391 research outputs found
Factors Influencing Pitot Probe Centerline Displacement in a Turbulent Supersonic Boundary Layer
When a total pressure probe is used for measuring flows with transverse total pressure gradients, a displacement of the effective center of the probe is observed (designated Delta). While this phenomenon is well documented in incompressible flow and supersonic laminar flow, there is insufficient information concerning supersonic turbulent flow. In this study, three NASA Lewis Research Center Supersonic Wind Tunnels (SWT's) were used to investigate pitot probe centerline displacement in supersonic turbulent boundary layers. The relationship between test conditions and pitot probe centerline displacement error was to be determined. For this investigation, ten circular probes with diameter-to-boundary layer ratios (D/delta) ranging from 0.015 to 0.256 were tested in the 10 ft x 10 ft SWT, the 15 cm x 15 cm SWT, and the 1 ft x 1 ft SWT. Reynolds numbers of 4.27 x 10(exp 6)/m, 6.00 x 10(exp 6)/in, 10.33 x 10(exp 6)/in, and 16.9 x 10(exp 6)/m were tested at nominal Mach numbers of 2.0 and 2.5. Boundary layer thicknesses for the three tunnels were approximately 200 mm, 13 mm, and 30 mm, respectively. Initial results indicate that boundary layer thickness, delta, and probe diameter, D/delta play a minimal role in pitot probe centerline offset error, Delta/D. It appears that the Mach gradient, dM/dy, is an important factor, though the exact relationship has not yet been determined. More data is needed to fill the map before a conclusion can be drawn with any certainty. This research provides valuable supersonic, turbulent boundary layer data from three supersonic wind tunnels with three very different boundary layers. It will prove a valuable stepping stone for future research into the factors influencing pitot probe centerline offset error
Parvalbumin interneurons are differentially connected to principal cells in inhibitory feedback microcircuits along the dorso-ventral axis of the medial entorhinal cortex
The medial entorhinal cortex (mEC) shows a high degree of spatial tuning, predominantly grid cell activity, which is reliant on robust, dynamic inhibition provided by local interneurons (INs). In fact, feedback inhibitory microcircuits involving fast-spiking parvalbumin (PV) basket cells (BCs) are believed to contribute dominantly to the emergence of grid cell firing in principal cells (PrCs). However, the strength of PV BC-mediated inhibition onto PrCs is not uniform in this region, but high in the dorsal and weak in the ventral mEC. This is in good correlation with divergent grid field sizes, but the underlying morphologic and physiological mechanisms remain unknown. In this study, we examined PV BCs in layer (L)2/3 of the mEC characterizing their intrinsic physiology, morphology and synaptic connectivity in the juvenile rat. We show that while intrinsic physiology and morphology are broadly similar over the dorsoventral axis, PV BCs form more connections onto local PrCs in the dorsal mEC, independent of target cell type. In turn, the major PrC subtypes, pyramidal cell (PC) and stellate cell (SC), form connections onto PV BCs with lower, but equal probability. These data thus identify inhibitory connectivity as source of the gradient of inhibition, plausibly explaining divergent grid field formation along this dorsoventral axis of the mEC
Isomorphisms of algebras of Colombeau generalized functions
We show that for smooth manifolds X and Y, any isomorphism between the
special algebra of Colombeau generalized functions on X, resp. Y is given by
composition with a unique Colombeau generalized function from Y to X. We also
identify the multiplicative linear functionals from the special algebra of
Colombeau generalized functions on X to the ring of Colombeau generalized
numbers. Up to multiplication with an idempotent generalized number, they are
given by an evaluation map at a compactly supported generalized point on X.Comment: 10 page
An axiomatic approach to the non-linear theory of generalized functions and consistency of Laplace transforms
We offer an axiomatic definition of a differential algebra of generalized
functions over an algebraically closed non-Archimedean field. This algebra is
of Colombeau type in the sense that it contains a copy of the space of Schwartz
distributions. We study the uniqueness of the objects we define and the
consistency of our axioms. Next, we identify an inconsistency in the
conventional Laplace transform theory. As an application we offer a free of
contradictions alternative in the framework of our algebra of generalized
functions. The article is aimed at mathematicians, physicists and engineers who
are interested in the non-linear theory of generalized functions, but who are
not necessarily familiar with the original Colombeau theory. We assume,
however, some basic familiarity with the Schwartz theory of distributions.Comment: 23 page
Energy performance contracting (EPC): a suitable mechanism for achieving energy savings in housing cooperatives? Results from a Norwegian pilot project
The barriers to energy savings in institutions and private homes are well known and include peopleâs lack of interest, awareness, knowledge and human and financial capacity. Experiences made in several countries show that EPCâenergy performance contractingâmay be used for overcoming many of these barriers. A typical EPC project is delivered by an energy service company (ESCO) and the contract is accompanied with a guarantee for energy savings. EPC is increasingly taken in use in the professional market (firms and the public sector), but is less common in the residential sector market. It has been suggested that there are several barriers for using EPC in the domestic sector such as the uncertainty involved in estimating forthcoming reductions in private consumption. In this paper, we present the results from a pilot project on the use of EPC in a housing cooperative in Oslo. The project was initiated and observed by the researchers. The research followed a transdisciplinary methodology in that it was conducted by both researcher and practitioner (co-authors) in close collaboration with members of the housing cooperative and the ESCOs, who also contributed to the interpretation of results. We document the process in terms of why the Board decided to join the EPC pilot, the call for offers from ESCOs who guaranteed that purchased annual energy would be reduced by one third, the responses to and negotiations of the offer from the ESCO who became contracted in the initial phase and up to the moment when the General Assembly finally decided to not invest in the proposed energy saving measures. We find that the residents not only had limited interest in energy savings but also lacked confidence in the EPC process. This contributed to the outcome. We discuss the findings in relation to the barriers to using EPC among housing cooperatives. We highlight the need for more knowledge about the client side for understanding how barriers may be overcome. Three specific recommendations for how EPC may successfully be employed among housing cooperatives are suggested as follows: (i) include refurbishment and not only energy savings in the EPC, (ii) identify the residentsâ needs in an early phase and (iii) communicate the EPC principle to the residents throughout the process
Cellular and synaptic diversity of layer 2-3 pyramidal neurons in human individuals
Understanding the functional principles of the human brain requires deep insight into the neuronal and network physiology. To what extent such principles of cellular physiology and synaptic interactions are common across different human individuals is unknown. We characterized the physiology of ~1200 pyramidal neurons and ~1400 monosynaptic connections using advanced multineuron patch-clamp recordings in slices from human temporal cortex. To disentangle within and between individual sources of heterogeneity, we recorded up to 100 neurons per single subject. We found that neuronal, but not synaptic physiology varied with laminar depth. Connection probability was ~15% throughout layer 2-3. Synaptic amplitudes exhibited heavy-tailed distributions with an inverse power law relationship to short term plasticity. Neurons could be classified into four functional subtypes. These general principles of microcircuit physiology were common across individuals. Our study advances the understanding of human neuron and synaptic diversity from an individual and phenotypic perspective
Structure and function analyses of the purified GPCR human vomeronasal type 1 receptor 1
The vomeronasal system is one of several fine-tuned scent-detecting signaling systems in
mammals. However, despite significant efforts, how these receptors detect scent remains an
enigma. One reason is the lack of sufficient purified receptors to perform detailed
biochemical, biophysical and structural analyses. Here we report the ability to express and
purify milligrams of purified, functional human vomeronasal receptor hVN1R1. Circular
dichroism showed that purified hVN1R1 had an alpha-helical structure, similar to that of
other GPCRs. Microscale thermophoresis showed that hVN1R1 bound its known ligand myrtenal
with an EC50 âŒ1â
”M. This expression system can enable structural and functional
analyses towards understanding how mammalian scent detection works
MESSENGER observations of Mercury's magnetic field structure
Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/96229/1/jgre3136.pd
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