NASA-FAA helicopter Microwave Landing System curved path flight test

An ongoing series of joint NASA/FAA helicopter Microwave Landing System (MLS) flight tests was conducted at Ames Research Center. This paper deals with tests done from the spring through the fall of 1983. This flight test investigated and developed solutions to the problem of manually flying curved-path and steep glide slope approaches into the terminal area using the MLS and flight director guidance. An MLS-equipped Bell UH-1H helicopter flown by NASA test pilots was used to develop approaches and procedures for flying these approaches. The approaches took the form of Straight-in, U-turn, and S-turn flightpaths with glide slopes of 6 deg, 9 deg, and 12 deg. These procedures were evaluated by 18 pilots from various elements of the helicopter community, flying a total of 221 hooded instrument approaches. Flying these curved path and steep glide slopes was found to be operationally acceptable with flight director guidance using the MLS

Consolidation of Geologic Studies of Geopressured-Geothermal Resources in Texas

The Pleasant Bayou C-zone geopressured-geothermal reservoir is currently undergoing long-term production testing. Using all available deep-well data and building on broad-based previous work, we constructed a detailed geologic characterization of the C-zone reservoir, including sandstone geometry and continuity, porosity distribution, depositional facies interpretation, and structural configuration. This characterization formed the basis for calculating total sandstone volume and effective pore volume of the reservoir and for constructing models for use in numerical simulations. Total effective pore volume of the C-zone reservoir is estimated to be between 6.2 and 6.6 billion barrels. With respect to the test well, one-third of this volume is proximal (within about 3 mi), and two-thirds are remote. Geologically based reservoir volume and models will be useful in predicting long-term well performance and interpreting pressure and production trends during the testing program. We are monitoring pressures in deep gas wells in Chocolate Bayou field to detect possible changes that can be related to production at the Pleasant Bayou test well. No wells produce gas directly from the C-zone reservoir, but several do produce from thin, overlying sandstones, which may be in contact with the perforated interval. Gas well pressure data are reported semiannually and must be monitored for several years to obtain meaningful trends. At a depth of 20,200 ft, the DOE Hulin No. 1 well in southwestern Louisiana penetrates a 550-ft-thick sandstone, which is the deepest known Gulf Coast geopressured-geothermal reservoir. Although the lack of deep well control has precluded detailed mapping, regional stratigraphic context and log response suggest that the Hulin reservoir was deposited in a submarine canyon or proximal submarine fan on the lower Miocene continental slope. Testing the Hulin reservoir will offer a unique opportunity for research and resource evaluation.Bureau of Economic Geolog

The effect of intermittent hypoxic training on performance

This study aimed to verify whether the “live low, train high” approach is beneficial for endurance and/or anaerobic cycling performance. Sixteen well-trained athletes completed 90 min of endurance training (60-70% of heart rate reserve) followed by two 30-s all-out sprints (Wingate test), daily for 10 consecutive days. Nine subjects (IHT group) trained with an F₁O₂ set to produce arterial oxygen saturations of ~88% to ~82%, while 7 subjects (placebo group) trained while breathing a normal gas mixture (F₁O₂ = 0.21). Four performance tests were conducted at sea-level including a familiarisation and baseline trial, followed by repeat trials at 2 and 9 days post-intervention. Relative to the placebo group mean power during the 30-s Wingate test increased by 3.0% (95% Confidence Limits, CL ± 3.5%) 2 days, and 1.7% (± 3.8%) 9 days post-IHT. Changes in other performance variables (30-s peak power, 20-km mean power, 20-km oxygen cost) were unclear. During the time trial the IHT participants‟ blood lactate concentration, RER and SpO₂ relative to the placebo group, was substantially increased at 2 days post-intervention. The addition of IHT into the normal training programme of well-trained athletes produced worthwhile gains in 30-s sprint performance possibly through enhanced glycolysis.Lincoln University Research Fund, Sport and Recreation New Zealan

Out, Damned Spot: Can the “Macbeth Effect” Be Replicated?

This is an Author's Accepted Manuscript of an article published in Basic and Applied Social Psychology Volume 36, Issue 1, 2014, 91-98, © 2014 Taylor & Francis, available online at: http://www.tandfonline.com/10.1080/01973533.2013.856792.Zhong and Liljenquist (2006) reported evidence of a “Macbeth Effect” in social psychology: a threat to people's moral purity leads them to seek, literally, to cleanse themselves. In an attempt to build upon these findings, we conducted a series of direct replications of Study 2 from Z&L's seminal report. We used Z&L's original materials and methods, investigated samples that were more representative of the general population, investigated samples from different countries and cultures, and substantially increased the power of our statistical tests. Despite multiple good-faith efforts, however, we were unable to detect a “Macbeth Effect” in any of our experiments. We discuss these findings in the context of recent concerns about replicability in the field of experimental social psychology

Measurement of cardiorespiratory fitness in children from two commonly used field tests after accounting for body fatness and maturity

Body fat and maturation both influence cardiorespiratory fitness, however few studies have taken these variables into account when using field tests to predict children's fitness levels. The purpose of this study was to determine the relationship between two field tests of cardiorespiratory fitness (20 m Maximal Multistage Shuttle Run [20-MST], 550 m distance run [550-m]) and direct measurement of VO2max after adjustment for body fatness and maturity levels. Fifty-three participants (25 boys, 28 girls, age 10.6 ± 1.2 y, mean ± SD) had their body fat levels estimated using bioelectrical impedance (16.6% ± 6.0% and 20.0% ± 5.8% for boys and girls, respectively). Participants performed in random order, the 20-MST and 550-m run followed by a progressive treadmill test to exhaustion during which gas exchange measures were taken. Pearson correlation coefficient analysis revealed that the participants' performance in the 20-MST and 550-m run were highly correlated to VO2 max obtained during the treadmill test to exhaustion (r = 0.70 and 0.59 for 20-MST and 550-m run, respectively). Adjusting for body fatness and maturity levels in a multivariate regression analysis increased the associations between the field tests and VO2max (r = 0.73 for 20-MST and 0.65 for 550-m). We may conclude that both the 20-MST and the 550-m distance run are valid field tests of cardiorespiratory fitness in New Zealand 8-13 year old children and incorporating body fatness and maturity levels explains an additional 5-7% of the variance. © Editorial Committee of Journal of Human Kinetics