The Three-Dimensional Turbulent Boundary Layer on a Rotating Disk

Three-dimensional turbulent boundary layers (3DTBL) are seen quite commonly in nature as well as in the engineering applications. Despite this, very few high Reynolds number studies have been carried out on these boundary layers, particularly focusing on eddy structure, eddy scales and their interactions. The current study focused on developing, characterizing and evaluating an experimental framework to study high Reynolds number #3DTBL on a rotating disk with the long-term goal of carrying out high-fidelity measurements. The rotating disk flow is characterized by weak centrifugal pumping which sets up the cross flow that leads to turbulence. The tangential and radial velocities were measured using hot-wire anemometry. The mean flow, turbulent intensity, energy spectra, skewness and kurtosis of the flow have been analyzed and compared with 2DTBL measurements. It was found that the measurements collapsed well for z/9 \u3e 0.3-0.4 in outer scaling. Closer to the wall and in inner scaling, collapse of the data was not achieved. The main associated errors were the disk flatness, signal attenuation caused by spatial and temporal resolution challenges and hot-wire conduction close to the wall. The encountered challenges and steps taken to address these are discussed in detail

Use of translocated topsoil to enhance native biodiversity in the urban landscape of NTNU Campus in Trondheim

Restaurering av degraderte habitater ved bruk av naturbaserte løsninger er nødvendig for å redusere den negative påvirkningen menneskelig aktivitet har på naturen. En foretrukket metode ved veibygge prosjekter i Norge er toppmasse translokasjon, hvor intakt vegetasjons matter eller homogeniserte jordmasser flyttes fra en lokasjon til en annen. Denne oppgaven utforsker effekten håndtering, translokasjon, og deres interaksjon har på plante samfunn et år etter translokasjon til en arts-fattig urban park. Toppmasser ble flyttet fra skog og gresslette habitater ved bruk av matte og jordmasse metodene, der toppmassene ble gravd ut fra et veiprosjekt område i Midt-Norge i løpet av sommeren 2022. Urørt vegetasjon ble markert på både donor området og reseptor området for å lage kontroller. Både transporterte og kontroll plot ble analysert ett år etter translokasjon, og sammenliknet med data fra tidligere analyse utført sommeren da translokasjonen ble utført. Respons i artsrikdom, artssammensetning og funksjonssammensetning (CSR strategi) ble undersøkt. Matte-translokasjon i skogshabitatet resulterte i plantesamfunn som lignet referansevegetasjonen på donorområdet mest i artsrikdom, artssammensetning og funksjonssammensetning. Jordmassetranslokasjon i skogshabitatet ga overlevelse av færre arter enn matte-translokasjonen sammenlignet med referansevegetasjonen, som er som forventet for skogsarter i en sekundær suksesjonsfase etter translokasjon. I gresslettehabitatet etablerte begge translokasjonsmetodene samfunn som lignet referansevegetasjonen i artsrikdom, artssammensetning og funksjonssammensetning. Mattetranslokasjon foretrekkes i skogshabitater, når skogsområder skal ødelegges og vegetasjon trenger nye hjem. Gresslettearter er mindre sensitive for forstyrrelse og begge metodene gir like resultater, derimot, vil jordmassemetoden sannsynlig foretrekkes av utbyggere da den krever mindre både logistisk og økonomisk.Restoration of degraded habitats using nature-based solutions is vital to reduce the negative impact of human activity in nature. One preferred method used at road construction sites in Norway is the topsoil translocation, moving intact vegetation turfs or homogenized soil mixes from one location to another. This thesis explored the effect of handling, translocation, and source location on the plant communities a year after translocation into a species-poor urban park. Topsoil was moved from forest and grassland habitats using the bulk soil and turf method, excavated from a road construction transect in Mid-Norway during the summer of 2022. Untouched vegetation plots at both sites were also marked to create controls. The translocated and control plots were analyzed one year after translocation and compared to the data from a previous analysis carried out the summer where the translocation took place. Responses in species richness, species composition and functional composition (CSR strategy) were examined. Turf translocation in the forest habitat resulted in the plant community most similar to the reference vegetation at the donor site in terms of species richness, species composition and functional composition. The forest bulk treatment secured less species richness than the turf and reference vegetation, which is to be expected for the forest vegetation in a secondary successional stage after translocation. In the grassland both translocation methods established communities similar to the reference in terms of species richness, species composition and functional composition. Turf translocation should be the preferred method of translocation in the forest habitat, when forest sites are destructed and vegetation needs to find new homes. The grassland species were less sensitive to the disturbance and both methods gave equal results, however, bulk would likely be the preferred method for construction companies as it requires less logistically and economically

Model Based Optimisation of Pacing Strategy in Time Trial Cycling

Målet med prosjektet var å finne en optimal effektplan for gjennomføringen av en individuell tidsprøve. Effektplan, i denne sammenheng, er en detaljert instruks for effekt målt på en sykkel. Forfatteren modellerer de fysiologiske prinsippene som ligger til gunn for energibruk i menneskekroppen. Optimeringsprogrammet ble implementert i rammeverket til MATLAB. Prosjektet inneholdt metoder for å estimere parametere som inngår i de fysiologiske modellene, samt verifisering av effektplan på individuelle tidsprøver simulert i programmet Zwift. Resultatet ble en forbedring i tidsbruk i en løype, sammenlignet med en effekplan bestående av konstant effekt på den samme løypen.The objective of this project is to find optimal pacing strategies for time trial cycling. A pacing strategy, in this context, is based on power output levels measured on an ergometer. The thesis aims to model the energy expenditure of the human body, and set constraints on the system related to these dynamics. Physical tests on the bicycle involves one subject with limited experience cycling. Test protocols are conducted in order to determine parameters describing physical performance of the individual. Using an optimisation framework in MATLAB, a pacing strategy is developed for a certain time trial track. The tests and time trial attempts are all conducted through the use of the training software Zwift, which simulates a cycling environment. The project conducts two iterations of estimating the parameters, and verifying a pacing strategy. The thesis produced a pacing strategy which proved to have a better time performance than a comparative strategy, set at the same power output throughout the entire time trial. However, results also indicated that the experimental routines of determining physiological parameters could have been more carefully designed and scrutinized. The method of formulating the final pacing strategy also proved an ineffectiveness within the implemented optimal program

Autosomal dominant cerebellar ataxia with retinal degeneration: clinical, neuropathologic, and genetic analysis of a large kindred.

Journal ArticleThe autosomal dominant cerebellar ataxias (ADCA) comprise a heterogeneous group of neurologic disorders characterized by degeneration of the cerebellum, spinal cord, and brainstem. Genetic analysis has revealed two loci, SCA1 on chromosome 6p, and SCA2 on chromosome 12q, responsible for some ADCA. We present a four-generation kindred of 42 individuals, 12 of whom were clinically affected with ADCA and an associated cone dystrophy. Early loss of color discrimination with retinal and macular signs is followed by gradual progression of cerebellar dysfunction and development of pyramidal signs. Pathology shows degeneration of cerebellum, basis pontis, inferior olive, and retinal ganglion cells. For genetic analysis, we used polymorphic markers D6S89 and D12S79; linkage analysis gave negative results, excluding linkage to both SCA1 and SCA2. The data strongly support genetic heterogeneity consistent with the unique clinicopathologic features of the form of ADCA displayed in this large family

Idiopathic intracranial hypertension. Relationship to depression, anxiety, and quality of life

Journal ArticleOBJECTIVE: To explore the incidence of depression and anxiety and to measure quality of life in women with idiopathic intracranial hypertension (IIH), a matched group cross-sectional study was conducted. Women with IIH (n = 28) were compared with control groups of weight- and age-matched women not diagnosed with IIH (n = 30) and with age-matched women of normal weight (n = 30). METHODS: Eighty-eight women completed a questionnaire soliciting health information and standardized questionnaires measuring depression, anxiety, and quality of life. The groups were compared using analysis of variance and chi2 tests. Where appropriate, post hoc comparisons were made using Fisher's test. RESULTS: Patients with IIH reported a greater number of adverse health problems than either of the control groups. Non-health-related psychosocial concerns were equally prevalent among the three groups, but IIH patients were significantly more affected by hardships associated with health problems than the other two groups. The patient group also had higher levels of depression and anxiety than the control groups. These adverse health conditions were reflected in decreased quality of life measures for the IIH patients. CONCLUSIONS: This study supports previous reports that link obesity and psychosocial difficulties, but obesity alone is not the explanation for the higher levels of depression and lower levels of quality of life

Novel mechanism for benign essential blepharospasm.

Journal ArticlePURPOSE: The purpose of this study is to test the hypothesis that the photophobia of benign essential blepharospasm (BEB) is caused by sympathetically maintained pain. METHODS: Nineteen patients with photophobia and BEB were enrolled in an unblinded prospective treatment trial. The intervention was blockade of the superior sympathetic ganglion with local anesthetic. Outcome measures included the patient's subjective report of ocular surface dryness, foreign body sensation, and eyelid spasm. We also obtained video recordings of eyelid movements. RESULTS: Of the 19 patients, 13 reported subjective improvement in BEB symptoms after cervical sympathetic blockade (CSB). Thirteen of 19 patients also had objective evidence of decreased light-induced eyelid spasm after CSB. Ocular surface disease was present in 18 of 19 patients. CONCLUSION: These data support the hypothesis that in many patients with BEB there is a sympathetically maintained pain syndrome associated with external ocular disease. We speculate on a neurologic circuit that may explain these findings

Carcinomatous meningitis as the presenting manifestation of gallbladder carcinoma: case report and review of the literature

Journal ArticleThe primary tumors that typically cause carcinomatous meningitis include lung cancer, breast cancer, leukemia, lymphoma and melanoma. A variety of neurological signs and symptoms can be seen depending on the extent and location of the meningeal metastasis. Once the diagnosis of carcinomatous meningitis is confirmed, the search for the primary tumor can be a challenge and at times may require extensive radiographic or even surgical evaluation to obtain specimen for pathological confirmation. Here we report a patient who presented with bilateral cranial nerve VIII and cerebellar symptoms, and was diagnosed with carcinomatous meningitis. Only after an exploratory laporatomy did it become clear that the initial symptoms were related to a metastatic gallbladder carcinoma

Photophobia in a blind patient: An alternate visual pathway. Case report.

Journal ArticlePhotophobia is a common neurological and ophthalmological symptom that has been associated with a growing number of neurosurgical conditions, especially compressive lesions. The exact signaling pathways and neurophysiological features of the disorder are not well understood; however, data from multiple studies have shown the significance of the trigeminal system and the pretectal nuclei in its pathophysiology. The Author's report on a rare case of a blind patient who presented with photophobia without evidence of light perception. They also review the literature and early experimental data in an effort to understand the possible neuronal pathways and structures involved in photophobia

Not so benign intracranial hypertension.

Journal ArticleDespite many controversies, intracranial hypertension due to use of doxycycline does occur. Practitioners prescribing the tetracyclic antibiotics should be aware of the syndrome of increased intracranial pressure, and pay particular attention to the ocular fundus for papilloedema. Appropriate referral for visual testing should be made, and treatment directed at stopping the drug and instituting symptomatic treatment that lowers the intracranial pressure

How can the 5-E Learning Cycle Model of Instruction Be Used to Develop a Differentiated Science Unit on Evolution Based on Six Minnesota Evolution Standards?

The research question addressed in this capstone was, how can the 5-E Learning Cycle Model of Instruction be used to develop a differentiated science unit on evolution based on six Minnesota evolution standards? The capstone documents a middle school life science teacher’s experience developing a curriculum for teaching evolution in a nontraditional way. The author explores the difficulties in teaching evolution with a traditional approach by researching experts in the field of both Evolutionary Biology and secondary science instruction. Through the use of the 5-E Learning Cycle Model of Instruction, the author develops an inquiry-based and hands-on curriculum to teach the middle school evolution teaching standards. The author gives examples of these lessons providing a concrete demonstration of the 5-E Learning Cycle Model of Instruction