Atmospheric turbulence parameters for modeling wind turbine dynamics

A model which can be used to predict the response of wind turbines to atmospheric turbulence is given. The model was developed using linearized aerodynamics for a three-bladed rotor and accounts for three turbulent velocity components as well as velocity gradients across the rotor disk. Typical response power spectral densities are shown. The system response depends critically on three wind and turbulence parameters, and models are presented to predict desired response statistics. An equation error method, which can be used to estimate the required parameters from field data, is also presented

Wind response characteristics of horizontal axis wind turbines

It was the objective of the work reported here, and in the companion paper 1 . A broader examination of wind turbine dynamic response to turbulence, and attempts to ascertain the features of turbulence that wind turbines are most sensitive to were made. A statistical description of the wind input including all three wind components and allowing linear wind gradients across the rotor disk, was used together with quasi-static aerodynamic theory and an elementary structural model involving only a few degrees of freedom. The idea was to keep the turbine model simple and show the benefits of this type of statistical wind representation before attempting to use a more complex turbine model. As far as possible, the analysis was kept in the simplest form, while still preserving key physical responses

Energetic Electron Tracks and DNA Strand Breaks

A theoretical model with no adjustable parameters is presented to evaluate the strand break yields for incident electrons between 100 eV and 1 MeV. Indirect mechanisms as well as direct mechanisms are included for the production of strand breaks. The model includes the following features: (i) multiple scattering of low energy electrons; (ii) decay of hydroxyl radicals in an aqueous solution containing Tris buffer; (iii) Monte Carlo simulation of the motion of hydroxyl radicals for interaction with the DNA sites; and (iv) stochastic aspects of the direct ionization on the DNA sites and the use of oscillator strength of a DNA molecule. The model is presented using numerical values characteristic of a dilute aqueous solution of SV40 DNA (10 μg/ml) containing 10 mM of Tris. The results have been expressed in terms of yields (indirect and direct) and D37 (indirect only) values as a function of electron energy. The yields have been normalized to breaks/rad/dalton. In the absence of experimental data with different energy electrons, the results of the present calculations have been folded into the estimation of strand breaks induced by heavy charged particles. When these results are compared with experimental data for mammalian cells under conditions such that enzymatic strand break repair is negligible, there is good qualitative agreement with the model. With the expectation that experimental data will soon be available with photons, the present model has been used to predict the strand break yields with electromagnetic radiation for thick as well as thin targets

Buoyant surface jets discharged into a strong crossflow

Analytical and experimental investigations were carried out for three-dimensional buoyant surface jets with strong ambient flow but without boundary attachment. A numerical model in curvilinear coordinates was developed from an integral jet analysis modified for buoyancy effects and included asymmetry of the jet. Detailed temperature distributions were measured in the laboratory with densimetric Froude numbers (F̥) of 5, 10 and 15 and 0 velocity ratios (R) from 2 to 13. Experimental results showed that ambient crossflows can cause significant distortion of the jet, even for R = 13. Near the exit, the lower portion of the jet is swept toward the lee side of the jet. The resulting L-shaped cross section and the associated density instability may enhance spreading on the lee side and may contribute to the subsequent formation of bimodal temperature distributions. The jet bending increases as R decreases and as F̥ increases. Dilution increases with increasing F̥ and decreasing R. The model was calibrated against the entire set of measured temperatures for each run and is capable of predicting temperature 0 distributions to an accuracy of 0.63C˚. The agreement could probably be improved by using similarity profiles better suited to the actual jet cross sectional shape which was not known at the beginning of the research.U.S. Department of the InteriorU.S. Geological SurveyOpe

Circuit enhances vertical resolution in raster scanning systems

Circuit enhances vertical resolution in electron beam, raster scanning systems exhibiting aperture distortion in the vertical direction. A sensitized area /image/ produces a video output when the scan beam nears it, which causes vertical elongation in the reconstructed images of all sensitized areas on the surface

The significance of seniority for women managers’ interpretations of organizational restructuring

This paper examines the impact of restructuring within the transport and logistics sector on women managers working at senior and less senior (middle/junior management) levels of the organization. The majority of women experienced increased performance pressures and heavier workloads as well as an increase in working hours. At the same time, there were pressures to work at home (i.e. week-ends and evenings) and reduced opportunities to work from home (i.e. during normal office hours). Management level emerged as an important factor in how these changes were interpreted. Senior managers perceived more positive outcomes in terms of increased motivation and loyalty. Despite a longer working week, they were less likely to report low morale as an outcome from long hours. In fact, irrespective of management level, women working shorter hours were more likely to report low morale as an outcome. Results are discussed in relation to literature on restructuring and careers, in terms of perceptual framing and in relation to different levels of investment in the organization

Study of stratified overflows and underflows

The study presents a general analysis of two-layered stratified flows taking into account effects of sidewall friction and variation of density with horizontal distance. The analysis is applied to the study of arrested thermal wedges and arrested cold water intrusions. Laboratory data were collected and analyzed and it was determined that bed roughness has a significant effect on the interfacial friction factor for arrested thermal wedges but not for arrested cold water intrusions. Friction factors were found to vary significantly along the wedges indicating that use of average values is perhaps undesirable. Local values of friction factor were found to increase with values of a local interfacial Reynolds number.U.S. Department of the InteriorU.S. Geological SurveyOpe

Cholinergic efferent synaptic transmission regulates the maturation of auditory hair cell ribbon synapses.

Spontaneous electrical activity generated by developing sensory cells and neurons is crucial for the maturation of neural circuits. The full maturation of mammalian auditory inner hair cells (IHCs) depends on patterns of spontaneous action potentials during a 'critical period' of development. The intrinsic spiking activity of IHCs can be modulated by inhibitory input from cholinergic efferent fibres descending from the brainstem, which transiently innervate immature IHCs. However, it remains unknown whether this transient efferent input to developing IHCs is required for their functional maturation. We used a mouse model that lacks the α9-nicotinic acetylcholine receptor subunit (α9nAChR) in IHCs and another lacking synaptotagmin-2 in the efferent terminals to remove or reduce efferent input to IHCs, respectively. We found that the efferent system is required for the developmental linearization of the Ca(2+)-sensitivity of vesicle fusion at IHC ribbon synapses, without affecting their general cell development. This provides the first direct evidence that the efferent system, by modulating IHC electrical activity, is required for the maturation of the IHC synaptic machinery. The central control of sensory cell development is unique among sensory systems