Measurement and evaluation of swirl-type flow in labyrinth seals of conventional turbine stages

The effects of load factor and rotor eccentricity were determined on flow conditions in test series for two stages. The results indicate that swirl-type entry flow follows the rules of potential swirl. Within the labyrinth cavities two spatial separated flow areas are considered. A dominating flow in periphera direction nearly fills the space between the sealing strips and the ceiling of the cavity. Below this flow, an area of axial mass transport is situated, with a slight peripheral component, limited on the nearest surroundings of the seals gap and the rotor surface. Between both flows, an exchange of energy takes place. Within the gaps, flow direction depends on axial velocity and therefore on variable flow contraction. A balance of energy within the seal and the cavities interprets the results of lateral force measurements as an influence of friction at the sealing strips surface and the rotating shaft surface. Stages with their blades put together in buckets by means of shrouding segments are particularly influenced by the rotating speed of the shrouding

THE CUMULATIVE EFFECT OF RURAL AND REGIONAL RESIDENCE UPON THE HEALTH OF OLDER ADULTS

This article examines the independent and interactive effects of rural status and region of residence on health. Individual level factors related to poverty are also tested, in conjunction with rural and regional residence. Negative health effects of rurality were found only in the South, while positive health effects of rurality were found, but only in the Midwest. The results indicate a cumulative risk of rural and Southern residence for older men and women. Living in a rural place in the Midwestern United States may provide unique sources of health benefit as individuals age, which buffer previously observed rural risks to health overall. The findings are discussed in terms of health policy and interventions.rural, region, health, later adulthood, Health Economics and Policy,

Mindfulness as a Treatment Component for Adults Suffering from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder has become a widely recognized and accepted mental health concern affecting many individuals. Various treatment approaches are used to alleviate the symptomology of this mental health condition including: different therapeutic approaches, psychotropic medication, and mindfulness. The purpose of this research project was to analyze and distill existing research pertaining to the neurological implications of trauma and mindfulness, with emphasis on how the latter is an effective treatment approach for the former. Data were analyzed in three phases: one, PTSD and Mindfulness; two, Mindfulness and the Brain and; three, Mindfulness and its Impact on the Brain for adults with PTSD. Findings show how that trauma not only impacts the three regions of the brain (hindbrain, midbrain, and forebrain), but a person\u27s body as a whole. Findings suggest that mindfulness may positively counteract the effects of PTSD due to activating and influencing different areas of the brain, which have been deregulated after encountering trauma, with particular impact upon the structure and function of the brain

Mindfulness as a Treatment Component for Adults Suffering from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder has become a widely recognized and accepted mental health concern affecting many individuals. Various treatment approaches are used to alleviate the symptomology of this mental health condition including: different therapeutic approaches, psychotropic medication, and mindfulness. The purpose of this research project was to analyze and distill existing research pertaining to the neurological implications of trauma and mindfulness, with emphasis on how the latter is an effective treatment approach for the former. Data were analyzed in three phases: one, PTSD and Mindfulness; two, Mindfulness and the Brain and; three, Mindfulness and its Impact on the Brain for adults with PTSD. Findings show how that trauma not only impacts the three regions of the brain (hindbrain, midbrain, and forebrain), but a person’s body as a whole. Findings suggest that mindfulness may positively counteract the effects of PTSD due to activating and influencing different areas of the brain, which have been deregulated after encountering trauma, with particular impact upon the structure and function of the brain

Telecollaboration in multimodal environments: the impact on task design and learner interaction

With the development of new digital technologies and their gradual introduction into the language classroom, the Internet enables students to reach out beyond the confines of traditional teaching and learning settings, allowing previously non-existent access to foreign languages and cultures. On the one hand, the web allows learners to find authentic information and expand their knowledge; on the other, computer-mediated communication tools enable students to establish contact with target language learners and native speakers by engaging in telecollaborative exchanges. The tools at students' disposal are becoming increasingly more powerful, often combining different modes of communication in one single environment. In 2005, students of French at Carnegie Mellon University, US and French learners at the Open University, UK worked synchronously and asynchronously in online environments with native francophone students enrolled on a masters' programme in distance education at the Universit de Franche Comt, France. Completing a set of three collaborative tasks, synchronous meetings took place over 10 weeks in the Open University's online audio-graphic tuition environment Lyceum, which provides multiple synchronous audio channels as well as synchronous text chat and several shared graphical interfaces. In addition to the output produced in this medium (oral, written and graphic) in the target languages (French and English), the project output, a shared reflection on cultural similarities and differences, took the form of several collaborative, asynchronous blogs. This contribution draws on data from pre- and post- treatment questionnaires, recordings of the online interactions, work published by the students in the blogs and discussions among learner and tutor participants exploring aspects of online partnership learning such as learning environment-specific affordances and their impact on task design as well as student and tutor perceptions of connectivity and interactivity

Clicking to Learn: A Case Study of Embedding Radio-Frequency based Clickers in an Introductory Management Information Systems Course

The challenges associated with teaching a core introductory management information systems (MIS) course are well known (large class sizes serving a majority of non-MIS majors, sustaining student interests, encouraging class participation, etc.). This study offers a mechanism towards managing these challenges through the use of a simple and effective innovation referred to as classroom response systems (a.k.a. clickers). Although clickers are not necessarily new, recent enhancements in the technology (such as radio-frequency and integration with presentation software) have made them easier to manage, with greater reliability and flexibility. This paper presents a case study of the development, implementation and integration of clickers into an introductory MIS course. The benefits, lessons learned and effective practices of integrating the technology in a large lecture format are provided. The case study findings are supplemented with results from student surveys administered to three sections of the same course based on clicker use levels (high, low and no usage). The study found that the use of clickers significantly improved students\u27 perceived performance in the course and classes with clickers experienced greater attendance levels and higher correlations of student performance and attendance. Furthermore, the greater the volume of clicker usage, the more favorable student perceptions were in terms of active learning, motivation, and providing feedback

The Strong Running Coupling from an Approximate Gluon Dyson-Schwinger Equation

Using Mandelstam's approximation to the gluon Dyson-Schwinger equation we calculate the gluon self-energy in a renormalisation group invariant fashion. We obtain a non-perturbative $\beta$ function. The scaling behaviour near the ultraviolet stable fixed point is in good agreement with perturbative QCD. No further fixed point for positive values of the coupling is found: $\alpha_S$ increases without bound in the infrared.Comment: 4 pages, 3 figures, Contribution to the Workshop ''Quark Confinement and the Hadron Spectrum II'', Como, Italy, June 26--29, 1996, to appear in the Proceedings, ed. Nora Brambilla, World Scientifi

Social Psychological Studies of Latin American Cultures with Particular Reference to Brazil

This paper presents an English language translation of a book chapter that was originally published in Portuguese. It is reproduced here in full, by kind permission of the editors and publishers, in order to make it available to English language speakers. The paper first addresses ways of defining culture and the development of measures of cultural variation. Contrasts between the collectivism that defines East Asian culture and the collectivism of Latin America are then identified. Topics addressed include values, self-construal, life satisfaction, emotion, honour culture, social influence and the phenomenon of jeitinho. Although the text leads toward a consideration of research into Brazilian culture, it does so by way of discussing the distinctiveness of Latin American cultures more broadly. Details of comparative studies that have sampled further Latin American cultures have been added at the end.

Methodology to Promote Physical Activity Monitoring Adherence in Youth with Autism Spectrum Disorder

Background: Objective physical activity (PA) monitoring via accelerometry is both costly and time consuming. Furthermore, overall adherence to a monitoring protocol is often complicated by disability. Therefore it is essential that strategies for supporting accelerometer wear for youth with disabilities are maximized. The purpose of this perspective was to provide researchers a set of efficacious PA monitoring strategies based on the retrospective examination of support methodology on adherence rates for youth with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). Method: Accelerometer data was collected for 163 participants with ASD in three independent cohorts. Each cohort was provided a varying set of support strategies to help maximize adherence. Chi-square analysis was used to determine differences in adherence between each cohort.Results: Adherence rates significantly increased from 51.9% in cohort 1 to 88.7% in cohort 2 [X2(1) =18.333, p<0.001] and again from 88.7% in cohort 2 to 97.4% in cohort 3 [X2(1) =2.663, p=0.103]. The greatest increase in adherence was observed from 51.9% in cohort 1 to 97.4% in cohort 3 [X2(1) =19.837, p<0.001]. Support strategies associated with these increases included: 1) social story; 2) incentive; 3) concealing techniques; and 4) 24 hrs/day wear instructions. Conclusions: Adherence to PA measurement increased when additional support strategies were utilized in combination with a traditional protocol. We recommend these support methodology be considered as preliminary best-practices when measuring objective PA in youth with ASD with likely success in other disability populations