Proof of concept for wind turbine wake investigations with the RPAS SUMO

The Small Unmanned Meteorological Observer (SUMO) has been operated in the vicinity of five research turbines of the Energy Research Centre of the Netherlands (ECN) at the test site Wieringermeer. The intention of the campaign was to proof the capability of the system for wind turbine wake investigations also for situations above rated wind speed. In rather high wind conditions of 15-20 ms−1 on May 10, 2014, the system showed a satisfying in-flight behavior and performed five racetrack flights. The racetrack patterns flown parallel to the row of the five turbines (four flights downstream the turbine row, one upstream) enable the characterization and investigation of the strength, i.e. the reduction in the mean wind, and structure, i.e. the horizontal extension and turbulent kinetic energy (TKE) distribution of single turbine wakes.publishedVersio

Proof of concept for wind turbine wake investigations with the RPAS SUMO

The Small Unmanned Meteorological Observer (SUMO) has been operated in the vicinity of five research turbines of the Energy Research Centre of the Netherlands (ECN) at the test site Wieringermeer. The intention of the campaign was to proof the capability of the system for wind turbine wake investigations also for situations above rated wind speed. In rather high wind conditions of 15-20 ms−1 on May 10, 2014, the system showed a satisfying in-flight behavior and performed five racetrack flights. The racetrack patterns flown parallel to the row of the five turbines (four flights downstream the turbine row, one upstream) enable the characterization and investigation of the strength, i.e. the reduction in the mean wind, and structure, i.e. the horizontal extension and turbulent kinetic energy (TKE) distribution of single turbine wakes

Prediction of the Carcinogenic Potential of Human Pharmaceuticals Using Repeated Dose Toxicity Data and Their Pharmacological Properties

In an exercise designed to reduce animal use, we analyzed the results of rat subchronic toxicity studies from 289 pharmaceutical compounds with the aim to predict the tumor outcome of carcinogenicity studies in this species. The results were obtained from the assessment reports available at the Medicines Evaluation Board of the Netherlands for 289 pharmaceutical compounds that had been shown to be non-genotoxic. One hundred forty-three of the 239 compounds not inducing putative preneoplastic lesions in the subchronic study did not induce tumors in the carcinogenicity study [true negatives (TNs)], whereas 96 compounds were categorized as false negatives (FNs) because tumors were observed in the carcinogenicity study. Of the remaining 50 compounds, 31 showed preneoplastic lesions in the subchronic study and tumors in the carcinogenicity study [true positives (TPs)], and 19 only showed preneoplastic lesions in subchronic studies but no tumors in the carcinogenicity study [false positives (FPs)]. In addition, we then re-assessed the prediction of the tumor outcome by integrating the pharmacological properties of these compounds. These pharmacological properties were evaluated with respect to the presence or absence of a direct or indirect proliferative action. We found support for the absence of cellular proliferation for 204 compounds (TN). For 67 compounds, the presence of cellular hyperplasia as evidence for proliferative action could be found (TP). Therefore, this approach resulted in an ability to predict non-carcinogens at a success rate of 92% and the ability to detect carcinogens at 98%. The combined evaluation of pharmacological and histopathological endpoints eventually led to only 18 unknown outcomes (17 categorized as FN and 1 as FP), thereby enhancing both the negative and positive predictivity of an evaluation based upon histopathological evaluation only. The data show the added value of a consideration of the pharmacological properties of compounds in relation to potential class effects, both in the negative and positive direction. A high negative and a high positive predictivity will both result in waiving the need for conducting 2-year rat carcinogenicity studies, if this is accepted by Regulatory Authorities, which will save large numbers of animals and reduce drug development costs and time

Transdisciplinary treatment of incontience in ASD

Treatment of incontinence in school-aged children with neurodevelopmental dirsorder (NDD), including autism spectrum disorder (ASD, is often negatively affected due to communicational and behavioral problems. This pilot evaluates the effect of transdisciplinary treatment of 26 children with NDD, including ASD. The group was characterized by a hight prevalence of comorbid medical and psychosocial stressors and 92% did not benefit from earlier treatment(s). The Goals Attainment Scale was used to evaluate progress. After 12 months of transdisciplinary training all children showed improvement and in half of the cases incontinence was solved. We conclude that even in cases considered to be untreatable, treatment of incontnence is often possible. However, adpatation of standard procedures is necessary in order to deal with the child's communicational, behavioral and other comorbid problems