cytotoxicity was analyzed via colorimetric assays MTT (methy-134 thiazolyltetrazolium) in two cancer cell lines: cervical adenocarcinoma cells (HeLa) and breast cancer cells MB-MDA-231. It is found that the functionalized UCNPs were non-cytotoxic in all cancer cell lines. Confocal images revealed that UCNP-NH2-FA conjugates as a target to attract cells with overexpressed folate receptor (FR). The UCNPs offer a great potential to be used as bio labels because their fluorescence was clearly localized into cell cytoplasm

Cooper-Harper Experience Report for Spacecraft Handling Qualities Applications

A synopsis of experience from the fixed-wing and rotary-wing aircraft communities in handling qualities development and the use of the Cooper-Harper pilot rating scale is presented as background for spacecraft handling qualities research, development, test, and evaluation (RDT&E). In addition, handling qualities experiences and lessons-learned from previous United States (US) spacecraft developments are reviewed. This report is intended to provide a central location for references, best practices, and lessons-learned to guide current and future spacecraft handling qualities RDT&E

Strawberry monocropping: Impacts on fruit yield and soil microorganisms

The objective of this work was to explore the impacts of intensive strawberry monocropping during five years on the fruit-yield and onthe microbial soil activity and composition. Field trials were performed in twoplots: P1 (a soil with five years of consecutive strawberry cropping), and P2 (asoil with just one year of strawberry cropping). Fruit-yield was quantified;total microorganisms and four functional groups (cellulolytics, nitrogen-fixers, phosphate solubilizers, and siderophores producers) were quantified, isolated and characterized in both plots. Total microbial activity was assessed by the hydrolysis of fluorescein-diacetate and soil respiration methods. As results, in P1, a 51 % decrease in fruit-yield was observed, whilein P2 it was closer to the yield obtained in P1 during the first and second year of cultivation. Total microbial number and activity were 23 % and 70% lower in P1 than in P2 at the end of the cropping, respectively. In general,the quantity of total culturable microorganisms and the functional group sanalyzed were significantly higher in P2 than in P1 (p< 0.05).The most prevailing bacteria putatively identified were Cellulosimicrobacterium cellulans, Paenibacillus sp., Azospirillum brasilense, and Burkholderia sp. According to our results, the intensive cultivation of strawberry for several years in the same field exerted a negative impact on the soil quality, affecting the native microbial population, which might be linked to the fruit yield decline.EEA FamailláFil: Lovaisa, Nadia Carolina. Universidad Nacional de Tucumán. Facultad de Agronomía y Zootecnia; Argentina.Fil: Guerrero Molina, María Fernanda. Universidad Nacional de Tucumán. Facultad de Agronomía y Zootecnia; Argentina.Fil: Delaporte Quintana, Paola Adriana Georgina. Universidad Nacional de Tucumán. Facultad de Agronomía y Zootecnia; ArgentinaFil: Alderete, Mara D.. Universidad Nacional de Tucumán. Facultad de Agronomía y Zootecnia; ArgentinaFil: Ragout, Alicia Leonor. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Tucumán. Planta Piloto de Procesos Industriales Microbiológicos; ArgentinaFil: Salazar, Sergio Miguel. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Estación Experimental Agropecuaria Famaillá; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de Tucumán. Facultad de Agronomía y Zootecnia; ArgentinaFil: Pedraza, Raúl Osvaldo. Universidad Nacional de Tucumán. Facultad de Agronomía y Zootecnia; Argentin

Generation of Thermofield Double States and Critical Ground States with a Quantum Computer

Finite-temperature phases of many-body quantum systems are fundamental to phenomena ranging from condensed-matter physics to cosmology, yet they are generally difficult to simulate. Using an ion trap quantum computer and protocols motivated by the Quantum Approximate Optimization Algorithm (QAOA), we generate nontrivial thermal quantum states of the transverse-field Ising model (TFIM) by preparing thermofield double states at a variety of temperatures. We also prepare the critical state of the TFIM at zero temperature using quantum-classical hybrid optimization. The entanglement structure of thermofield double and critical states plays a key role in the study of black holes, and our work simulates such nontrivial structures on a quantum computer. Moreover, we find that the variational quantum circuits exhibit noise thresholds above which the lowest depth QAOA circuits provide the best results