Laboratory measurements of forward and backward scattering of laser beams in water droplet clouds

Many aspects of the forward and backward scattering in dense water droplet clouds were studied using a laboratory scattering facility. This system is configured in a lidar geometry to facilitate comparison of the laboratory results to current lidar oriented theory and measurements. The backscatter measurements are supported with simultaneous measurements of the optical density, mass concentration, and droplet size distribution of the clouds. Measurements of the extinction and backscatter coefficients at several important laser wavelength have provided data on the relationship between these quantities for laboratory clouds at .633, 1.06, and 10.6 microns. The polarization characteristics of the backscatter of 1.06 microns were studied using several different types of clouds. More recently, the laboratory facility was modified to allow range-resolved backscatter measurements at 1.06 microns. Clouds made up of 3 layers, each with its own density, can be constructed. This allows the study of the effect of cloud inhomogeneity on the forward and backscatter

Enhancing SPH using moving least-squares and radial basis functions

In this paper we consider two sources of enhancement for the meshfree Lagrangian particle method smoothed particle hydrodynamics (SPH) by improving the accuracy of the particle approximation. Namely, we will consider shape functions constructed using: moving least-squares approximation (MLS); radial basis functions (RBF). Using MLS approximation is appealing because polynomial consistency of the particle approximation can be enforced. RBFs further appeal as they allow one to dispense with the smoothing-length -- the parameter in the SPH method which governs the number of particles within the support of the shape function. Currently, only ad hoc methods for choosing the smoothing-length exist. We ensure that any enhancement retains the conservative and meshfree nature of SPH. In doing so, we derive a new set of variationally-consistent hydrodynamic equations. Finally, we demonstrate the performance of the new equations on the Sod shock tube problem.Comment: 10 pages, 3 figures, In Proc. A4A5, Chester UK, Jul. 18-22 200

Electrochemically Deposited Cadmium Electrode for Sealed Ni-cd Cells

An investigation into the work on electrochemical cadmium deposition processes is describred. A beaker impregnation system is constructed to investigate the practical limits of loading and the effect of various process parameters. Reasonably high loadings of cadmium are obtained and the process appears amenable to tight control and the production of uniform consistent electrodes. A pilot impregnation facility is built to further investigate electrodeposition processes. Both the inert anode and consummable anode processes are investigated. Results of this evaluation and an analysis of associated problems are presented

SMALL FARM POLICY: WHAT ROLE FOR THE GOVERNMENT?

Agricultural and Food Policy,

Technology development: A partnership that makes sense

Discussed here is an approach to how academic institutions, government entities, and industrial organizations can work effectively to utilize their relative strengths to more effectively meet common goals. The discussion relates to the University of Houston-Clear Lake (UHCL) Research Institute for Computing and Information Systems (RICIS) Program to bring about this type of triad in the Clear Lake area. It is concluded that the interfaces among these groups must remain independent to maintain a healthy counterbalance to their respective entities. However, each entity can and must understand the entire mechanism to exploit each interface to the fullest. Only through such cooperation can the continued technical success of the NASA/Clear Lake area be assured

Does litomosoides sigmodontis synthesize dimethylethanolamine from choline?

Juvenile female Litomosoides sigmodontis secrete a protein (Juv-p120) highly modified with dimethylethanolamine (DMAE). In an attempt to establish the source of this decoration worms were pulsed with [3H]-choline and [3H]-ethanolamine and the radio-isotope labelled products analysed. Both isotope labels were successfully taken up by the worms, as demonstrated by labelling of phospholipids with [3H]-choline, being predominantly incorporated into phosphatidylcholine and [3H]-ethanolamine into phosphatidylethanolamine. Isotope labelling of phosphatidylethanolamine was particularly striking with the worms taking up ~30 times as much labelled ethanolamine as choline. It was possible to detect faint labelling of Juv-p120 with [3H]-ethanolamine after prolonged exposure periods but, unlike the situation with the phospholipids, it was much more readily labelled with [3H]-choline. When pulsing with [3H]-ethanolamine it was also possible to detect isotope-labelled phosphatidylcholine, which may ultimately account for the low levels of labelling of Juv-p120. Overall our results raise the previously unconsidered but intriguing possibility that in L. sigmodontis, choline may be the precursor of DMAE

Visual Acuity does not Moderate Effect Sizes of Higher-Level Cognitive Tasks.

Background/study contextDeclining visual capacities in older adults have been posited as a driving force behind adult age differences in higher-order cognitive functions (e.g., the "common cause" hypothesis of Lindenberger & Baltes, 1994, Psychology and Aging, 9, 339-355). McGowan, Patterson, and Jordan (2013, Experimental Aging Research, 39, 70-79) also found that a surprisingly large number of published cognitive aging studies failed to include adequate measures of visual acuity. However, a recent meta-analysis of three studies (La Fleur and Salthouse, 2014, Psychonomic Bulletin & Review, 21, 1202-1208) failed to find evidence that visual acuity moderated or mediated age differences in higher-level cognitive processes. In order to provide a more extensive test of whether visual acuity moderates age differences in higher-level cognitive processes, we conducted a more extensive meta-analysis of topic.MethodsUsing results from 456 studies, we calculated effect sizes for the main effect of age across four cognitive domains (attention, executive function, memory, and perception/language) separately for five levels of visual acuity criteria (no criteria, undisclosed criteria, self-reported acuity, 20/80-20/31, and 20/30 or better).ResultsAs expected, age had a significant effect on each cognitive domain. However, these age effects did not further differ as a function of visual acuity criteria.ConclusionThe current meta-analytic, cross-sectional results suggest that visual acuity is not significantly related to age group differences in higher-level cognitive performance-thereby replicating La Fleur and Salthouse (2014). Further efforts are needed to determine whether other measures of visual functioning (e.g., contrast sensitivity, luminance) affect age differences in cognitive functioning

Technical pre-analytical effects on the clinical biochemistry of Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar L.)

Clinical biochemistry has long been utilized in human and veterinary medicine as a vital diagnostic tool, but despite occasional studies showing its usefulness in monitoring health status in Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar L.), it has not yet been widely utilized within the aquaculture industry. This is due, in part, to a lack of an agreed protocol for collection and processing of blood prior to analysis. Moreover, while the analytical phase of clinical biochemistry is well controlled, there is a growing understanding that technical pre-analytical variables can influence analyte concentrations or activities. In addition, post-analytical interpretation of treatment effects is variable in the literature, thus making the true effect of sample treatment hard to evaluate. Therefore, a number of pre-analytical treatments have been investigated to examine their effect on analyte concentrations and activities. In addition, reference ranges for salmon plasma biochemical analytes have been established to inform veterinary practitioners and the aquaculture industry of the importance of clinical biochemistry in health and disease monitoring. Furthermore, a standardized protocol for blood collection has been proposed