Counter lung

Counter lung, incorporated in closed-loop rebreathing system, accommodates user's breathing tidal volume so that the loop pressure is relatively constant during breathing cycles

Aircrew oxygen system development Flight test report

Flight tests of breadboard version of aircrew oxygen syste

On-board aircraft oxygen generating system

Onboard oxygen generation equipment with minimal ground support equipment and applicable to spacecraft and submarine us

Aircrew oxygen system

Closed-loop rebreather system which includes pilot provides oxygen for use in aircraft by safe, reliable method of low weight and size and reduces expense of ground equipment. Water electrolysis generated oxygen is fed into rebreather loop which allows nitrogen elimination and water and carbon dioxide removal

Vitamin D as a Neuroactive Substance: Review

The objectives of this paper were (1) to review recent research on the actions of vitamin D as a steroid derivative with neuroactive properties and (2) to highlight clinical relevance and need for more research. Our methods included review of research from current journals, Medline, and Cochrane Reviews; theoretical discussion. Scientific research has had a justifiably strong emphasis on how vitamin D affects calcium metabolism and bone. This appears to have eclipsed its fundamental actions on several other important systems, including the central nervous system. Vitamin D as a neuroactive compound, a prohormone, is highly active in regulating cell differentiation, proliferation, and peroxidation in a variety of structures, including the brain. Vitamin D insufficiency is not rare. Historically, focus has been on bone metabolism, which appears to have caused research bias and evidence bias, distorting physiological importance. The central nervous system is increasingly recognized as a target organ for vitamin D via its wide-ranging hormonal effects, including the induction of proteins such as nerve growth factor. We need more research on this important neuroactive substance because it may play a role as a relatively safe and inexpensive pharmaceutical in the prevention and treatment of a number of common neuropsychiatric conditions

Structural dynamics verification facility study

The need for a structural dynamics verification facility to support structures programs was studied. Most of the industry operated facilities are used for highly focused research, component development, and problem solving, and are not used for the generic understanding of the coupled dynamic response of major engine subsystems. Capabilities for the proposed facility include: the ability to both excite and measure coupled structural dynamic response of elastic blades on elastic shafting, the mechanical simulation of various dynamical loadings representative of those seen in operating engines, and the measurement of engine dynamic deflections and interface forces caused by alternative engine mounting configurations and compliances

Aircrew oxygen system development man-in-the-loop test report

Manned testing of flight breadboard oxygen syste

Training the Trainers in Embedding Assessment Literacy into Module Design: A Case Study of a Collaborative Transcreation Project

Translator trainers are being asked to respond in their course and module design to a variety of changing requirements, including institutional, professional and pedagogical ones. This paper proposes a way that translator trainers can respond to two sets of these new requirements. The first are those for a widening conception of translation brought about by the rapid globalisation of markets and the needs for intercultural mediators (Katan, 2016; Massey et al., 2017; Massey & Wieder, 2019). Indeed, Katan finishes the paper with the startling statement ‘There is really no question about it: if T/Is are going to survive they must make the transcreational turn’ (ibid.: 378). The second set of requirements comes from the process of articulating what attributes a graduate should possess and how these attributes are developed (Hughes, 2010). As the Higher Education Academy (HEA, 2012; see also Elkington, 2016) state, one way to ensure that the graduate skills are developed is through new assessment practices based on assessment for learning and assessment literacy. New assessment practices mean that assessment ‘does not just contribute to learning at university, but develops learning and evaluative skills essential for employment and lifelong learning’ (ibid.: 10). This paper offers translation trainers an approach to module design which can address both these sets of demands. The module is designed with a collaborative transcreation project at its core and has incorporated assessment literacy into the design. The study is supported with quantitative and qualitative data gained from a survey of participating students. By introducing the case study of our module design and linking the design to the underlying theories which informed it, the paper provides trainers with a set of concepts which could be applied to their own curricula needs in order to future proof their students in the changing employment market

Active contour approach for accurate quantitative airway analysis

Chronic airway disease causes structural changes in the lungs including peribronchial thickening and airway dilatation. Multi-detector computed tomography (CT) yields detailed near-isotropic images of the lungs, and thus the potential to obtain quantitative measurements of lumen diameter and airway wall thickness. Such measurements would allow standardized assessment, and physicians to diagnose and locate airway abnormalities, adapt treatment, and monitor progress over time. However, due to the sheer number of airways per patient, systematic analysis is infeasible in routine clinical practice without automation. We have developed an automated and real-time method based on active contours to estimate both airway lumen and wall dimensions; the method does not require manual contour initialization but only a starting point on the targeted airway. While the lumen contour segmentation is purely region-based, the estimation of the outer diameter considers the inner wall segmentation as well as local intensity variation, in order anticipate the presence of nearby arteries and exclude them. These properties make the method more robust than the Full-Width Half Maximum (FWHM) approach. Results are demonstrated on a phantom dataset with known dimensions and on a human dataset where the automated measurements are compared against two human operators. The average error on the phantom measurements was 0.10mm and 0.14mm for inner and outer diameters, showing sub-voxel accuracy. Similarly, the mean variation from the average manual measurement was 0.14mm and 0.18mm for inner and outer diameters respectively