Techniques utilized in the simulated altitude testing of a 2D-CD vectoring and reversing nozzle

Simulated altitude testing of a two-dimensional, convergent-divergent, thrust vectoring and reversing exhaust nozzle was accomplished. An important objective of this test was to develop test hardware and techniques to properly operate a vectoring and reversing nozzle within the confines of an altitude test facility. This report presents detailed information on the major test support systems utilized, the operational performance of the systems and the problems encountered, and test equipment improvements recommended for future tests. The most challenging support systems included the multi-axis thrust measurement system, vectored and reverse exhaust gas collection systems, and infrared temperature measurement systems used to evaluate and monitor the nozzle. The feasibility of testing a vectoring and reversing nozzle of this type in an altitude chamber was successfully demonstrated. Supporting systems performed as required. During reverser operation, engine exhaust gases were successfully captured and turned downstream. However, a small amount of exhaust gas spilled out the collector ducts' inlet openings when the reverser was opened more than 60 percent. The spillage did not affect engine or nozzle performance. The three infrared systems which viewed the nozzle through the exhaust collection system worked remarkably well considering the harsh environment

Phenotypes of the ovarian follicular basal lamina predict developmental competence of oocytes

BACKGROUND: The ovarian follicular basal lamina underlies the epithelial membrana granulosa and maintains the avascular intra-follicular compartment. Additional layers of basal lamina occur in a number of pathologies, including pili annulati and diabetes. We previously found additional layers of follicular basal lamina in a significant percentage of healthy bovine follicles. We wished to determine if this phenomenon existed in humans, and if it was related to oocyte function in the bovine. METHODS: AND RESULTS: We examined follicles from human ovaries (n = 18) by electron microscopy and found that many follicles had additional layers of basal lamina. Oocytes (n = 222) from bovine follicles with normal or unusual basal laminas were isolated and their ability to undergo in vitro maturation, fertilization and culture to blastocyst was compared. Healthy bovine follicles with a single layer of basal lamina had oocytes with significantly (P < 0.01) greater developmental competence than healthy follicles with additional layers of follicular basal lamina (65 versus 28). CONCLUSIONS: These findings provide direct evidence that the phenotype of the follicular basal lamina is related to oocyte competence

Quark mass dependence of hadron masses from lattice QCD

We discuss lattice methods to obtain the derivatives of a lattice meson mass with respect to the bare sea and valence quark masses. Applications are made to quenched and dynamical fermion configurations. We find evidence for significant differences between quenched and dynamical fermion configurations. We discuss how to relate dependence on the bare lattice parameters to more phenomenologically useful quantities.Comment: 18 pages, 5 figures, typos fixed and reference adde

A feasibility randomised controlled trial of the New Orleans intervention of infant mental health: a study protocol

Child maltreatment is associated with life-long social, physical, and mental health problems. Intervening early to provide maltreated children with safe, nurturing care can improve outcomes. The need for prompt decisions about permanent placement (i.e., regarding adoption or return home) is internationally recognised. However, a recent Glasgow audit showed that many maltreated children “revolve” between birth families and foster carers. This paper describes the protocol of the first exploratory randomised controlled trial of a mental health intervention aimed at improving placement permanency decisions for maltreated children. This trial compares an infant's mental health intervention with the new enhanced service as usual for maltreated children entering care in Glasgow. As both are new services, the trial is being conducted from a position of equipoise. The outcome assessment covers various fields of a child’s neurodevelopment to identify problems in any ESSENCE domain. The feasibility, reliability, and developmental appropriateness of all outcome measures are examined. Additionally, the potential for linkage with routinely collected data on health and social care and, in the future, education is explored. The results will inform a definitive randomised controlled trial that could potentially lead to long lasting benefits for the Scottish population and which may be applicable to other areas of the world

Adhesion of MC3T3-E1 cells to RGD peptides of different flanking residues: Detachment strength and correlation with long-term cellular function

We synthesized a series of RGD peptides and immobilized them to an amine-functional self-assembled monolayer using a modified maleimide-based conjugate technique that minimizes nonspecific interactions. Using a spinning disc apparatus, a trend in the detachment strength (τ50) of RGD peptides of different flanking residues was found: RGDSPK ≻ RGDSVVYGLR ≈ RGDS ≻ RGES. Using blocking monoclonal antibodies, cellular adhesion to the peptides was shown to be primarily α√-integrin-mediated. In contrast, the τ50 value of the cells on fibronectin (Fn)-coated substrates of similar surface density was 6-7 times higher and involved both α5β1 and ανβ3 integrins. Cellular spreading was enhanced on RGD peptides after 1 h when compared to RGE and unmodified substrates. However, no significant differences were observed between the different RGD peptides. Long-term function of MC3T3-E1 cells was also evaluated by measuring alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity and mineral deposition. Among the four peptides, RGDSPK exhibited the highest level of ALP activity after 11 days and mineralization after 15 days and reached comparable levels as Fn substrates after 15 and 24 days, respectively. These findings collectively illustrate both the advantages and limitations of enhancing cellular adhesion and function by the design of RGD peptides

A New Finite-lattice study of the Massive Schwinger Model

A new finite lattice calculation of the low lying bound state energies in the massive Schwinger model is presented, using a Hamiltonian lattice formulation. The results are compared with recent analytic series calculations in the low mass limit, and with a new higher order non-relativistic series which we calculate for the high mass limit. The results are generally in good agreement with these series predictions, and also with recent calculations by light cone and related techniques

Effects of Peroral Omega-3 Fatty Acid Supplementation on Cerebrospinal Fluid Biomarkers in Patients with Alzheimer’s Disease: A Randomized Controlled Trial—The OmegAD Study

Background: Studies have suggested a connection between a decrease in the levels of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) and Alzheimer’s disease (AD). We aimed to assess the effect of supplementation with omega-3 fatty acids (n-3 FAs) on biomarkers analyzed in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of patients diagnosed with AD. / Objective: To investigate the effects of daily supplementation with 2.3 g of PUFAs in AD patients on the biomarkers in CSF described below. We also explored the possible correlation between these biomarkers and the performance in the cognitive test Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE). / Methods: Thirty-three patients diagnosed with AD were randomized to either treatment with a daily intake of 2.3 g of n-3 FAs (n  =  18) or placebo (n  =  15). CSF samples were collected at baseline and after six months of treatment, and the following biomarkers were analyzed: Aβ 38, Aβ 40, Aβ 42, t-tau, p-tau, neurofilament light (NfL), chitinase-3-like protein 1 (YKL-40), acetylcholinesterase (AChE), butyrylcholinesterase (BuChE), soluble IL-1 receptor type II (sIL-1RII), and IL-6. / Results: There were no significant differences between the groups concerning the level of the different biomarkers in the CSF at baseline. Within the treatment group, there was a small but significant increase in both YKL-40 (p = 0.04) and NfL (p = 0.03), while the other CSF biomarkers remained stable. / Conclusion: Supplementation with n-3 FAs had a statistically significant effect on NfL and YKL-40, resulting in an increase of both biomarkers, indicating a possible increase of inflammatory response and axonal damage. This increase in biomarkers did not correlate with MMSE score. / Trial registration: clinicaltrial.gov Identifier: NCT00211159

Hydrodynamic approach to the evolution of cosmological structures

A hydrodynamic formulation of the evolution of large-scale structure in the Universe is presented. It relies on the spatially coarse-grained description of the dynamical evolution of a many-body gravitating system. Because of the assumed irrelevance of short-range (``collisional'') interactions, the way to tackle the hydrodynamic equations is essentially different from the usual case. The main assumption is that the influence of the small scales over the large-scale evolution is weak: this idea is implemented in the form of a large-scale expansion for the coarse-grained equations. This expansion builds a framework in which to derive in a controlled manner the popular ``dust'' model (as the lowest-order term) and the ``adhesion'' model (as the first-order correction). It provides a clear physical interpretation of the assumptions involved in these models and also the possibility to improve over them.Comment: 14 pages, 3 figures. Version to appear in Phys. Rev.