Electrical Energy Conversion Techniques for the Vertical Axis Wind Turbine

The characteristics of the Vertical Axis Wind Turbine make it possible to use generating techniques not suitable for Horizontal Axis Wind Turbines. Methods for converting mechanical energy into electrical energy are presented and discussed for vertical turbines of the 250 KW to 2500 KW size. This paper will also look at the present status of Vertical Axis Wind Turbine research in the United States

NONLINEAR MODELING OF pH DECLINE IN BEEF CARCASSES

Electrical stimulation speeds the rate of pH decline in beef muscle. A study was conducted to evaluate an electrical stimulation (ES) method for beef sides and its effect on pH decline compared to non-stimulated control counterparts using nonlinear modeling. The pH of each carcass in the study was measured at selected times over a 24-hour time period postmortem. A statistical methodology is described for comparing two treatments based on the mean pH decline over time. The repeated measures structure of the data is incorporated into the statistical procedure. A nonlinear exponential decay model is used to characterize the mean pH decline. Various comparisons of the mean response to treatment are made based on the nonlinear model

AN INTRODUCTION TO SPATIAL MODELING IN FISHERIES ECONOMICS

Resource /Energy Economics and Policy,

Normative Grip Strength Values in Males and Females, ages 50 to 89 years old

Purpose. To develop normative reference values for grip strength of males and females between the ages of 50 and 89 years old that can be used by health care professionals in clinical settings. Methods. This study assessed data from a sample of males and females between the ages of 50 and 89 years old who participated in the Health and Retirement Study (HRS) sponsored by the National Institute on Aging. The Health and Retirement Study collected data from 6,266 participants in a physical measures sub-study. Grip strength was assessed in a standing position with the shoulder adducted and elbow flexed to 90 degrees. One practice trial was allowed and then the participant performed 2 maximal effort trials using each hand. Right and left hand mean scores were calculated. The HRS data were reported in kilograms. Results. Subjects were stratified by sex and age. Each stratum was defined using 5-year intervals, male or female, and by right or left hand. Mean grip strength, standard deviation, sample size, and percentile ranks from 5 to 95 at intervals of 5 are reported for each stratum in both kilograms and pounds. Conclusion. The normative values provided in this report should advance the clinical utility of grip strength as a physical measure. Percentile ranks are easy to determine and interpret for both the patient and clinician. Clinicians will benefit from the results of this study by better assessing the physical status of their patients, developing better goals for their patients, and providing better education to their patients on this aspect of physical health

Control of Escherichia coli O157:H7 in large-diameter, lebanon-style bologna

Lebanon bologna raw batter was mixed with a five-strain mixture of Escherichia coli O157:H7 to achieve average inoculum levels of 7.79, 7.77, and 7.92 log CFU/g as deter mined on MSA, 202, and PRSA media, respectively. Treatment 1 consisted of a fermentation cycle of 8 hrs at an internal temperature (I.T.) of 80EF then 24 hrs at 100EF I.T., followed by 24 hrs at 110EF I.T. Treatments 2, 3, and 4 included additional heating at 115EF I.T. for 1, 2, and 5 hrs, respectively. All heat treatments resulted in product that was negative (\u3c1.9 log CFU/g detection limit) on all culture media and negative after enrichment on mEC selective medium. This study validates that a five-log reduction of E. coli O157:H7 can be achieved using the described protocol, thus meeting USDA/FSIS requirements

Effects of injection marination with various calcium sources and molar concentrations on display color life, tenderness, and microbial inhibition of beef loin steaks

Beef strip loins were assigned to one of 11 treatments that included injection marination (10% by weight) with three calcium salts at three molar concentrations, a distilled water control, and a non-marinated control. The effects of calcium salt and concentration were tested for retail display color life, tenderness and sensory traits, and microbial growth. Calcium lactate marinated steaks had longer color life and less microbial growth than those treated with calcium chloride or calcium ascorbate. Increasing molar concentration (.1M to .2M to .3M) caused faster color deterioration, and did not significantly improve microbial inhibition. All calcium treatments improved tenderness; however, calcium chloride treatments induced off-flavors. Considering a whole system approach that accounts for color life, microbial inhibition, shear force, and sensory traits, we recommend injecting beef longissimus with 10% of a .1M solution of calcium lactate, and do not recommend other calcium salts or concentrations

Discontinuation of Alprazolam after successful treatment of panic disorder: a naturalistic follow-up study

Low rates of benzodiazepine discontinuation have been seen in long-term outcome studies of alprazolam-treated panic disorder. Discontinuation studies reveal high rates of relapse when alprazolam is stopped. Available data may lack relevance to clinical practice, however, because drug taper rates are often more rapid than those used in many clinical settings. In order to obtain naturalistic data on the long-term course of alprazolam treatment of panic, we obtained follow-up data on 18 of 20 patients who had been enrolled one to two years earlier in a study of alprazolam effects on hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis functioning. The HPA protocol provided measures of symptom severity, biological markers, and short-term treatment response (12 weeks). Routine clinical care was then provided, with dosage adjustments dictated by individual clinical needs. The follow-up study repeated clinical measures at a mean of 21 months after initiation of treatment. Alprazolam was discontinued in 78% of patients. Relapse occured in 36% of these. At follow-up, 61% were medication-free. Only 28% were on a benzodiazepine. The four patients remaining on alprazolam were on reduced doses and had maintained clinical gains. HPA axis activity did not predict dose or outcome. Factors related to successful alprazolam discontinuation are discussed.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/30929/1/0000599.pd

Performance of two handheld NIR spectrometers to quantify crude protein of composite animal forage and feedstuff

Two handheld near infrared (NIR) spectrometers were used to quantify crude protein (CP) content of mixed forage and feedstuff composed of Sweet Bran, distiller’s grains, corn silage, and corn stalk. First was a transportable spectrometer, which measured in the visible and NIR ranges (320–2500 nm) with a spectral interval of 1 nm (H1). Second was a smartphone spectrometer, which measured from 900–1700 nm with a spectral interval of 4 nm (H2). Spectral data of 147 forage and feed samples were collected by both handheld instruments and split into calibration (n= 120) and validation (n= 27) sets. For H1, only absorbances in the NIR region (780–2500 nm) were used in the multivariate analyses, while for H2, absorbances in the second and third overtone regions (940–1660 nm) were used. Principal component analysis (PCA) and partial least squares (PLS) regression models were developed using mean-centered data that had been preprocessed using standard normal variate (SNV) or Savitzky-Golay first derivative (SG1) or second derivative (SG2) algorithm. PCA models showed two major groups—one with Sweet Bran and distillers grains, and the other with corn silage and corn stalk. Using H1 spectra, the PLS regression model that best predicted CP followed SG1 preprocessing. This model had low root mean square error of prediction (RMSEP= 2.22%) and high ratio of prediction to deviation (RPD= 5.24). With H2 spectra, the model best predicting CP was based on SG2 preprocessing, returning RMSEP= 2.05% and RPD= 5.74. These values were not practically different than those of H1, indicating similar performance of the two devices despite having absorbance measurements only in the second and third overtone regions with H2. The result of this study showed that both handheld NIR instruments can accurately measure forage and feed CP during screening, quality, and process control applications