CD161-Expressing Human T Cells

Expression of the Natural Killer cell receptor CD161 has recently been identified on a subset of T cells, including both CD4+ T helper and CD8+ T cells. Expression of this molecule within the adult circulation is restricted to those T cells with a memory phenotype. However, the distinct properties of these T cell populations is yet to be fully determined, although expression of CD161 has been related to the secretion of interleukin-17, and therefore to a type 17 phenotype. Recent studies have aimed to determine both the origin of these cells and the significance of CD161 expression as either a marker of specific cell types or as an effector and regulator of lymphocyte function, and hence to characterize the role of these CD161+ cells within a variety of human diseases in which they have been implicated

Briefing: sustainable drainage for sports pitch developments

Effective management of storm water is of paramount importance in urban development, and drainage design is usually governed by planning constraints. In the development of sports pitches, planning bodies often impose discharge constraints, and frequently class such areas as impermeable surfaces, thus treating their drainage behaviour in a similar fashion to roads and pavements, which may require the provision of separate attenuation. This briefing presents preliminary findings of a project to assess the drainage behaviour of sports pitch developments. The work undertaken to date suggests only a fraction of water falling on a pitch (rain) is discharged to the drains, identifying an apparent attenuation capacity and potential over-design within current sports pitch drainage systems. In addition to the low discharge volumes measured from pitch systems, there has also been a broad range of flow rates experienced. This led to the development of a bespoke flow monitoring device, FloPod. Designed and fabricated at Loughborough University, this device allows a broad range of flow rates to be measured without compromising aspects of data resolution and reliability – key factors that were not found in commercially available devices

Drainage behaviour of sport pitches - findings from a research study

The drainage design of sports pitches has traditionally been based on experience and can be considered an inexact science. Whilst the sport surface can be adequately drained to meet specific criteria, estimating outflows at the discharge point is more challenging. The hydraulic performance of sports pitches has not previously been measured in detail prior to this study. Within the wider industry and regulatory bodies there is a perceived contribution to local flood risk of the storm water and run off from sport pitches. It is also apparent that artificial pitches have in some cases been treated in planning consents as impermeable. Observations from industry have suggested that in reality the pitch drainage systems discharge low volumes of water and low peak flow rates, with limited surface runoff (especially from porous artificial pitches). However, in some cases, for artificial pitches in particular, at planning stage the drainage design has required to include off-line tanks to provide storm water storage and attenuation. A lack of technical guidance on sport pitch design and drainage benefits may be leading to overdesign, and prompted this study. This 3 year study comprised field measurements of weather and discharge behaviour at a range of artificial and natural turf pitches in England; laboratory physical model testing of pitch component hydraulic behaviour; and mathematical modelling to predict how a pitch system may be expected to perform hydraulically. Bespoke field monitoring apparatus was developed as part of the research to measure across a large range of flow rates and volumes. The experimental work in this study has provided the evidence to demonstrate that the porous pitch designs provide high attenuation of peak rainfall events and large capacity for water storage, similar to the requirements of SuDs based ‘source control’ designs required in new urban developments. The field monitoring observations suggest that in reality the drainage system behaviour is not as consistent or predictable as might be expected from assumptions made in design software and that in all cases the measured outflow water volume was far less than that estimated from rainfall as the total water volume flowing into the pitch drainage system. The experimental work, combined with the mathematical modelling, has highlighted the key mechanisms that provide resistance to flow and explain the attenuation behaviour observed. It is considered that in most cases insufficient head is created in the sub-surface layers to drive water to the lateral drainage pipes, and that the high frictional resistance to flow in the corrugated collector pipes provide large ‘head’ losses under the low hydraulic gradients. The research findings support the claims by many in the industry that in some cases planning approvals, where a lack of understanding or evidence on how pitches can attenuate and store water exists, may be causing the over-design of pitch drainage systems requiring unnecessary offline storage tanks

Controllability analysis of multi objective control systems

The performance requirements stated in project specifications often comprise conflicting objectives. These objectives may further be a complex mix of steady state and dynamic performance. Control devices such as solenoid actuators are often chosen purely on steady state force characteristics, due to the difficulty of appraising the conflicting and generally non-linear nature of the performance objectives. This can have ramifications in terms not only of the actuator performance, but also in the overall controllability of the system when closed-loop control is implemented. An example automotive application examining the multi objective controllability of electronically actuated valves is presented. Multi objective evolutionary techniques are utilised to derive the optimal force-displacement characteristics and also dynamic characteristics of the desired actuator under the constraint of design performance criteria. The selected actuator is then assessed for its controllability and dynamic performance

Using Experience and Case History Data to Enhance the Design of Piled Foundations and Predict Behaviour Characteristics

This paper explores the process of piled foundation design and how it can benefit from the inclusion of previous test data and case histories from nearby or geologically similar sites. The interaction between the soil and the structure is critical to the behaviour of a pile and is a function of both the ground conditions and the method of pile construction. An accurate model of the ground conditions is required for the design, as is a detailed knowledge of the method of pile installation and its subsequent interaction with the soil. Where case histories are available they can be utilised to refine the design or to reduce the risk associated with a solution. This is currently often done in a subjective manner by the application of engineering judgement and personal experience. This paper discusses a quantitative method which can be used to employ data from case histories and provide an objective approach to the inclusion of existing knowledge and experience. Bayesian updating is utilised to improve the model of the ground conditions and subsequently the degree of uncertainty is reduced. The probability of failure has been seen to be reduced by this process, as demonstrated through the application an example situation

Do dance floor force reduction and static stiffness represent dynamic floor stiffness during dance landings?

Dance training on floors that are not \u27sprung\u27 are assumed to have direct implications for injury. Standards for dance floor manufacture in Europe and North America quantify floor force reduction by measuring the impact forces of drop masses. In addition, many studies of human mechanical adaptations to varied surfaces, have quantified test surfaces using measures of static stiffness. It is unclear whether these methods for the measurement of floor mechanical properties actually reflect dancer requirements or floor behaviour under dancer loading. The aim of this study was to compare the force reduction, static stiffness and dynamic stiffness of a range of dance floors. Dynamic stiffness was measured during dancers performing drop landings. Force reduction highly correlated (p= 0.086) with floors of moderate dynamic stiffness, but was less accurate for high and low stiffness floors. Static stiffness underestimated the dynamic stiffness of the floors. Measurement of floor force reduction using European sports surface standards may provide an accurate representation of dynamic floor stiffness when under load from dancers performing drop landings. The discrepancy between static and dynamic stiffness may be explained by the inertial characteristics of the floor and the rapid loading of the floors during dancer landings. The development of portable systems for measuring floor behaviour under human loads using modern motion capture technologies may be beneficial for improving the quantification of dance floor mechanical properties

Prospectus, August 23, 2018

Parkland Cafeteria welcomes new vendor Betsy\u27s Bistro; A Letter from Our President; Visit the 2018 Art & Design Faculty Exhibit; Goebel Named Interim Head Baseball Coach.https://spark.parkland.edu/prospectus_2018/1015/thumbnail.jp

Drainage behavior of sports pitches–A case study review

The drainage behavior of sports pitches has traditionally been designed from experience with hydraulic performance rarely measured in detail. Within the wider industry and regulatory bodies there is a perception that storm water and increased drainage rates from sports pitches contribute to local flood risk. Empirical observations have suggested that in reality pitch drainage systems may discharge water at low volumes and rates and there is often limited surface run-off. Furthermore it appears that lack of technical guidance on the discharge of water from sport pitch drainage systems may have led to misunderstanding their drainage behavior and possible benefits they could bring to water management as opposed to perceived dis-benefits. This paper summarizes selected results of a case study which included field measurements of weather and discharge behavior on a range of natural turf sports pitches in England. The findings from this study indicate that natural turf sports pitches can provide resistance to flow and hence advantageous attenuation of rainfall and storm water. Additionally sports pitches can store large volumes of water within the pervious materials used in their design. The study has confirmed that sport pitches demonstrate the key functions that are reflected in the design requirements of Sustainable Urban Drainage Systems (SuDs) such as pervious pavements providing source control of surface rain water

Calibration and flight performance of the long-slit imaging dual order spectrograph

We present a preliminary calibration and flight performance of the Long-Slit Imaging Dual Order Spectrograph (LIDOS), a rocket-borne instrument with a large dynamic range in the 900 - 1700A bandpass. The instrument observes UV-bright objects with a CCD channel and fainter nebulosity with an MCP detector. The image quality and the detector quantum efficiencies were determined using the calibration and test equipment at the Johns Hopkins University, and further monitored using an on-board electron-impact calibration lamp. We review results from each of the three flights of the instrument.Comment: 12 pages. to appear in Proc. SPIE 701